July is when we celebrate freedoms. For me, few freedoms are as precious as my freedom of religion.
When I served as an Air Force chaplain, I had many conversations about religious freedom. Few went like the one I had with a deputy commander of my base.
She was passing my office and stuck her head in the door. “Watcha doing, Chaplain?” she asked.
I said, “I’m trying to write a prayer for colonel so-and-so’s retirement ceremony, but I’m not getting far.”
“Why, what’s the trouble?”
“Well, uh…”
She interrupted with another question.
“Why would you have to write your prayer? You’re a chaplain. Just pray.”
I explained the retiree was Buddhist. I was trying to find a prayer or poem to honor his tradition.
“Keep it simple, Chaplain,” the commander advised. “Just pray a Christian prayer. After all, this is a Christian Air Force.”
I stood up from my chair. Her assertion inspired a teaching moment.
“Do you have a minute to talk?” I asked.
She did. Now we were both standing.
I asked her to think about our oath of office, where we swore to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
She nodded, then asked, “I’ve always wondered how, exactly, does a chaplain defend the Constitution?”
“It’s complicated,” I said.
We both knew the Geneva Convention prohibits chaplains from carrying guns.
“I defend the Constitution mostly through my promotion of the First Amendment: ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…’”
She was smart. She knew I was basically saying a military commander shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.
I told her by respecting the faith of the retiring colonel, I was protecting the religious rights of all, even those we disagree with.
My chaplain’s oath means I make room for all faiths, not just Christianity. It means respecting all—Wiccan, Muslim or Jew. It means respecting the beliefs of the agnostic or atheist.
She nodded at my answer, the sign of a good commander.
I added, “And in abidance with the Geneva Convention, I would even allow an enemy combatant his place of worship.”
This last point may have been her bridge too far. She mentioned an upcoming meeting and left.
As we remember our freedoms this month, we should know the First Amendment takes some inspiration from the Golden Rule. Do unto others as we want them to do unto us.
In military life, that means if I don’t want a Buddhist prayer given at my retirement, I shouldn’t present a Christian prayer at a non-Christian retirement.
In civilian life, that means I must do my part to safeguard the local mosque if I hope to promote my church services.
If I want to wear my “I Love Jesus” shirt, I must affirm a woman’s right to wear her hijab. If my city council invites Pastor Bob to pray, they should allow the humanist to share her inspirational thoughts.
Why stand with those whose faith practice is so drastically different than ours?
Because if we refuse to stand together then we will decidedly fall alone.
I’ll leave you with four guidelines concerning the First Amendment.
1. Introduce your religious beliefs only when asked.
2. Assume people are nonreligious unless you know otherwise.
3. Cultivate respect for all religions and their followers.
4. Extend your understanding to those who profess agnosticism or atheism because freedom of religion must include freedom from religion.
Norris Burkes can be reached at comment@thechaplain.net. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento. Burkes is available for public speaking at civic organizations, places of worship, veterans groups and more. For details and fees, visit thechaplain.net.
