Hmmm, Thomas, the "god-meter", Moses of the NT notes "time will tell". Yes indeed like prude Paul's prediction of the imminent second coming. Our atoms and molecules will be roasting in the fire of the Sun in four billion years and still the second coming will not come to save us.

CCNL

You wrote, "Thomas, "god-meeter", Moses of the NT, Baum continues the same theme that he has the real truth even though it is based on hallucinations and belief in the paranormal as in "pretty/ugly", wingie things and resurrecting bodies."

Time will tell.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Helpus

Hi, I wish you well.

I am Catholic and I cherish my Catholic Faith, even tho for the most part I did not go to church for about 30 years, I hope that all service people have access to Chaplains so that they, serice members, can have the option to live their faith as they wish to live it.

I happen to know that the Catholic Eucharist is Jesus since the Holy Spirit revealed this to me, but even back when I for the most part did not go to Mass, I still believed that the Eucharist was Jesus but I didn't know.

God knew that I needed to know and not just believe, that is at least one of the reasons that it was revealed to me.

By the way, God is a searcher of hearts and minds not of religious affiliations or lack thereof.

I thank God that His Plan if for ALL OF HUMANITY, to be with Him in His Kingdom, the new heavens and the new earth.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Thomas, "god-meeter", Moses of the NT, Baum continues the same theme that he has the real truth even though it is based on hallucinations and belief in the paranormal as in "pretty/ugly", wingie things and resurrecting bodies.

NMremote

You wrote, "Who are all these people who "know" what their faith tells them? No facts, just stories."

I don't know about, "Who are all these people", but as for me, I have met God and God IS a Trinity and God IS a BEING OF PURE LOVE, I have also met satan.

You also wrote, "Isn't it incredible that we perpetuate myths as truths and infect our children with the same "wish-dreaming" we were exposed to in church and school?"

This happens to be your opinion.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

CCNL

You are just as much of a fundamentalist as the most ardent. Who are you to tell everyone else how to live their life and what is important to them.

By fundamentalist, I mean those who try to run other people's lives, not those that believe in the fundamentals of the bible.

Jesus, Who Is God-Incarnate, no matter what anyone happens to believe, forced Himself on no one.

When I was in the service, I didn't go to Mass, I didn't receive the sacraments and I didn't visit the Chaplain that I remember unless I did in basic training but I don't remember.

As far as I am concerned, it would be downright un-American if Chaplains are not available to those in the service, especially in a war zone where a service person cannot just go off base to seek what is not available on base.

This country was founded on Freedom of Religion not Freedom from Religion, just because you seem to think that you are perfect does not mean the rest of us think that we are, I know that I am not perfect.

If I would have wanted to see a Chaplain for whatever reason or to go to Mass when I was in Vietnam and it was not available on base then I would have had to do without since I was not allowed off base except for in my case, 3 times.

Freedom of Religion entails the RIGHT to participate and if it is not available then these service people are being denied one of the Rights given to ALL AMERICANS.

Freedom of Religion also means that one's beliefs or for that matter unbeliefs cannot be crammed down other's throats.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.

Actually I served proudly in the US Army Chemical Corps for two years and four years in the inactive reserve due to graduate school work on government projects- Nike Missile Command Group, Assistant Security and CBR Officer. We had a Protestant Chaplin who really was not needed and he acted that way. Good tennis player though.

And then there is the issue of prayers and their effectiveness in a world where it is obvious that god/the Singularity cannot play any part because of the basic laws/gifts/evolution of human free will and future.

Ridiculous, CCNL. It doesn't matter what *your* theological view is of Christian 'sins,' it matters what the soldier requires.

Chaplains are there to provide religious services to our military people, not to be an organ of government saying what religious practices a soldier 'needs' or 'doesn't need.'

If I were remotely able, I'd go, myself, knowing I had to do the best I could for a soldier of any religion or none.

CCNL...I bet you have never served in the military, right? Of course I'm right. It's blatanly obvious my your suggestion that "we need to develop..." -- not even worth repeating. And, for that matter, you are devoid of faith, right? Yea, probably batting a 1.000.

I'll keep this one short -- don't worry, this practicing Roman Catholic Soldier is protecting you while you criticize those who have faith. No need to thank me or my uniform brethren. And, I'll make sure to include you in my prayers tonight. Peace be w/ you.

Who are all these people who "know" what their faith tells them? No facts, just stories. Isn't it incredible that we perpetuate myths as truths and infect our children with the same "wish-dreaming" we were exposed to in church and school? Why do we continue on this path of blind faith, when there are truths to be explored. I have no problem believing that we evolved and that we are in the image of upright monkeys, rather than the likeness of some imaginary powerful god.

Be kind of nice if they had a Wiccan Chaplain too.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003586870_wiccan24.html

Considering that the sacraments are rituals based on mythical NT stories, do we really need priests anymore???

A good private act of contrition suffices for anyone, anywhere for the forgiveness of sins. Penance lists should be posted by the various religious groups on their websites.

If a GI needs more attention to life issues, he or she should simply e-mail, call or text message a military shrink.

We need to develop some Roman, Greek and Macedonian toughness in our troops!!!

There is a general shortage of chaplains in all of the services and the recruiting picture has been bad since the early 1990's. The shortage is particularly acute within Roman, liturgical Protestant denominations and Rabbis. The Roman shortage reflects both issues cited in the article; general shortage of Roman priests and a anti-military bias of some of the current leadership in the American Church. For the others, there are other issues as well. Since chaplains have as much or more education and experience then there medical and legal counterparts, they tend to be older. (Over 90% or U.S. clergy do not meet the standards required for the military chaplaincy.) Many in the under-represented denominations go into ministry as a second vocation; and are thus too old. Some are unfit for military service due to lifestyle or medical reason. So the three chaplain corps have had to make the decision to lower standards or lower recruitment.

As a pastor in the Presbyterian tradition I cannot claim the same theological concern for the administration of the sacrament. I can, however, join in the grave concern that the young men and women in conflict zones are not being cared for pastorally. There are many dedicated and faithful priests, pastors, rabbis, imams and other religious leaders serving along side the troops. Yet there is still deep need for more. The unfortunate part of our system is that there is not a mechanism for clergy to aid the military in forward areas without being military themselves. For some it is a theological decision not to be in the military. For others, like myself, it is a minor medical reason that we are disqualified. If there was a way that I, as a civilian, could be integrated into service I would do it. Although I oppose the policy of this war, I cannot, in good conscience, ignore my pastoral responsibility to my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Perhaps a civilian chaplain corps would be a way our congressional leaders could show support for the souls of our military men and women. I, for one, would welcome the opportunity.

Sincerely,

Rev. Robert Lowry
Searcy, Arkansas

WILLIAM BLAZEK

You wrote, "I once knew a certain person in a well-known religious order who expressed a desire to become an Army priest. He was told by his superior, "I am a child of the 60's, and am suspicious of the military." The response, "I am a child of the 90's, and want to be a chaplain!" gained but little traction."

That "child of the 60's" must not have learned anything of value from the 60's.

The "child of the 90's" seemed to have learned more from the 60's than the "child of the 60's.

Is it any wonder that the "legalistic" attitude of some in the "power structure" of the Church come across as so much like the "legalistic power structure" that Jesus did not seem to have such a high opinion of?

I am a Catholic and I cherish my Catholic Faith and sometimes there seems to be a rather large disconnect between the Catholic Religion and the Catholic Faith.

God bless you and thank you for your posting and remember that it is God's Will that ALL BE SAVED.

We are ALL God's Children whether we like it or not and how we treat each other is more important to God than what "religion" we belong to or even if we believe in Him.

I am glad that Sgt. Vanek had access to the sacraments and it would be a real shame that some would not have access to the sacraments and a chaplain because someone with a little bit of worldly power is "suspicious of the military".

I know for a fact that the Catholic Eucharist is Jesus but there are many ways that God's Grace flows.

One day ALL will know that God is a BEING OF PURE LOVE.

Take care, be ready.

Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum