 |
|
|
|
 The Air Force Academy has made a big change to its honor code to reflect religious diversity.
October 25th, 2013
05:11 PM ET
Air Force makes 'God' optional in honor codeBy Emily Smith, CNN (CNN) - The U.S. Air Force Academy has decided to make phrase "so help me God" optional in its honor code after an activist group protested that requiring all cadets to recite it violates their rights. The complete oath reads: "We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does, so help me God." Cadets are required to recite the oath when they complete basic training. It is also taken by the entire cadet wing each year as re-affirmation of their commitment to the honor code, said AFA spokesman Major Brus Vidal. The Military for Religious Freedom Foundation, a watchdog group that has waged repeated battle with the armed services, took issue with the last clause of the sentence, saying that no cadets should be forced to make a promise to God. After the complaint was filed by MRFF, the Air Force Academy Honor Review Committee met for an in-depth discussion regarding the oath. On Friday, the AFA released a statement saying they had decided to make the final clause of the honor oath optional. The AFA statement read, in part, “Here at the Academy, we world to build a culture of dignity and respect, and that respect includes the ability of our cadets, Airmen and civilian Airmen to freely practice and exercise their religious preference –- or not.” "The fact that the oath is optional will be communicated in honor lessons, leadership lessons, and religious respect lessons during the summer (cadet basic military training) so all trainees will understand prior to taking the Cadet Honor Oath that the final clause will be completely optional," said Vidal. "The person administering the oath, who is the cadet wing honor chair has the option to say or not say 'so help me god," so this might vary from year to year," Vidal continued. MORE ON CNN: Air Force: Bible and nukes don't mix Mikey Weinstein, MRFF's founder and president, said he would sue the academy on behalf of his clients if the words were still left at the end of the oath, even if repeating them was optional. “If the words are still there and you don’t say [them] you turn yourself into a tarantula on a wedding cake,” he said. MRFF has taken issue with the Air Force before. In 2011, the group complained about an Air Force training presentation that used religion to teach the ethics and morality of using nuclear weapons. That same year, CNN learned that the Air Force was using religious tenets such as the Ten Commandments to teach core values to ROTC cadets. MORE ON CNN: Air Force's use of Christian messages extends to ROTC
« Previous entryVatican suspends German bishop amid spending investigation
|
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
|
|
|
I couldn't conceive of a story that could ignite the world like those who wrote the n.t. no one else could either. Many have tried
They didn't conceive it either. They cobbled the story together from many other cultures and sources.
I have read many stories that were far more intriguing.
Give Scientology a chance.
After all, they haven't invaded anywhere to spread their faith yet.
This is a good thing, and all religious folk should agree. There's no reason somebody should be forced to appeal to a god that nobody can even prove exists. That is akin to a Christian being forced to swear to Zeus or Allah. If you want to believe it, there's nothing wrong with it, but it shouldn't be a state matter. I wonder if they took that bit (along with swearing on the bible) out of court yet. It's kind of silly and encourages lying because an atheist or Muslim swearing on a bible and taking an oath about god won't bother him in the least if he lies. Separation of church and state is a good thing, and it's one of the primary concepts this country was founded on. Reading some religious folks comments in here just makes me scratch my head. I know you honestly think your religion is correct and you think others should practice it as well, but forcing it through law or pledge or oath is simply wrong. It's faith, there is no evidence to suggest it is real, therefor it should be kept out of schools and laws.
They won't agree.
Christians think they have proof of god.
Their god even.
@Barcs : It's faith, there is no evidence to suggest it is real
All faith is based upon some evidence. This includes Christianity, evolution, Big Bang, Islam, Hinduism, etc.
There is a LOT more evidence for big bang / evolution, than Hinduism / Christianity. For a universal creator there is absolutely no objective evidence whatsoever. That is the only fact about theism.
Although if you have evidence of this so called creator that is tangible and not subjective, I'd love to see it.
@Barcs : Although if you have evidence of this so called creator that is tangible and not subjective, I'd love to see it.
Your wish is my command. 🙂
Natural Origins or Supernatural Origins?
__ a) Matter, energy and time exist. Where did they come from? There are currently not naturalistic explanation
that only has supporting evidence for this issue.
__ b) Life exist. Where did it come from? There are currently not naturalistic explanation that only has
supporting evidence for this issue.
Therefore, this implies some supernatural being or event is necessary.
Which supernatural being or event answers the above issue?
__ a) Multiple religions address the creation of life, but only three begin with the creation of matter, energy
and time.
__ b) Given the Biblical account that begins with the creation of matter, energy and time,
__ c) Given no other religions (other than the Abrahamic branches) begins with the creation of matter, energy and
time,
Therefore, only the Abrahamic religions answer both of the basic issues.
Did the Judaism God Do It?
__ a) Given accurate transmission of the Jewish Bible,
__ b) Given the fulfillment of foretold specific prophecies (incl: Eze 37) in the Jewish Bible
Therefore, the God of the Jews is a viable contender.
Did the Islamic God Do It?
__ a) Given inaccurate transmission of the Koran Bible,
__ b) Given the factual inaccuracies (i.e. members of the Trinity)
__ c) Given the lack of specific prophecies in the Koran
Therefore, the God of the Muslims is not a viable contender.
Did the Christian God Do It?
__ a) Given accurate transmission of the Christian Bible (i.e. Jewish / OT and NT),
__ b) Given the fulfillment of foretold specific prophecies (incl: Eze 37, Rev 13) in the Christian Bible
Therefore, the God of the Christian is a viable contender. Since it includes the Jewish beliefs as well, it is
the better answer.
Not knowing answer as to where energy and matter came from is not evidence of god. It's evidence that we don't know the answer yet. There could be a potentially huge number of possible explanations for the universe that do not require a god. What evidence do you actually have to point to a universal creator? You can't just say, "how did everything get here?". I could easily apply that reasoning to god. How did god get here, where did he come from? If you say he always was, then I will simply say the same could apply to energy / matter. No reason to assume a god, because we don't know.
Yep. No proof there.
It's true because the Bible says it's true. It's true because people are not allowed to say "I don't know". It's true because there are no alternatives to the existence of God. Sure.
Do not forget the talking donkey L4H.
@Live4Him – so you worship the god of the gaps.
Same god that people worshipped when Thor and Odin were the main gods – we didn't know where thunder came from, thus it must be a god. Problem with that god is that gaps in our knowledge tend to change, and that kills the god.
Not to mention that it's a pretty weak belief, to believe that all we don't currently understand is god, even while we believe that all gods from the past based on what we didn't know then were merely ignorance talking.
L4H
Every Christian apologetics website has pretty much the same basic dogma that they then expound on at great length. Of course none of the information provided is anything but faith, I believe it therefore it is true.
L4H
"Natural Origins or Supernatural Origins?
__ a) Matter, energy and time exist. Where did they come from? There are currently not naturalistic explanation
that only has supporting evidence for this issue.
__ b) Life exist. Where did it come from? There are currently not naturalistic explanation that only has
supporting evidence for this issue.
Therefore, this implies some supernatural being or event is necessary.
This implies nothing of the sort. It implies we do not know.
I certainly hope you aren't paying for this "education" you seem to have.
Faiith denies evidence.
Religious faith is belief that exists in the absence of evidence, or despite evidence to the contrary.
Faith is the emotion that precededs reason.
The great difficulty, of course, is that there can be no rational response to an emotional question – and Faith is arguably the most powerful of all emotions.
@Doc Vestibule : Faiith denies evidence.
You mean like the following:
1) The lack of a center of the universe
2) 1 centillion species for 1000 evolutionary steps, et only 1.9 million species id'd
3) Never observing evolution : redefine the term species
4) Lack of explanation for origins of life
5) Finding of dino soft tissue in 2005 (which can survive less than 10,000 years)
L4H
1) We cannot determine the exact center since the universe is fluid and moving. What does that have to do with anything.
5) The soft tissue you refer to was contamination from microbs, not dinasaur tissue, you would know that if you researched before posting.
For the rest, just because we haven't found answers, does not mean we won't, and NONE of what you cite infers any deities.
We do not know, does not mean there is a god.
1) The lack of a center of the universe – ???? What does this guess have to do with a creator or evolution?
2) 1 centillion species for 1000 evolutionary steps, et only 1.9 million species id'd – You got proof of this or this another one of those AIG "TRUTHS" lol. Science doesn't state this anywhere.
3) Never observing evolution : redefine the term species – False. evolution has been observed numerous times. The genetic mutations from parent to offspring have been directly observed via genome mapping. Species has never been redefined and it's only a category of classification. When creatures of the same species live in different environments and enough time passes, they lose the capability to breed. This is where scientific draw the "species" line.
4) Lack of explanation for origins of life – So that means it must be god? Why not let science keep studying and researching. There is evidence for abiogenesis as well as panspermia. Let them figure it out instead of proclaiming you know the answer when you are actually guessing based on ignorance (what we don't yet know). That's highly illogical.
5) Finding of dino soft tissue in 2005 (which can survive less than 10,000 years) – Prove it? If the conditions are right, things are better preserved. There's no line that says it can't survive 10,000 years.
Patriot,
"you lying, whining losers."
You have taken lying and whining to the max. You are in a full-fledged out-of-control tantrum - messing up the place for everyone (including you).
No one compares to him. Not even close. Examining his words and his life prove beyond any doubt that he was the son of man
@BUSH: " his life prove beyond any doubt that he was the son of man."
i couldn't agree more!
mary slept with the "milk man" and had to cover it up so she said angels told her she would end up pregnant. wouldn't it be great to live before DNA tests! XD
see jesus was "the son of man..................just the man mary cheated with." XD
No one spoke like he did. No one said the kinds of things he said. No one generated such loyalty, such passion, such devotion among the massses of poor and unimportant people while seeking nothing political or financial in return.
He could have avoided such a brutal, painful death. Instead, he embraced it, who for the joy set before him endured the execution despising the shame
Confucius said almoe all of the same things jesus did.
Jesus was a rabi with a bug heart, but he was killed for causing trouble during a large festival.
The Romans used pain and fear to keep the masses in line.
"He could have avoided such a brutal, painful death."
so how exactly do you kill a demi-god?
DEMI-GOD
1. Mythology
a. A male being, often the offspring of a god and a mortal, who has some but not all of the powers of a god.
b. An inferior deity; a minor god.
c. A deified man.
2. A person who is highly honored or revered.
WASP,
Well, see, the mortal half dies (Hercules died, maybe they all did, no time to look up right now), and the god half goes to the groovy afterlife place to live happily after...
One tiny hole that is; zero
Large porous spaces
Edges
Grass and critters. Critters crawling by; Crawling
Tiny little holes; giant tiny holes
One narrative of all perception; the position doesn’t change
You are right there
AB
Your mission if you chose to accept it, is to write your own version of the Christian gospels, aka Tommy Jefferson. A project that may suit you, with a few chapters in free verse, a few in iambic pentameter, many in straight prose and of course a collection of sonnets for the lovelorn or just h0rny.
I don't know if you like me or hate me but you are cracking me up.
I find you the coolest free spirit on this blog and Doris/mama k for her gender, equally cool. I admire you both.
You is alright man, thx.
I took some time to figure it out
What all your lies and myths were about
You lied to my face for years and years
Your fraudulent stories filled my ears
I couldn't see so you forced me to believe
I wasted my time while you smiled and deceived
I don't believe, so I'm a bad man?
You're all full of sh**, f*** your clan
I'm not naive,
but I'll never believe.
It's not my fault
you're all in a cult.
So forget what you're told
before you grow old
God can not heal
He's not even real
If you don't have a ti.tle for your poem, may I suggest, "DECEIVED," works regardless of belief, yes?
Its not mine. But yes that works both ways.
This poem has nothing and everything to do with sex.
CQ, Topher Topherized his wife and succeeded. I say, kudos!
Sorry I am an idiot. Wrong place.
I like Topher. He is at least genuine in his belief; even if I disagree with him at times, he is always respectful. I wish him and his wife a long, happy, and prosperous marriage.
Hi Akira. I agree, I like Topher as long as we don't go to bible town.
Hi, Apple. I see our little insidious troll is hard at work jacking your name in the name of God.
Yes indeed. If only the troll really understand how much I don't care in the least. lol
Yes indeed. If only the troll really understood how much I don't care in the least. lol
If Topher went fouth and multiplied, who were the first three?
*fourth*
Here we come, walking down the street
We get the funniest looks from everyone we meet.
Hey, hey, we're the monkees
And people say we monkey around,
But we're too busy singing
To put anybody down.
You know that we want to
Do what we like to do,
The only time we get restless
Is around something new
Hey, hey, we're the monkees
And people say we monkey around,
But we're too busy singing
To put anybody down.
We're just trying to be friendly
So come and Hey, hey, we're the monkees
And people say we monkey around,
But we're too busy singing
To put anybody down.
The foul engendered worm
Feeds on the flesh of the life-giving form
Of our most Holy and Anointed One.
He is not risen, no,
He lies and moulders low;
Christ is not risen.
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust;
As of the unjust, also of the just –
Christ is not risen.
...
Is He not risen, and shall we not rise?
Oh, we unwise!
What did we dream, what wake we to discover? Ye hills, fall on us, and ye mountains, cover!
In darkness and great gloom
Come ere we thought it is our day of doom,
From the cursed world which is one tomb,
Christ is not risen!
Eat, drink, and die, for we are men deceived,
Of all the creatures under heaven's wide cope
We are most hopeless who had once most hope,
We are most wretched that had most believed.
Christ is not risen.
Eat, drink, and play, and think that this is bliss!
There is no Heaven but this!
Isaiah 22:13
And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.
1 Corinthians 15:32
If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
Captain crunch does not exist!
No really truly I insist.
That Captain Crunch does not exist.
My neighbor who eats captain crunch
My little dog he once did punch
It's his fault I protest your lunch
I can not stand this Captain Crunch
Yes Captain Crunch does not exist
I really truly must insist
And if you're eating Captain crunch
May captain C. go suffer a bunch
@Patriot,
by your logic:
Not requiring people to say what you believe infringes on their free speach.
I'm not sure you thought that through.
"...you lying, whining losers."
There's that friendly Christian disposition that we all know and love.
All you want me for is your stupid sex.
I do.
I know, they are wonderful.
I went behind your back
We are making a mistake
Her first date
Settle
Real men don't want women just for stupid sex.
We also want them to cook and clean.
AB
Topher has admitted to being a fornicator, he needs your advice, his god's message on s&x is well, fornicated up!
Think about how the churdh/bible treats women in general:
Eve was made for Adam.
The woman swears to obey the man in the traditional wedding vows.
Daughters are not even mentioned in the records of lineage, unless they need to be for a male child to be properly described.
Nuns take a vow of poverty, priests don't.
Women cannot be priests.
Now that you women know your place, get on your knees for god/men, and like it.
This poem has nothing and everything to do with sex.
CQ, Topher Topherized his wife and succeeded. I say, kudos!!
Ah yes Topher is expecting, congratulations are due and given. However Topher has also admitted to breaking the big ten that would include adultery. Your kind attention and advice would be the atheistic thing to do.
CQ, when I see Topher, I will most certainly address these indiscretions and their validity.
I believe it was the "Jimmy Carter lust in his heart" variety. I have seen him posit that even thinking about murdering someone is akin to the actual murder in God's eyes.
I'll let Topher speak for himself, however. I wouldn't want to misconstrue his words.
Akira
Quite right, Topher should speak for himself, could very well be he just thought about it, had a premie and that was the end of it.
CQ, lol. I bet he hates when that happens.
Akira
Topher has just signed in. I may have to go into hiding for awhile.
Not sure why my name is coming up. But to answer your questions, yes, I've broken all 10 Commandments. The adultery and murder sins were the "of the heart" varieties.
LET's Religiosity Law #11 – “From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.”
"CLEAN!"
"Queen, to make it funny."
"He doesn't get it."
Dr. Seuss will always be funnier than a car insurance commercial
Be that as it may, I love that commercial !
Heaven is a place in Hell; a place where Angels and Demons dwell. The bell rings, the Devil Swings and on God’s throne he begins to dwell.
Looking through space and time, the duality of the immortals shine.
The singing begins and the song is one of the infinite. Universes are sung, galaxies too; Star and planet, us.
But we can hear the singing not;
For we are here on this planet caught.
The webs we weave; tears to deceive.
Rob of us of our own immortal lot.
Job 1:6
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
Job 2:1
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.
Job 38
1Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Isaiah 14:
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.
19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.
20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.
22 For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the Lord.
23 I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of hosts.
Please, no bible babble. We can all read if we want to. I don't.
I am only one cry in the long journey to the edge of the beginning of your journey.
Many cries may visit and be your friends.
Some have had a really hard time of it so just avoid the really bad ones.
It is a terrible thing to lose your thoughts to permanent melancholy.
Logic replaced with dread and misdeed?
Why the same dreams and people?
Why the same shame and funeral?
My potion did not kill me. It doesn’t matter.
Open me and purge it. Make me a child.
Regrets adding up. Must balance the books.
The wrinkles in his fingers smelled of gasoline.
Tremble and swallow and wipe and push and beep.
The little smear looks more like a face than his face does.
Shut the visor with a tap.
He should have been smart enough to die before 50.
He should have been just that stupid.
She danced
Each jewel on her gown flying outward
Perhaps never to return
Each shiny gem in a cloud of total darkness
She danced and she sang
Her gown twirling like a pinwheel faster and faster still
Soon to become many
And many to become light
And that light to become trillions of sparkles
Still she danced
And now the swirls were as giants dancing
And the dancing giants would collide in beautiful confusion
And the spinning would last forever
Aye an' a bit of Mackeral settler rack and ruin
ran it doon by the haim, 'ma place
well I slapped me and I slapped it doon in the side
and I cried, cried, cried.
The fear a fallen down taken never back the raize and then Craig Marion,
get out wi' ye Claymore out mi pocket a' ran doon, doon the middin stain
picking the fiery horde that was fallen around ma feet.
Never he cried, never shall it ye get me alive
ye rotten hound of the burnie crew. Well I snat ched fer the blade O my
Claymore cut and thrust and I fell doon before him round his feet.
Aye! A roar he cried frae the bottom of his heart that I would nay fall
but as dead, dead as 'a can be by his feet; de ya ken?
...and the wind cried Mary
If I had piece of wood I would make it a yo yo
If I had a yo yo I would tie a string to it
If I was me, I would make me into a yo yo with a string attached to it and practice
@Patriot,
Now that's better. While I disagree with your statement there, at least you put it out there for civil discussion instead of your insidious, weasely, sniper-like behavior. Act like a man (or woman). Present your ideas and defend them fair and square and quit the puerile hijinks. Thank you.
So what were the last word Jesus spoke?
If the bible can get one thing wrong, maybe it has a lot of things wrong.
If Jesus would have had the sense to be punished in the 21st century, we would know. Plenty of cell phone evidence. Stupid Jesus.
If jesus came today,
America would reject him. The conservative would hate him for having two fathers, and the liberals for being close minded and trying to tell them what to do.
If he returned to the middle east, he would be in trouble for not worshipping Allah.
Take that a step further. If you believe in the return of Jesus, how do you know you didn't already toss him in jail?
LET's Religiosity Law #1 – If Jesus came back today he would be shot in the head. That's what you do to put down zombies; otherwise they eat your brains.
Toss him in jail?
What would be the point?
Now, Texas may have executed him, but I dunno.
@LET
I just finally saw World War Z.
You explained the movie to me – he has a new way of recruiting us all to be zombies just like him!