4 ms·

When I joined the military, I was given the option to take the pledge without a reference to God. I suspect the same option is given to people in any government

by phaus 13y ago

When I joined the military, I was given the option to take the pledge without a reference to God. I suspect the same option is given to people in any government organization.

gcb0 13y ago
but try to say So help me [allah|budah|spagetti] to see what happens. no religion is for the soul. it's all about control.
- charonn0 13y ago
  but try to say So help me [allah|budah|spagetti] to see what happens. What would happen? (serious question)
  - phaus 13y ago
    In almost all cases, your religious preference would be respected, and no one would give a shit. Unless of course you actually did mention the Flying Spaghetti Monster, because this would be an obvious attempt to demean another person's religious beliefs. Yes, Christians are in the majority in the military, but they are also required by regulation and therefore law to treat everyone with respect. There are Muslims, Jews, Scientologists, Wiccans, Satanists, Atheists, Mormons, Mennonites, Taoists, Bhuddists, Harri Krishnas, Jedis, and many more in the United States military. I've even had a friend who claimed to observe traditional Norse beliefs. Every official event that I've been to has had some sort of Christian benediction, which is technically unethical, but at the same time, if it brings comfort to the overwhelming majority of my friends who may soon be risking their lives in combat, isn't it more damaging to attempt to deprive them of it?
    - charonn0 13y ago
      Unless of course you actually did mention the Flying Spaghetti Monster, because this would be an obvious attempt to demean another person's religious beliefs. Do you hear the hypocrisy, the conceit? Who gets to decide which fairy tales are blasphemous? Whose moral outrage is justified when others dare to disagree with their religious beliefs?
      - pg 13y ago
        Please stop.
- pfortuny 13y ago
  Well, there are some millions of people who disagree with you. I include myself in them. Not that it matters, I just wanted to state the contrary. "Contrarywise, said Tweedledee"
- nnq 13y ago
  ...just imagined how anti-buddhist would be for a buddhist to say "so help me buddha!" and can't stop laughing :)

by phaus 13y ago

When I joined the military, I was given the option to take the pledge without a reference to God. I suspect the same option is given to people in any government organization.

gcb0 13y ago

but try to say So help me [allah|budah|spagetti] to see what happens. no religion is for the soul. it's all about control.

charonn0 13y ago
but try to say So help me [allah|budah|spagetti] to see what happens. What would happen? (serious question)
- phaus 13y ago
  In almost all cases, your religious preference would be respected, and no one would give a shit. Unless of course you actually did mention the Flying Spaghetti Monster, because this would be an obvious attempt to demean another person's religious beliefs. Yes, Christians are in the majority in the military, but they are also required by regulation and therefore law to treat everyone with respect. There are Muslims, Jews, Scientologists, Wiccans, Satanists, Atheists, Mormons, Mennonites, Taoists, Bhuddists, Harri Krishnas, Jedis, and many more in the United States military. I've even had a friend who claimed to observe traditional Norse beliefs. Every official event that I've been to has had some sort of Christian benediction, which is technically unethical, but at the same time, if it brings comfort to the overwhelming majority of my friends who may soon be risking their lives in combat, isn't it more damaging to attempt to deprive them of it?
  - charonn0 13y ago
    Unless of course you actually did mention the Flying Spaghetti Monster, because this would be an obvious attempt to demean another person's religious beliefs. Do you hear the hypocrisy, the conceit? Who gets to decide which fairy tales are blasphemous? Whose moral outrage is justified when others dare to disagree with their religious beliefs?
    - pg 13y ago
      Please stop.
pfortuny 13y ago
Well, there are some millions of people who disagree with you. I include myself in them. Not that it matters, I just wanted to state the contrary. "Contrarywise, said Tweedledee"
nnq 13y ago
...just imagined how anti-buddhist would be for a buddhist to say "so help me buddha!" and can't stop laughing :)