Update [2005-8-6 1:0:13 by jabbausaf]:
I talked to the IG, see updated story here:
Chaplain Troubles: Talked to IG rep
End update
Chaplain Trouble
Further Chaplain Trouble
Well, I reported the chaplains to the IG, and I'll be talking to the IG in a couple of hours. The chaplains are now trying to patch everything up, but too little too late.
I got these emails from the chaplains today:
From the Captain Chaplain
SrA Nixdorf,
We could definitely spend lots of time discussing the theory of evolution and creationism and the scientific evidence or lack thereof for each of those views. The big question we have to ask is "Who was there when the world began?" The obvious answer is that none of us were. The whole fossil record argument is pretty weak according to many of the scholars I have heard from, but I don't have those resources on hand with me. I choose to believe in creation because I feel the evidence supports it and because I believe in a God who has creative power...creativity you might say. I would never attack good science because I believe good science will always point me to the truth that God intends for us to discover...that is that He exists and that He has a plan for our lives. Evolution leads me down the path that says, "We are all just some big cosmic accident." Creation says, "We were created for a purpose. Our lives have meaning. Thought went into how we were designed, how our minds work, etc."
Anyway, that's just my view. I know there are lots of other views as well.
Concerning the e-mail list, I started that and turned it over to comm. to set up. I am working the issue again. I think they are going to have me send out a little step by step on how to block certain e-mails from coming to your mailbox. I was content with the e-mail list I was putting together, but whatever. Sorry for the long delay, but I have enjoyed getting to hear your point of view on things. You have obviously thought through a lot of issues.
Hope you have a good night. Are you looking forward to getting back to Kadena? I sure am!
From the Major Chaplain
Hey John,
Lets get together, face to face to work out our issues on and leave on the same team. LTC Estrada does not want us doing the e-mail devotions with a blocker on it...but like the message a month ago suggested. Therefore, you should have received your last one. That being said, I still want to talk with you. Call me at 0200 when you get in.
Have a good day.
I was also told by a coworker that the Major called for me and wants me to call him back. Something I don't intend to do. Mention in his email, Lt Col Estrada is the Base IG, the one I sent my complaint to yesterday. Apparently she told them to cool it. Good to know, but it's clear that having been alerted that the gig is up, the chaplains are now trying to be buddy-buddy and make nice-nice.
I have prepared the following points for my meeting with the IG. I think they very completely cover the breadth and depth of my complaint.
Problems
1. I asked back in May to be taken off the Christian religious devotional email list. I was told by a chaplain's assistant that the emails went out to the entire base, and that the daily devotions were something the commander (name not given) believes are good for everyone. I set up Outlook to flag devotional emails as spam, but every time I would sign onto a different computer it'd throw the rule out, and I'd have to start again. After two months of this, I stopped fiddling with it.
2. If somebody, like the chaplain, is sending out objectionable religious emails, it should not be my responsibility to keep myself from reading them, it should be the sender's responsibility to keep from sending them. I shouldn't have to control what I receive; the sender should have control over what is sent.
3. As soon as someone had a problem, which was me and it was in May, they should have stopped sending devotional emails until that problem was solved at their end, instead of continuing to send them out and then, two months later, say they're starting to try to solve the problem. If someone does something objectionable, it must be improper somehow to continue doing the objectionable act and say you're trying to find a way to stop.
4. The content of the emails, which are being sent to the entire base, seems to be clearly inappropriate for something coming from a chaplain. Even if the chaplain is not directly saying these things, but is just copying and forwarding what others have, his send them out indicates agreement with their phrases and ideas, and it is just the same as if he'd said it himself.
5. The July 3rd email is a direct attack against other religions and against branches of Christianity that the chaplain does not agree with, warning the base populace not to be deceived by other doctrines.
6. The July 7th email attacks the popular book "The Da Vinci code" and takes a hostile position towards religions with goddess worship, self-deity, and secret knowledge. The message this conveys is that there are beliefs that are right, and there are beliefs that are wrong. While the attacking of those religious is offensive to specific people for specific reasons, the bigger concept that the chaplain is pushing - and that he seems to be pushing consistently - is the notion of "right" versus "wrong." And, moreover, the chaplain doing this via his position in the armed forces. It's detrimental to his execution of his role in the Air Force, and it's detrimental to the unity of the base.
7. The July 17th email states that we must seek forgiveness from God because God cannot allow us in his presence tainted by sin. It's very fire and brimstone, and the imperative tone it takes in directing the base populace to seek God's forgiveness can only be described as proselytizing. It's also pretty awful to, in an environment where dying for your country is a real risk, tell people that if they die having not believed in this one school of thought, they will not be able to gain salvation. It's essentially spiritual blackmail.
8. The July 20th email, referencing a number of recent court cases involving the removal of the 10 commandments from public places, states that the 10 commandments celebrate righteousness, righteousness exalts a nation, and removing the 10 Commandments from a courthouse shows that our nation's moral foundations are crumbling. It would seem to me that it is not the place of a chaplain to question a SCOTUS decision. The 10 Commandments have no place in a court room, because the law of the United States is not religious law. Saying that the 10 Commandments being kept out of a court room is causing the moral degradation of our country is as offensive as saying that having deeply religious people in office is damaging the country.
9. The August 3rd email attacks science with a platitude that completely ignores the question of "if god made the world, who made god?" It also tells the base populace that they should examine themselves to see if they are guilty of living as if they don't need God, which is quite offensive to the many airmen here who do not think that they need God to get through the day, especially since we aren't Christians. The email criticizes Sather airmen for relying on their own wisdom and self-sufficiency, when relying on my wisdom and self-sufficiency is something I happen to be very proud of.
10. The August 4th email says to ignore science when it contradicts the Genesis account, which undermines DoD school teachings. When I objected to it, I was told by Chaplain Harvell that my assertions were sophomoric and that hundreds of scientists disagree with me.
11. I have questioned a number of these objectionable emails, in hopes that they'll take the hint and stop sending them to me, but also because I'm annoyed that the chaplain is able to say these things without any counterbalance or independent scrutiny. After I questioned the August 4th email, complaining also about the increasingly dogmatic and antagonistic tone of the Daily devotions, which I think I have clearly shown attack other beliefs, I brought my objections to the attention of Chaplain Hurt's immediate superior, Chaplain Harvell. I was told by Chaplain Harvell that there are hundreds of so-called scientists who support Creationism; no names or credentials were given, but I don't really care about that at this point. I was told that "if you are planning a lifetime of attacking Christianity and Christian beliefs you might consider keeping the e-mail so that you can learn more about what we believe." I was raised in a Christian household. Despite Chaplain Harvell's opinion of me, I can have knowledge of a religion and still disagree with it. The assumption that, because I disagree with Christianity, I must be ignorant of it, is very offensive to me. I also am not comfortable with him accusing me of planning to spend a lifetime attacking Christianity. I would not have any objections to it if it would stop having an objection to me. Chaplain Harvell really crossed a line for me when he said "I do not mind the discussions, but I do not attack you and your beliefs.", which seems odd because for the last three months I've been getting daily emails attacking my beliefs, as documented above.
12. Whether I'm receiving the emails or not, it must be wrong for a chaplain to use his position to proselytize and recruit for his religion and to criticize and demean other belief systems, even if his intended audience is just members of his own denomination. The chaplaincy, by condoning his statements through inaction, seems to be promoting intolerance and close-mindedness. This would seem to go against the principle of religious pluralism that is the stated cornerstone of military chaplaincy.
13. I do not feel that I will get unbiased treatment from these chaplains if I was to go to them for a non-religious issue, like for counseling or morale problems. I do not feel like they will treat me fairly, and it does seem like they will think less of me for my different beliefs. Through their dogmatic proselytizing they've convinced me that they are not trustworthy and unbiased, which is what the chaplaincy should be. A chaplain should be someone you can talk to, at any time, for any reason. I don't get that from these chaplains. The impression that I get is that they have put their religion and support for that religion over their job as counselors and confidants.
14. Repeatedly, especially recently, the chaplains have both told me that they want to see me and talk to me in person. I do not feel comfortable talking to either one of them in person for several reasons. Emails are on the record and a face to face conversation is not, and I feel more comfortable with the security of a paper trail. They both have made me uncomfortable with their previous statements, and I do not want any further communication with them. Their actions have disturbed me to the point where I don't feel comfortable interacting with them on a daily basis. Some of it cannot be avoided - while I am not comfortable with their leading prayers for my squadron at mandatory formations, I'm aware that this would be a more difficult issue to tackle, because other members of my squadron might find it comforting. But I no longer feel comfortable with their presence in my life. I don't feel that I could talk to them if I needed to speak with them as counselors, and should something happen to me, I don't feel comfortable with their speaking about me and my chosen beliefs. Their words and actions have begun to negatively affect their abilities to serve the soldiers in the manner that their role demands. I realize that, even if I stop receiving the e-mails, their words will still influence my opinions of them. However, it's something that, in the future, should be considered in regards to the interactions between the chaplaincy and the soldiers.
Oh, and the chaplain just called my shop saying he wants to know why I have emailed or called him back, and saying he wants to see me in his office at 0800 or 1800 today. He didn't recognize that it was my voice on the other line, and I told him I'd "pass the message on". He said, and I quote, "He may not want to talk to me but it will be command directed by Lt Col Estrada otherwise".
I have an appointment with the IG, Lt Col Estrada, at 0730. I'll be sure to let her know about the phone call too.