Air Force Academy Cites Progress In Tackling Religious Intolerance

By Whitney Jones
Religion News Service

WASHINGTON (RNS) A recent survey on the religious climate of the U.S. Air Force Academy showed that 41 percent of non-Christian cadets face unwanted proselytizing at least once during a year-long period.

The Cadet and Permanent Party Climate Assessment Survey, which was released Friday (Oct. 29), analyzed religious, racial and gender relations within the academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The survey detected an increasing trend in religious freedom since 1998, but points
out persistent problems with proselytizing and religious tolerance.

"I'm encouraged by the mostly positive trends we saw from the survey, but I also know we've got some work to do in regards to the basics of respect and dignity towards each other," said Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, academy superintendent, in a statement.

From 2007 to 2009, the portion of non-Christian cadets who believed there was a low tolerance for non-religious people at the academy increased from 30 percent to 50 percent, the survey found, which was down from approximately 75 percent in 1998.

Although the nine-year trend was positive, additional training on the constitutional right to the free exercise of religion was instituted in the 2010 basic combat training manual to address lingering issues of intolerance.

While the academy has made steps to address problems of religious intolerance, some believe the issues are being downplayed.

Mikey Weinstein, an Air Force veteran who launched the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said Gould is trying to "spin" the religious oppression as trivial. Weinstein, a longtime critic of the academy, was denied access to the official release of the survey.

"It is, of course, obvious why Gould barred MRFF," Weinstein said in a statement. "He cravenly wanted to silence all opposition and dissent to his farcical briefing."

The findings were based on the answers of 2,170 cadets (a response rate of 47 percent). Of the respondents, 1,337 were Christian, 128 were non-Christian and 252 stated no religious preference.

Comments

[jerryfromcalifornia]

12:24 AM on 11/11/2010

PROGRESS, IT SHOULD BE WIPED OUT...PERIOD.
I was an Air Force officer and saw so much Evengelical unwanted proselytizing there. I found it discusting and insulting. I was an officer and could avoid most but the inlisted had a much more dificult time.

[DannyEVillage]

11:07 AM on 11/08/2010

it disgusts me. in their wildest dreams how could anybody think proselytizing or ANY kind of public religious activity is appropriate at a military academy? Even though it's an architectural masterpiece, I really, really don't like that they have that big chapel at West Point.

If those boys and girls want to go to church they know what to do.

[frank day]

02:35 PM on 11/08/2010

???

You think they can just walk off campus when they choose?

I suppose you'd outlaw personal prayers as well?

[DannyEVillage]

05:39 PM on 11/08/2010

huh? do you think your "argument" logically follows from my posting?

if you do you're smart enough to vote for Sarah Palin.

[JHKH]

10:54 PM on 11/07/2010

"Progress"? Yeah, and I'm starting my new diet ... tomorrow.

[JHKH]

10:52 PM on 11/07/2010

Religion has no place in the military, except individually in private. It is offensive and it is a violation of one's right to privacy and to practice ones religion, to proselytize those of another, or no, religious affiliation. Practice your war games and keep your effing religion to yourself.

[genrel1248]

09:31 PM on 11/07/2010

Yes...they have fired all the chaplains, removed gawd bless america from the hymnal, no longer say the pledge of allegiance....Oh wait, after reading the article they really haven't done a thing.

[realitytrumpsbull]

10:25 AM on 11/07/2010

I've got a hot idea for you, how about you take AWAY all the religious literature, and train our sportertoops how to read a map, instead, and how to survive 20 minutes unaided in a rain storm? Garbage in, garbage out, I'm against any kind of religious indoctrination being used on our servicemembers. It's legal to worship and stuff, freedom of religion, problem is, when you're in the service, in some ways you can also just end up being a captive audience to whatever B.S. they're peddling THIS week. I think if they were going to do our military a BIG favor, they'd start by explaining that basically, religion is a bunch of crap. I mean, would you want some Air Force officer or whatever stumbling around with a head full of faith-based garbage, when they're supposed to be doing their jobs? No. So, clear the bench of all that stuff, and teach em how to be the best in their chosen career, which is why they're sitting in the chair to begin with. It doesn't matter what religion it is, it's still a fairy tale for grown-ups. But, what's worse, it's also a lure, a way to get people walking down the garden path. Then again, the military itself kind of leads people down the garden path too, come to think of it...(chin scratch). What is it they're teaching the service personnel, again? Stop the taxpayer abuse.

[bigmacha]

02:58 PM on 11/07/2010

Read "C Street" by Jeff Sharlet, his follow-up to "The Family". If you think this stuff is scary, wait until you read the detailed account of what Mikey Weinstein had to endure and what our troops are subjected to daily.

You couldn't be more on target.

[rich3324]

03:43 PM on 11/05/2010

Is it just me or does 41% facing unwanted proselytizing seem like a lot?

[frank day]

03:59 PM on 11/05/2010

The Mormons and JWs knock on our door from time to time.

Its not welcome. But nobody's being forced.

Just Say No.

[Bob Kellerman]

04:55 PM on 11/06/2010

When it's your sargeant or the guy in the next bunk.......?

They OSTRACIZE service members who do not agree with the 24 hr bible thumping

[agentklf]

04:57 PM on 11/05/2010

It is a lot, and that's just at the Air Force Academy. It was the same way when I was in the Army; evangelical Christians were treated much better simply because they were evangelicals.

[turfkiller]

04:25 PM on 11/07/2010

It's happened and happening in work places as well.

[chaapai]

04:02 PM on 11/04/2010

is it the same kind of progress the military has made in ending DADT? I hope no one is holding their breath waiting for the military's progress.

[usaville]

11:02 AM on 11/05/2010

And you respect the USA how? By flying their flag upside down? Which country has your respect?

[colamonkey]

12:10 PM on 11/06/2010

Upside down flag indicates distress, not disrespect.

By the way, it's frightening that more people in this country are worried about a piece of fabric rather than their fellow citizens.

[Bob Kellerman]

04:58 PM on 11/06/2010

THINK A MINUTE -- THINK, JUST THINK!

If one does not like the way this country is going or some of its policies, does that make him a traitor?

Or does it make him someone who voted Republican this week?

[frank day]

09:31 AM on 11/04/2010

The religious makeup of the Academy simply mirrors the demographic of their recruitment base.

Should cadets not be allowed to worship according to their belliefs, including the belief that they should share their faith with their friends?

How much harm is done by being invited to a morning prayer meeting. Or by being asked to participate in a Bible study?

And yet the left wants these young men and women to have high moral values.

[turfkiller]

11:54 AM on 11/04/2010

So untrue and spoken like a cult follower.

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2010/9/28/165451/341
"The letter also demands that an immediate investigation be launched into the activities of the Christian ministries operating on the Air Force Academy campus, due to reports from the parents of Academy cadets and graduates that at least one of these ministries is using cult-like tactics to recruit cadets and estrange them from their families."

What's wrong with a little bible study? As long as you include a little Koran study and all the others including pagans and athiests. Or maybe they should focus on learning their jobs.

Morality doesn't come from religion. Like secular law, religion can only meet out punishment. If you need religion to tell you what is right and wrong then you are missing two important human traits, empathy and a conscience.

[usaville]

11:35 AM on 11/05/2010

As a Christian I cannot count how many times I have been proselytized by pagan or other religious groups, the only one that departs upset is them.

To share a faith in what you believe is a everyone's right. If you don't like what you are hearing, note your difference and part. What the survey shows is the low tolerance of Christianity is growing or maybe the unbelievers fear of the truth.
than Christians low tolerance for non-religious people.

[bigmacha]

03:01 PM on 11/07/2010

link doesn't work

[jsgrand]

02:41 PM on 11/04/2010

"the left"? What do politics have to do with this? The harm is not from sharing religious beliefs with one's friends. The problem is that cadets are not at the Academy to be with friends. They are there for professional training and if a superior officer invites a cadet to an event, it is not the same as fellowship among equals. Even in civilian life, if your boss invites you to a religious event, you cannot help but wonder what the consequences may be if you decline the invitation. At the Academy, cadets are under constant scrutiny about their candidacy for the officer corps, so the burden is on the Academy to be neutral with respect to issues that are not relevant to the core mission.

[JM817]

04:20 AM on 11/04/2010

With such a high proportion of responders being Christian, I'd have to say that is likely to bias the outcome. I don't know what is or is not happening, but, the return rate is highly populated by folks who would not see a problem.

[LintLass]

01:56 PM on 11/03/2010

If they have to keep the Military Religious Freedom organization out in order to claim they're 'making progress,' on problems they've been *denying exist* while turning the Air Force Academy into a Fundie recruiting ground, ....Well, color me skeptical.

[John E Priegnitz]

11:05 PM on 11/03/2010

I second that... I had my fair share of commanders who were Academy grads that were religious fanatics while I was active... Hopefully it will get better than worse.

[Godfearing]

12:33 PM on 11/03/2010

Now that the Republican Tea Party Birther movement is in charge of the U. S. House of Representatives look for new and repealed Constituational Amendments.

Christianity will be the Official Religion of the United States as long as they are in power!

Watch out Iran, the Crusade is coming!

[UnderTheHedgeWeGo]

01:24 PM on 11/03/2010

And the official language will be Glossolalia (speaking in tongues).

[MNKen]

12:46 PM on 11/04/2010

HA !

[Grada3784]

07:58 PM on 11/04/2010

New Amendment:

Anything goes, just so long as you're Christian and straight.

[DannyEVillage]

11:25 AM on 11/08/2010

yah. even getting caught with hookers doesnt' seem to be a problem anymore--as long as the hooker's a girl.

[Mi4Peace]

12:25 PM on 11/03/2010

The American taliban will not stop until they have fully infiltrated the military & the government. They have their children in bizzare religious schools or home schooled not unlike the muslim schools they like to site as making terrorists. I do not want to live in the christian united states of america.

[DuckPhup]

02:09 PM on 11/03/2010

BINGO. Compared to these Christ-cult 'dominionists', the threat posed to us by Islamic terrorists/fundamentalists amounts to little more than a petty annoyance. And when I say 'us', I mean our country... our government... the Constitution... the world... and humanity.

[John Camp]

08:05 PM on 11/05/2010

Absolutely right just ask a 911 family or maybe some one who was stationed at Fort Hood a year ago. Having someone bring up a subject you find uncomfortable is much worse than being shot or blown up or dying in a building collapse.

[Vern58]

10:42 AM on 11/03/2010

Until the Armed Services are purged of Fundementalist control, there will be little progress at AFA.

[Godfearing]

12:34 PM on 11/03/2010

F&F

[raker]

08:23 AM on 11/03/2010

The issue isn't religious intolerance, it's religious tyranny. It's religious hegemony.

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

09:55 AM on 11/03/2010

You are spot on. Why does it need to be so slow in being eliminated. Issue an order and follow up with punishment. If they were trying to convert people to Satanism, you can bet the perpetrators would be immediately dismissed. By just trying to raise awareness, they are allowing it to continue. It's a military academy. Issue an order and enforce it.

[ADKDutch]

10:56 AM on 11/03/2010

or Islam.

[Godfearing]

12:37 PM on 11/03/2010

F&F ~~~ Now that the Republican Tea Party Birther movement has taken over the United States House of Representatives, Christianity is the law of the land!

One of the biggest losers in this election are the women of child bearing age!