Religion

[C-breez]

My family members are traditional native americans..
We have heard from others who got out of the military recently that the military is now full of "missionary Christians" who try to convert others and make life hard for people with religious beliefs unlike theirs. Sometimes those responsible for stopping this kind of thing are sympathetic with the folks doing the proselytizing.
My father in law and Dad said this was not the case in WWII and Korea when they were in. People of all kinds of religions were present, but no one was bothered.
So I hope it is a misperception.
My son is happy with the religion he was raised in and if he joins he should be left alone about it.

[Paula]

Guess what, I don't believe but your son is a big boy and can make his own decision. It is just like being home and the Jehovah Witness' come to the door and try to do the same thing, I say I am happy with my current religion have a good day & shut the door.

I would not worry to much about that. Have a good & safe w/e.

[C-breez]

I think if had happened once and been left at that, this would not have come up in family discussion. My nephews who were in are pretty thick-skinned about things like that and don't whine.
this happened repeatedly in spite of requests to be left alone.
Not a matter of making decisions, it's a matter of having made a life decision and wanting it respected.
You have a good weekend, too.

[Achseh]

Whomever told you that is greatly exaggerating. The military is made up of all different types of folks from every religion or lack of religion, every race and every background.

Just as I've told my own children- you will meet people who think differently than you, people you will like and people you won't. You don't have to like everyone or think the same as they do, but you will be polite.

It has served them well and should serve your son well if he joins. We are only bothered by those things we allow to bother us. If he keeps an open mind, thinks for himself, is tolerant of others beliefs and faults and never gets involved in rumors he will be ok.

[C-breez]

As stated above, it was told to us by family members who had recently been in the military. They are not known for spreading rumors or exaggerating. My family has always been tolerant of others. We expect those others to be the same of us. In the military, I would think folks have better things to do than preach or be expected to deal with the" preachers".

[Achseh]

Perhaps you'd like to define exactly what a "missionary Christian" is because in my 20+ years as a Navy wife and continued experience as a Navy mom, I have not seen nor heard of what you describe. I find it insulting that the entire Navy is painted with such negative generalities.

I would advise that if one cannot handle the possibility of having to deal with someone they don't like or a personality that may be 'strong' then don't join. It's a free country that doesn't require mandatory service. There are many ways to deal with something like this- the first would be to not join an organization for which one has such disdain.

[C-breez]

I asked an honest question and this is a forum in which one is encouraged to ask questions.
I did NOT express disdain for the navy, but concern for ONE of the activities that MAY be going on there.
Perhaps it was just the bunch my family members served with and was an anomaly--I'm willing to entertain that possibility.
If I had disdain for the Navy I would not be wasting time in this forum ----- I would be doing everything in my power to keep my child out of it.

I do admit I have disdain for people who will not keep their religion to themselves when asked to do so.

My son can handle a lot --he's been insulted, beaten,threatened with death, and a lot more other things in his young life due to his race and religion and dealt with it.
He will handle it and many other things if he decides to go in. He just wants to know if this happens and the ground rules for dealing with it as it will be different from high school and everyone is an adult (supposedly).
After repeated incidents, my family members felt like kicking the offenders down several flights of stairs.
They did not and I'm glad because I suspect this is probably not the best solution.
Perhaps I can rephrase the question ----IF this happens and it DOES NOT STOP when he asks them to, what is his next step?
In school, you go to the administrators if someone is interfering with you,
In your job, you go to your boss.
go to the officers?
(FYI a "missionary Christian" is one who feel sit is his/her highest duty to convert the unconverted and will stop at nothing to accomplish this.)
Hope this helps.

[lindalu]

Perhaps you would find it useful to talk to a Navy chaplain. When my son joined, I contacted a Navy Chaplain to discuss concerns---he was very helpful.

[Lisa, Nuke Wife]

I can understand. They do hand them all a bible in boot camp, Chaplins are provided for them and they pray at multiple graduation ceremonies. My husband just ignores it. They do say they're open to all religions but I don't know that my husband has encountered anyone trying to convert him. Just all people from every part of life, they will encounter situations that will require them to turn the other cheek and walk away.

[C-breez]

He would be okay with all of that ---if they don't follow him when he walks away.
But---why do they hand them a Bible?--isn't that a violation of the separation of church and state?
Do they hand out Korans and Bhagavad-Gita's too?

[Lisa, Nuke Wife]

You know, I'm not sure. I don't know if they're required to take them or not, or if they're handed to everyone. I just know he came home with a camo bible. And they do have sunday services on his sub, for those that want to attend. And then the navy observes the traditional Christian holidays just like the rest of the US does, Christmas, ect. But I don't know that the navy is more 'Christian' then the rest of the US really.

[C-breez]

I'm sure the Navy does not force anyone to do anything religion-wise as an organization.
that would be a waste of time and effort.
I'm talking about some of the personnel, not the Navy as a whole.
Now I'm just curious how they handle Jewish, Islamic ,etc. holidays for sailors of those faiths.
We do handle that in the rest of the US by having those holidays-- for example,public schools are closed on Jewish holidays in places where there is a large Jewish population.
My son would expect to be on his own because he wouldn't expect to have anyone else of his faith aboard.
that might not be true of Jews or Islamics.
Guess I can ask my family about that , too.

[John]

My friends, I am a Navy Chaplain stationed at Norfolk Naval Station and I'm a Catholic Priest working at an indenominational chapel. My fellow ministers come from a wide variety of faith denominations, mostly Christians, but Judaism, Muslim, Buddhist, and over 100 other denominations recognized by the Navy are also represented. Not every denomination has ministers, however, the Navy's policy is to accomodate all religions so that our men and women are provided the opportunity to attend their particular services if they want too. Proselytizing is not approved by the Navy nor by the Chaplain Corps, if a Chaplain is doing this then he or she should not be a Chaplain in the Armed Forces. I agree with C-breez, unless someone expresses an interest in converting to another faith denomination, then they should be left alone. Brow beating or shoving one's particular faith down another's throat goes against what Jesus himself taught and how he lived his own life. C-breez if it continues advise your son to advise his chani of command, and if necessary to take it all the way to the CO. Also the Navy does set aside time for all denominations to celebrate their Holy Days, but please remember that Christmas and Thanksgving are also National Holidays.