Today I went to a fund-raising brunch for Mike Weinstein, the founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.I had eagerly looked forward to this, I had been a regular monthly contributor to the cause; not a big check, but faithfully written every month. I knew military members were exposed to constant pressure to take part in Christian elements of worship. This disgusted and angered me; enough Constitutional rights of military members are somewhat necessarily abrogated in the name of effective military discipline and training that this last refuge—religious freedom should not join that list.

The sad truth is that rather right wingnut religious types have seized control of the military chaplaincy program and have begun an unashamed outward “Crusading” attitude in the military. Commanders routinely tell their subordinates to “accept Christ”. Jewish members find themselves beaten up by fired up uber-Christian members. Non-compliant members find themselves walking point on dangerous warzone patrols—-literally most likely to die. Frantic letters and emails to Mike’s foundation suggest that ordinary military members, ordinary Christians are feeling such exceptional pressure (like a mother at her son’s FUNERAL hearing a military chaplain say her son was not a GOOD ENOUGH Christian..and that he was burning in Hell), that the hostile religious atmosphere is possibly contributing to military suicide numbers.

When American military vehicles have painted upon them, in Arabic and in red paint “Jesus Killed Mohammed”….do you think it makes them attract more or less fire going down Iraqi streets? When F-16’s have as a unit image, a picture of a medieval knight with cross and sword and the name “Crusaders” emblazoned on the jets, is it any wonder IEDs appear overnight on military runways?

This is the kind of insanity Mike Weinstein is called or emailed about daily. More than 16,000 active military members have ongoing aid requests with his nearly broke foundation. Right wing religious groups have mounted the same hostile prayer campaign they have against Obama…quoting Old Testament bits that call for both to have a “short life” and their fatherless children starving in the streets! Mike has had so many death threats he has to hire security, his home is a fortress and he is uninsurable.

I have watched with sinking heart, for over 10 years…seeing the same deadly constrictor grip of religious fundamentalism winding its way into American life. It is the same process that took Iran backwards in time just before the Carter Administration. It is the same process that let the Taliban seize Afghanistan in the wake of Russia’s withdrawal. It is the same process that let militant Shintoists take control of Japan and begin WWII. It is the same process that let the Nazis take demoralized and economically embattled Weimar Germany into the whirlwind of anti-Semitic, misogynistic, nationalistic frenzy that killed millions of Jews, Romany, and others across Europe. It is not going to end with the military; but it is beginning there now!

I told myself, before today’s meeting, that I was letting my knowledge of history and paranoia overwhelm me. I told myself, “It’s not that bad…we can turn this wave of silliness.” It is that bad. It is worse. In the pressure cooker of military service, where your life hangs on the whim of a superior—-young officers are being taught in the military academies that the way to get ahead is to be one of Christ’s soldiers. They are being told that in this lifetime, they can bring back Christ and the Rapture.

This is not “Sparta,” folks, but it IS insanity. I am unutterably depressed. It may take me a while to muster my resistance. I will be dropping a couple other beloved charities. I will be sending the Military Religious Freedom Foundation as much as I can this month and next, to try to keep that guttering candle alight. Yes, a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize is nice ….but it isn’t paying the bills right now. It is a nomination….not a check.

If any of you ever wanted to give me anything, ever…. I beg you: Give the price of a couple coffees to Mike and do it now. Please. There is a box there to the upper left …the moving picture of religious signs of the world that says “Military Religious Freedom”….please click it and give him the price of a movie ticket…something to stop the rising tide of militant Dominionist Christianity that is getting our military sons and daughters KILLED.