Militarizing Religion

THE PEBTAGON, I am informed, maintains a ist of organized reigions which it recognizes as organized religions, an impressive achievement for a five sided edifice. But, I digress. It, the Pentagon, the human beings within the building, most likely a select few people of high military rank, has determined that no fewer than one hundred and eighty of them will be removed from the list. The criteria by which those cast off will be eliminated was not immediately announced; it may be that when a recognized religion dwindles in numbers of votaries below a certain point, it is booted off the list. A military machine, maintaininng a list of religions, and classifying them according to its recognition and approval. Somehow, there is something ironic in that. Ironic, in that, as far as I know, every religion on Earth not only condemns human violence generally and individually, but also, of the organized sort engaged in by military establishments. Might one assume,that according to Christian theology, in order for mankind to live in accordance with the teachings of Christ, that all military institutions, including armies and navies, should not and would not exist if all nations and their citizens fully embraced the teachings of Christ? Arguably, yes. By what reasoning does any military organization involve itself in any religion at all, or acknowledge any? Well, the reasoning is that when most people enter into military service, they bring with thm their religiosity, and do not, and cannot "check it" at the door. But perhaps it would be better if they did or were required to. One possibility would be to establish as official military doctrine that the military is a secular institution, with no formal acknowledgment of any particular religion, or religion in general, but that all military personnel are free to practice their respective religions, off base, and out of uniform? The answer, it would see, is that religiosity is very real, inherent in the human heart, mind, and soul, whether or not one serves in the military, and, again, that nobody suddenly ceases to ambrace or practice one's religion by merely checking it at the door upon entering into military service. Requiring such personal denial of religious faith would further run the risk of demoralizing, in more ways than one, mmilitary service members. In our modern times many people, usually well educated intellectuals, disparage all religion, tending to consider it anachronistic. I am among them. But those of us who share this attitude would do well to remind ourselves that religiosity is a phennomenon fundamental to the human mind, but that it also serves as a solid, firm pillar upon which we support and nurture one of our most fundamental inclinations; to regard ourselves, our lives, and our creator with wonder, reverence, and awe. There may indeed come a time when not only is there no religion in any military institution, and there are no religions, and no military institutions, including huge, well organized militaries, land, sea, and space, permanently in place, ever prepared to engage in organized violence, for reasons which are always justified by those who choose to make war. We appear to be far from perpared to take this culturally evolutionary step foreard. And since we humans remain addicted to our petty, barbaric violence in highly organized form, perhaps we soften the situation a bit by embuing it with the highest form of spiritual nobility at our disposal, our philosophies and our religions.