Another complaint of a non-Christian against Christians

**Djinn** · 17th February 2011 11:04 AM

Ok, I'm overgeneralizing in the subject line, but get this:

The United States Army has an online "Global Assessment Tool" for "Comprehensive Soldier Fitness." Soldiers in the U.S. Army must complete this mandatory assessment - including the "spiritual fitness" section, in which soldiers are asked to assign numeric ratings of self-applicability to statements such as:

"I am a spiritual person."
"My life has a lasting meaning."
"I believe there is a purpose for my life."
"In difficult times, I pray or meditate."
"I attended religious services ____ times in the last month" (provide a number)

Once more for those who missed it the first time. This assessment is mandatory. Furthermore, if you receive a low "spiritual fitness" rating, you are referred to a training program in which you are told that "Prayer is for all individuals," and you are "encouraged to use spiritual support as your armor or battle gear." In addition, you should seek out chaplain guidance, consider attending church, and dedicate yourself to a higher power.

FFRF calls for halt to Army ‘spiritual fitness’ survey - - Freedom From Religion Foundation - FFRF.org

My question: The "Comprehensive Soldier Fitness" program cost the Army $125M. I do not know what percentage of that went into the "spiritual fitness" portion, but couldn't that money have been a LITTLE better-spent?

**Spooky** · 17th February 2011 05:16 PM

Well on the surface it does seem irrelevant, but I think that it is likely that some people with mental health credentials devised the criteria for these questions.

**Feslin** · 17th February 2011 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Spooky

Well on the surface it does seem irrelevant, but I think that it is likely that some people with mental health credentials devised the criteria for these questions.

...unfortunately.

The last people you want devising psychological health criteria for the various professions are people with mental health credentials.

**freecell** · 17th February 2011 06:34 PM

Your article is misleading. Yes, Christians do serve in the army and pray but it has nothing to do with this program and showing men praying is just a false tactic to their argument. Too many of our soldiers come back with problems and they take it out on family, themselves, or others. This program consist of
Physical, emotional, social, family and spiritual, five stages. You don’t have to believe in God you can believe in yourself. No one forces you to do otherwise. If you are a Christian and go to the Chaplin’s they will say to them put on your armor. I don’t know too many atheist that go to them. Many not all atheist are so full of hate they will try anything to keep Christians from having freedom of Religion. Even to the point of not helping all that serve with stress and problems that arise while serving.

**Djinn** · 17th February 2011 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by freecell

... I don’t know too many atheist that go to them. Many not all atheist are so full of hate they will try anything to keep Christians from having freedom of Religion. Even to the point of not helping all that serve with stress and problems that arise while serving.

Why are soldiers required to complete this survey? Why does the military need to know how often I pray, or go to religious services?

**boontito** · 17th February 2011 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by Feslin

...unfortunately.

The last people you want devising psychological health criteria for the various professions are people with mental health credentials.

Let me guess... because they're educated and therefore elitist?

**Feslin** · 19th February 2011 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by boontito

Let me guess... because they're educated and therefore elitist?

Because they've been educated in modern universities.

Of all the sciences, psychology is one of the more screwed-up ones. How could it not be? Look at the environment in which it started to be studied in detail.

**Inkslinger** · 19th February 2011 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by freecell

Many not all atheist are so full of hate they will try anything to keep Christians from having freedom of Religion. .

Well, that's a hateful thing to say, fundy hypochristian.
Jesus has a pineapple with your name on it.

**kingrat** · 20th February 2011 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by Djinn

Why are soldiers required to complete this survey? Why does the military need to know how often I pray, or go to religious services?

Because a soldier is required to give up his life, if necessary, to an idea as intangible as justice, freedom, democracy, etc. on the say so of his superior. And whether you like it or not, one's spirituality bears on one's capacity to self-sacrifice for a cause that is beyond one's self.

That is the difference between the suicide bomber and your average soldier. If you are going to send an atheist who is incapable of believing in an ideal that he cannot see against that sort of fanatic, then you are truly lost. The one who is capable of believing his cause is superior is the one who is going to win.