A Chaplain and an Atheist Go to War

DoctorE · #1 by **DoctorE** » Sep 04, 2010 9:41 pm

SANGIN, Afghanistan—They say there are no atheists in foxholes. There's one on the front lines here, though, and the chaplain isn't thrilled about it.

Navy Chaplain Terry Moran is steeped in the Bible and believes all of it. His assistant, Religious Programs Specialist 2nd Class Philip Chute, is steeped in the Bible and having none of it.

Together they roam this town in Taliban country, comforting the grunts while crossing swords with each other over everything from the power of angels to the wisdom of standing in clear view of enemy snipers. Lt. Moran, 48 years old, preaches about divine protection while 25-year-old RP2 Chute covers the chaplain's back and wishes he were more attentive to the dangers of the here and now.

It's a match made in, well, the Pentagon.

"He trusts God to keep him safe," says RP2 Chute. "And I'm here just in case that doesn't work out."

Chaplain Terry Moran led a service for combat Marines in a bombed- out house in Sangin, Afghanistan.
.More photos and interactive graphics
.The 460 Army, Navy and Air Force chaplains deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan are prohibited from carrying weapons, counting on their assistants and the troops around them for protection. It can be a perilous calling. On Monday, Chaplain Dale Goetz, 43, of White, S.D., and four other soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb near Kandahar. Capt. Goetz is the first Army chaplain killed in action since the Vietnam War.

Continues: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 55248.html

Ubjon · #2 by **Ubjon** » Sep 04, 2010 9:51 pm

When my brothers were in the armed forces they found the Padres very supportive when they needed to speak to someone about their experiences. Religion simply didn't come into it and I imagine that given the kind of things that soldiers experience the last thing they want to hear is some religious nonsense about how God has a plan after they've had to take heads of sticks.

Varangian · #3 by **Varangian** » Sep 04, 2010 10:15 pm

Classic.

Lee Vegas · #4 by **Lee Vegas** » Sep 05, 2010 7:18 pm

The chaplain had to check with his colleagues to see if an atheist was allowed to be a chaplain's assistant. I also like the gunnery sgt. saying something like "You think the goddamned chaplain can't be hurt by bullets?"

If I were putting my trust in god, I'd want a Specialist 2nd class and a gunney watching my six.

WSJ wrote:Navy Chaplain Terry Moran is steeped in the Bible and believes all of it. His assistant, Religious Programs Specialist 2nd Class Philip Chute, is steeped in the Bible and having none of it.

Together they roam this town in Taliban country, comforting the grunts while crossing swords with each other over everything from the power of angels to the wisdom of standing in clear view of enemy snipers. Lt. Moran, 48 years old, preaches about divine protection while 25-year-old RP2 Chute covers the chaplain's back and wishes he were more attentive to the dangers of the here and now.

It's a match made in, well, the Pentagon.

"He trusts God to keep him safe," says RP2 Chute. "And I'm here just in case that doesn't work out."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 55248.html

Soopercynic · #5 by **Soopercynic** » Sep 05, 2010 7:37 pm

Great article!

chairman bill · #6 by **chairman bill** » Sep 05, 2010 8:01 pm

Fucking chaplains. Mad bastard god-bothering eejits. What a waste of perfectly good skin they are. I wish the navy chaplain well, but if he gets shot & killed, I just hope nobody blames the poor bloody marine watching his arse.

Varangian · #7 by **Varangian** » Sep 05, 2010 8:40 pm

Thread merge in...

Byron · #8 by **Byron** » Sep 05, 2010 9:13 pm

Can't knock the chaplain's bravery, but damn, is he making his bodyguard work! "Jesus said unto him, It is written again, 'Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God'," is a verse Lt Moran needs to read up on.

Weaver · #9 by **Weaver** » Sep 06, 2010 3:10 pm

Some Chaplains understand that they have some non-religious people in their units, and that they have a duty to provide assistance to them if requested. Others don't.

This particular Chaplain sounds like an idiot, with very weak personal survival skills. He's not only a threat to himself, but to others in his unit. He should be re-trained until he understands his roles and responsibilities while in combat, and if he cannot perform at an acceptable standard, he should be removed from his position.

Varangian · **#10** by **Varangian** » Sep 06, 2010 6:42 pm

Yeah, moving around on the battlefield without taking necessary steps to avoid attracting enemy fire is plain stupid. Others might be hurt, including the guy who will have to baby-sit him, when he draws unnecessary attention to himself and people around him.

james1v · **#11** by **james1v** » Sep 06, 2010 6:57 pm

Clergy...Who'd have em! :roll: