tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564473.post114391834799427792..comments2024-01-15T05:32:24.873-05:00Comments on The Jon Rowe Archives: Jonathan Rowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04079637406589278386noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564473.post-1143943823120663102006-04-01T21:10:00.000-05:002006-04-01T21:10:00.000-05:00Clayton:I have no problem with military Chaplains ...Clayton:<BR/><BR/>I have no problem with military Chaplains as long as they are done in exactly the way you described, including a variety of religions, like Wicca, to meet the needs of the religious diversity in the military.<BR/><BR/>And I agree that the Framers would have would have scratched their heads at government funding of Muslim chaplains; but their principles of religious neutrality still would necessarily demand their inclusion.<BR/><BR/>I aslo think that the Framers desired their liberal principles to influence the various religions themselves, make them more "sober" and "rational." <BR/><BR/>Certainly, many Muslims believe in some frightening and wicked things and I'd hate to think that my tax dollars are subsidizing that. But, the principle of benevolent neutrality which demands their inclusion in any kind of religious aid program, hopefully will positively impact Islam itself and make it into a tamer creed.Jonathan Rowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04079637406589278386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564473.post-1143941811029597542006-04-01T20:36:00.000-05:002006-04-01T20:36:00.000-05:00In practice, Congressional chaplains represented a...In practice, Congressional chaplains represented a variety of first Protestant, then more broadly, Christian sects. Military chaplains today include a variety of religions, including Wiccan. Any law that either directly or indirectly gave a particular denomination or religion special treatment (good or bad) would violate the "respecting an establishment of religion" clause.<BR/><BR/>There is a serious question about how to handle the difference between original intent (the Framers doubtless would have scratched their heads at government funding of Muslim chaplains) and the text of the Constitution. Either follow the text as it is written and the words were understood then, or follow original intent. Trying to change the methodology as convenient makes no sense, except as a way of achieving desired political ends.Clayton Cramerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03258083387204776812noreply@blogger.com