U.S. military destroys soldier's Bibles

I'm going to say this as carefully as I can and hope everyone understands although I'll bet I'll get a large amoutn who will disagree with me.

It is not the military's job duty or mission to be proselytizing or evangelizing. That's almost a classic example of a state enforcing religion. Their work lies elsewhere.

That said, if soldiers are holding prayer services or Bible study classes I see no harm in allowing locals to partake, even giving them Bibles if they wish to have them.

And I certainly see no reason why Bibles should have been confiscated and especially burned. Especially by the military itself. Are they confiscating and burning Qu'ran's? How well would that go over?

One quick note. Of the several versions of this I've read, some say soldiers, some say only one soldier. And though it must be there I can't find the story at Human Events (CS -- if you have the link would you email it to me so I can include it)

from our own favorite Christian Soldier:

Pentagon Burns Soldiers Bibles - Military Chaplains Attacked

In 2002-when many of us sent boxes to our troops --they had little except the military necessities-it was the beginning of the 'war on terror'...The list of banned items included the Bible..I said nothing at the time -but questioned it through my Christian leaders--Answer--'We have to do what they say...' 'We can't offend ..
'SEVEN years later...!!!!!--With the loss of Christian blood...Shed on terrorists' ground..WELL--now I'M OFFENDED!!!!

From Human Events:BREAKING NEWS: Pentagon Burns Soldiers Bibles - Military Chaplains Attacked

The Pentagon under the Obama Administration has just acknowledged seizing and burning the privately owned Bibles of American soldiers serving in Afghanistan. The Bibles had been printed in the local Pashto and Dari languages, and sent by private donors to American Christian soldiers and chaplains, for distribution to American troops on overseas military bases during optionally-attended Christian worship services. Had the Bibles not been seized and destroyed, they could have legally been given as gifts during off-duty time to Afghani citizens who welcome our troops in their homes, as an expression of American gratitude for Afghani hospitality, promoting the democratic ideals of freedom of religion and freedom of the press.

But the Muslim controlled Al Jazeera television network obtained video footage of the Bibles, held by American soldiers while listening to a chaplain on the Bagram Air Base (inside the base chapel) whose sermon encouraged outreach and personal evangelism. The American values of freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of Christian speech offended some extremist Muslim groups, and angered a small group of American atheists, who demanded the chaplain be punished for "proselytizing" because he simply repeated Jesus' words to "Go and make disciples of all nations" in church.

IT'S NOT PROSELYTIZING, IT'S EVANGELISM:

The video proves the chaplain properly explained U.S. Central Command's General Order Number One, which prohibits "proselytizing" (forcing religious conversions using military weapons) but fully permits soldiers of any religion to engage in non-threatening "evangelism" (voluntary conversations about their faith) and legally allows giving private gifts, including books, to Afghani citizens during off-duty hours in their unofficial capacity. The Al Jazeera film-maker Brian Hughes also admitted the Bibles could have been useful in helping soldiers learn the Pashto and Dari languages of the Afghan people.

Instead, the privately owned Bibles were confiscated and destroyed. Caving in to pressure from the Muslims and Atheist groups, the U.S. military spokesman Maj. Jennifer Willis told Reuters reporters, "I can now confirm that the Bibles shown on Al Jazeera's clip were, in fact, collected by the chaplains and later destroyed. They were never distributed." When questioned about the authenticity of the Al Jazeera video, U.S. Army Colonel Greg Julian admitted the Al Jazeera reporting was biased against the American Christians: "Most of this is taken out of context ... this is irresponsible and inappropriate journalism."

the REST HERE