Onward Christian Soldiers? 'Crusade vs Jihad' Video Game... Good Idea??

Question

Now that I have your attention :-)... what do you think of this article?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082307C.shtml

"Last week, after an investigation spurred by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, the Pentagon abruptly announced that it would not be delivering "freedom packages" to our soldiers in Iraq, as it had originally intended.

"What were the packages to contain? Not body armor or home-baked cookies. Rather, they held Bibles, proselytizing material in English and Arabic and the apocalyptic computer game "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" (derived from the series of post-Rapture novels), in which "soldiers for Christ" hunt down enemies who look suspiciously like U.N. peacekeepers."

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful, hopefully thought-provoking, answers!

Just so you know... any good and bad answer votes you get are from others, I vote on my own questions after they close.

IDE... Thanks for the additional link. From that article, the answer to your question about constitutionality:
“OSU is a giant [improvised explosive device] that is blowing up the constitutional wall separating church and state,” said Weinstein..."

"About 96 percent of those who said they were pressured are Christians themselves, he said. “But these groups are preying on non-evangelical Christians. They believe they have the only right faith, that everybody else is false."

Specifically, that would be the establishment clause of the 1st Amendment.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html#amendmenti

LA Times article, last two paragraphs:

Sorry, previous was from the Army Times article. This is the last paragraph of the LA Times article:
"It's time to actively strip the so-called war on terror of its religious connotations, not add to them. Because religious wars are not just ugly, they are unwinnable. And despite what Operation Straight Up and its supporters in the Pentagon may think is taking place in Iraq, the Rapture is not a viable exit strategy."

LOL... Rajin Cajin, that's what happens when I have too many articles open! I guess we know now that you're the only one who bothered to click on the link :-)
Truth Out article:
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/082307D.shtml
LA Times (08/22/07):
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-aslan22aug22,0,4674900.story?coll=la-opinion-center
Army Times (IDE's link):
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/08/military_religious_070816w/

I'm so sorry for my blonde, senior moment!

Thank you to all of you who took the time to give this issue some consideration and provide your thoughts!! It's encouraging that many voices of reason see the inherent danger of promoting the idea that the war in the Middle East is one of religion. If only our president would listen to these voices of reason instead of the 'voices in his head' that I fear are whispering 'end times'. Thanks again!!

Answer 1

the 'left behind: eternal forces" game troubles me-don't we have enough division between religious faiths as it is? and i'm not sure that 'war games' video games are such a smart choice for combat soldiers during down time-the last thing i think i would want to do with what precious time i had away from battle and patrols would be to 'play war'...i can imagine it would just increase the likelihood of developing ptsd's...
as for the rest of the material, i don't see a problem with soldiers and bibles-the gideons have been providing them for decades-BUT i'm more than a little uncomfortable with our military leaders getting involved in these 'conversion missions'. speaking as a veteran, i can attest to the influence that the brass can have on the 'soldier culture'...these troops are taught from day one to identify with their comrades, to support them, to become a cohesive unit-individuality is not exactly encouraged-i think the imprimatur of authority, from the platoon level up to the pentagon level, can have a decidedly coercive effect on these young men and women, some of them just barely out of school-i have several bibles, and i don't travel without one, but that is my choice-i don't think it's right to push them at ANYONE-and our troops have enough to keep themselves occupied full-time without adding 'missionary work' to their duties-this whole thing smells suspiciously like an entanglement of church&state, not to mention a not-so-subtle shift in the focus of our efforts from (stated, at least) goals of trying to stabilize iraq and afghanistan, hunt down terrorists, and encourage freedom, to fighting a religious war and coercing conversion to the religion of OUR choosing...i don't like it AT ALL

Answer 2

Do you have a source for this information? I found a few sources but none in the main stream media.

If this turns out to be true I think its appalling. As a Christian myself I find it disturbing that one persons view of the "End times" would be promoted and promoted to our military at that. All we need is someone in a position of authority and the military with idea of religious purpose outlined in those books to create WW3. Yes Islam does promote religious war but that reminds me of something my parents used to tell me when I was a kid, "To wrongs don't make a right!" The best lessons are the ones children learn because there is no gray area.

However, it is just a video game! (I wish I could highlight that last sentence) Also I believe our troops are more intelligent and are not motivated by religious ideals.

EDIT: Sending Bibles on the other hand I am perfectly fine with. The last place you want to eliminate faith is in the most dangerous situations. I know if I was in Iraq I would hold tight to my faith and anyone willing to take that away would become my enemy! Even my own government!

Answer 3

Jihad Video Game

Answer 4

Sending Bibles to soldiers is fine, but it might be smarter to equip those Humvies with steel plates and to make sure that each soldier has body armor. I understand that both of these things are in short supply.

I have long been aware that the religious beliefs of our President played a major role in his lust for war with Iraq, a strategy planned long before 9/11, and shared by the Globilists and oilmen in the D.C. Think Tanks that have mapped our nation's strategy.

Our government has been invaded by religious radicals, from Peter Pace to people like John Ashcroft, who spent $3,000 of our tax money to drape precious artwork because it displayed the naked human body.

This video is a shameful example of religion gone awry, in my opinion. On one hand, the Christian Right deplores a glimpse of a female breast on TV because they fear it will influence children in wicked ways, then on the other they create a violent video game showing Christians slaying Muslims.

Add the Jesus Camps to that atrocity, where children are given play swords under a huge portrait of George Bush and taught the rudimentary procedures of War.

Perhaps I am alone in my feelings, but I was always under the impression that the Christian God is merciful, compassionate and forgiving. Somehow he has become an Ogre, a warlord, worshiped by a violent breed that promotes violence and war.

Yet the same members of the public that lust for war while spouting phrases from the Old Testament do not hasten to join the forces fighting the war. "College first," is their explanation while the children of Other People stay for two, three or four tours of duty.

Thomas Jefferson was wise enough to suggest a "wall" between religion and government. George Bush has successfully torn down that wall and allowed a radical group to point fingers of shame toward intelligent, rational people who realize the world chaos being promoted. Thus, war protestors have been vilified, good citizens treated as treasonous, and rational thought given way to a bloodthirsty "Army of God" equating bloody violence with religious belief and encouraging a warlike path of murder and mayhem, all in the name of religion!

Answer 5

The myths of the "white man's burden" and 'the glorious city on the hill" and "the greatest country in the world" combined with the myth of Jesus. Great!

Answer 6

Oh sure! Stir the political pot of hatred up even more!

Answer 7

Sorry, NY Times as far as I got. I think you libs would really like to see the Islamic Jihad's win though, at least until they start attacking here in the states again.

Answer 8

Yes, good idea for a Video Game.

Republicans would be on the side of the Christians.
And Democrats would be on the side of Muslim Terrorists.
Just like Real Life......
Cool!!!!

Answer 9

It's unconstitutional and dangerous. Dangerous to our liberties and dangerous to our soldiers. Horrifying stuff.

These people are so medieval (american fundies.)

Answer 10

Bibles would have been OK but the other even i don't think is appropriate.