Islamic Chaplains

quixote100104

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 22, 2008
Messages
206
Reaction score
10
Greetings :),


I assume that there are chaplains in the US Military who are clergy of some of the same faiths commonly associated with the fundamentalist terrorist groups and other assorted "bad guys" in current perception. That must make for some unique challenges and experiances, not only for clergy but also devout practitioners. Anyone out there have any first hand experiance with this, or aware of any good books written on the subject?

In a similiar vein, I recall reading that Wicca is a recognized religion in the US military. Are there any Wiccan chaplians or, if not, is there a reason there couldn't be? I'm not familliar with the process of selection/training.

Thanks,
 

Kurtz

Fix up, look sharp.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
955
Reaction score
131
Location
Teotihuacan
Islam has no priestly heirarchy. Everyone is as equal as everyone else before Allah. Imams are people who lead Islamic prayer services, they are religious leaders, but "Imam" is not a profession, no one should ever be paid because they are an Imam. As a result, I'm not sure that you could get a specialised Muslim Chaplain in the army.

Instead, I think it's more likely that Muslim soldiers would associate, and the most learned of them in the Qur'an and other points of Islam would be the Imam who leads the prayer services and takes the role of the leader of the mosque, with a similar role to a conventional chaplain.

There is a great story to be written about Muslim soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. The concept of Jihad is very fluid, any struggle for righteousness is Jihad, so both Al Qaeda and the Coalition forces could be seen as forces of Allah depending on points of view.
 

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 6, 2007
Messages
3,415
Reaction score
440
Location
Lewiston, NY
The U.S. Army has a Chaplain Corps. A chaplain and several assistants would serve a brigade. look here for more information. Unfortunately, the link to Corp careers and jobs isn't working. Each chaplain and assistant must be trained in multiple religious ceremonies, including Islam, and Wiccan. I donn't believe Muslims would welcome an unbeliever to lead them in prayer, but the assistant or the chaplain could certainly make whatever arrangements the Muslims needed to worship.
 
Last edited:

Shakesbear

knows a hawk from a handsaw
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 4, 2008
Messages
3,628
Reaction score
463
Location
Elsinore
Islam has no priestly heirarchy. Everyone is as equal as everyone else before Allah. Imams are people who lead Islamic prayer services, they are religious leaders, but "Imam" is not a profession, no one should ever be paid because they are an Imam. As a result, I'm not sure that you could get a specialised Muslim Chaplain in the army.

Instead, I think it's more likely that Muslim soldiers would associate, and the most learned of them in the Qur'an and other points of Islam would be the Imam who leads the prayer services and takes the role of the leader of the mosque, with a similar role to a conventional chaplain.

There is a great story to be written about Muslim soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. The concept of Jihad is very fluid, any struggle for righteousness is Jihad, so both Al Qaeda and the Coalition forces could be seen as forces of Allah depending on points of view.

I agree with all that you have said - but the bit about being paid I found very interesting. The UK Prison Service has Islamic Chaplains in some prisons and they are paid.
 

Kurtz

Fix up, look sharp.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
955
Reaction score
131
Location
Teotihuacan
I donn't believe Muslims would welcome an unbeliever to lead them in prayer, but the assistant or the chaplain could certainly make whatever arrangements the Muslims needed to worship.

I don't think this is really going to be unique for Muslims though. I the chaplains role would mostly be making sure the worshippers could perform the ritual abulutions and that no one ran into the room with a pig or something.

Even the shortest prayer service requires recitations of at least two chapters of the Qur'an, followed by very specific movements and recitation of other phrases, all in classical Arabic. It's a huge amount to remember, even if you do speak Arabic. It must be a blessed relief to organise Quaker prayer meetings in comparison.
 

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Dec 5, 2006
Messages
20,322
Reaction score
3,513
Location
Transcending Canines
Glancing at those stories, it appears the emphasis should be on WAS. Religions with small followings are often discriminated against, because there are few people (directly) hurt by it and complaints generally don't go far. It was only a couple years ago that the fight to allow Wiccan symbols on US Military tombstones was won, though there have ALWAYS been (Christian) crosses on military tombstones, and symbols of the other larger religions for a while:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/23/AR2007042302073.html
 

StephanieFox

Maybull the Bulldog
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 27, 2008
Messages
4,442
Reaction score
636
Location
MPLS
Wicca is recognized by the US Military.
http://bluemoonwicca.org/chaplain.html

Recently, Wiccans killed in battle had to fight for the right to have the Wiccan Pentagram on their gravestones in military graves.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2007/04/wiccans_win_mil/

If you want more on Wicca in the military, contact Selena Fox at Circle Sanctuary. I'm sure she will be happy to talk with you about this. She has been leading the fight to get equal rights for earth-based religions since the 1970s.
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/
and
http://www.circlesanctuary.org/ministries/military/

Circle Sanctuary
Email: [email protected]
Address:
Circle Sanctuary
P.O.Box 9
Barneveld, WI 53507 USA
Telephone: (608) 924-2216
Fax: (608) 924-5961
 
Last edited: