Thursday, May 5, 2011

Covering All The Bases...!


I have to admit that I was a little surprised that this was put together at the Air Force Academy!

I mean, I'm all for freedom of religion...but I can't help but wonder if the AFA is the right place for this. In fact, I wonder if any place associated with the military is proper! But I guess that in today's climate, nearly anything can be expected!

AFA dedicates outdoor chapel for Wiccans, Druids and other earth-centered groups
By Tom Roeder
The Gazette
Posted: 05/04/2011 12:50:44 PM MDT

Add Wiccans and Druids to the list of faiths that have their own chapel at the Air Force Academy.

A circle of stones around an altar was dedicated on a hilltop above the campus Tuesday with earth-centered prayer and speeches about religious liberty at the academy, a school that has long faced criticism as a bastion for evangelical Christianity.

"This outdoor worship space is something we have created to help people of all religions," Lt. Gen. Michael Gould, the academy's superintendent, said before a ribbon cutting on the site.

Read the rest of this report at Gazette.com.

I think with this addition, just about all the bases are covered! Smarter folks than me are going to have to figure out if this the right thing to do. Right or not...it's a done deal!

How about some fresh coffee on the patio? You can try out the new porch swing Baby Sis and I gave Mom!

16 comments:

Sixbears said...

Who am I to question someone else's religion? Still, the Air Force Academy? That is a surprise. Must be a lot of those neo pagans running around these days.

Anonymous said...

It is true, many are disenchanted with the modern religions and what they have become and what they stand for and are returning 'from whence they came' that is back to paganism, which we all were before the church stole the symbols of Christmas and Easter to kidnap believers and convert them.

AV

Ben in Texas said...

I guess I'm for anyone's right to their own religious ( or not ) beliefs. But I am against this whole heartily!!
What they going to chant when they recite the pledge of Allegiance? IMHO and it is MY Opinion. Don't allow those pagans in to defend MY country. Send them to what ever country holds those beliefs. Same thing with the Muslims.

Momlady said...

Guess what? Paganism is a recognized religion in this country.

Baby Sis said...

Bubba -

Let's go sit on the new swing with some coffee and sing "When we all get to Heaven", ok? Some good harmony in that, as I remember..

Big hugs -

Dizzy-Dick said...

I just don't know what to say. . .

Unknown said...

I see humor in it.just like marrage between two of the same sex.polite joke.Dizz I can not believe that ,you just have something else your more interested in.like making some gas money.

JoJo said...

I don't know what to say either so lets just have some coffee on the new swing. That was a really sweet thing for you and baby sis to do for mom.

HermitJim said...

Hey SixBears...
Sort of a surprise to find it at the AFA, isn't it?

Like I said, guess they are covering all the bases!

Thanks for the visit today!


Hey AV...
I really don't have a problem with Paganism and such, but I question the fact that the ACA (government) was involved!

I just never pictured this happening at a military college!

I appreciate you coming by today!


Hey Ben...
Does pose some interesting questions, I think!

Things are really changing in this ol' world!

I thank you, my friend, for coming by today!


Hey Momlady...
Don't get me wrong! I'm not against Paganism or any other form of worship, but my only concern is the fact that a military setting seems a bit out of place for an outdoor chapel.

Guess if any group ever needed a place to seek solace from a higher authority, a military school would certainly be a good place to start!

I appreciate you coming by today!

Bob from Athens said...

Interesting to note that some think you can't defend your country if you are not of the "correct" religion. Seems like to me a couple of hundred year ago or there abouts a lot of people left Europe and came to this country for some somewhat similiar reasons.

HermitJim said...

Hey Sis...
Always a good place to sit and have coffee!

As far as the singing, I probably should pass on that! Don't want to mess up any good songs with my singing voice!

I might end up calling all the cats in the neighborhood!

Thanks, Sis, for coming over today


Hey Dizzy...
Hard to know how to react! At least it shows that some of the leaders at the school realize how important some form of religion should be to the military!

The whole thing is confusing to me!

I really appreciate you coming by today!


Hey Ted...
I guess that a quiet place for some meditation is always welcome!

Thanks for coming by today!


Hey JoJo...
Seems like a simple thing to do, but it's a present she will use and one that she wanted! That's the mail thing, right?

You have a great day, sweetie, and thanks for coming by today!

HermitJim said...

Hey Bob...
I didn't know there was a "correct " religion! I only question the close association to the military campus!

Freedom to worship in whatever fashion you deem proper is certainly one of this country's building blocks.

Just seems like an interesting location to me!

Hey, I appreciate you coming by today!

Unknown said...

Think about it your strapped in a cockpit with a rocket under your butt.You are looking for any God given tool to get you back to the earth without splattering.You know your going to crash land,you just hope an (PRAY) that it is a controlled crash.Just a thought

Gorges Smythe said...

Some folks know the real God, some don't. Those that don't will have trouble enough someday, no need to give them flak here, unless they try to do away with OUR rights.

Kyddryn said...

Hmm...I see your point, Mister Hermit, sir...and I have a thought (uh-oh!):

If a government institution is going to recognize and give space/time to ONE religion (as recognized by the State), then it must give the same space/time to all religions (as recognized by the State).

There are rather a lot of pagans serving in the various branches of the military - enough so the Chaplain's handbook was altered decades ago to include them - and while they try very hard to get along with everyone and not be too in-your-face, they, too, deserve a bit of space to worship and find their balance. While pagans don't always need real estate (we tend to view wherever we are as "church"), it's nice to have a gathering spot to meet with like-minded folks. We can all use a little bolstering from our communtiy from time to time, military folks especially!

I have mixed feelings about the space being made, mostly because I think religion is not something with which the State should be bothering...but then, the last time religion was mixed with politics, a great many folks who were mistaken for my people were burned at the stake!

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

Diggity Dog said...

This isn't really startling. They started letting wiccans place pentagram grave markers at the soldier's or soldier's family request in 2007. And have you considered what they've created? It's a hilltop, with an altar(read a table or something like that) and a ring of stones. It's not even like it cost much money.

Let's put it this way, if they're a good enough American to get into the Air Force Academy, which requires a senator's approval, overall excellent broad based background and an outstanding academic background, then I don't see much harm in letting a few of them have a hilltop to go and dance under the moon.