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DOD religious list change sparks anger, charge of religious preference
Critics say the Pentagon’s cut from 211 recognized faith groups to 31 favors Christianity, raising concerns about religious freedom and constitutional rights.
By Becky Tallent | FāVS News Reporter
The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News.
For the first time in 10 years the U.S. Department of Defense recently changed the number of recognized religions and faiths for military personnel, this time reducing the list from 211 to 31.
While the DOD is claiming this is simply streamlining chaplain services, some current and former military personnel are calling it a “middle finger to the Constitution.”
Why are some so upset? The list of 31 “recognized” religions is heavily Christian, removing many faiths of minority or worldview groups such as atheists, Asatru, deists, Druids, Eckankar, heathens, Humanists, Magick, New Age churches, Pagan, Rosicrucianism, shaman, Spiritualists, Troth, Unitarian Universalists and various Wiccans.
Who’s missing from the list
Still on the list are Jewish, Islam, Hindu, Buddhist, Baha’i, agnostic, Sikh, no religion and “other religion.”
The First Amendment to the Constitution is clear, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances.”
Amendment author James Madison placed religion first as the most important freedom, and yet DOD Secretary Pete Hegseth seems to be limiting some people’s right to exercise their faith while serving in the military. Under U.S. law, the Establishment Clause does not allow a national religion to be in favor of one religion over another.
The original list of 30 released on May 20 created a tremendous stir when it left out The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The list was soon adjusted to include the faith group, but without the “Christian” category preceding it.
Staying on the list are groups that are openly pacifist, are committed to nonviolence and decry military participation by their members, including Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witness and Quakers. Historically, these groups are exempt from service as conscientious objectors, making their listing curious.
In the memo, the DOD said the restructuring was intended to provide military chaplains with “clear, readily available information to better anticipate and deliver religious support to service members.” But some military personnel and others are saying this is only restricting faith to predominantly Christian groups, which appears to reflect the notion of Christian nationalism.
Hegseth said he “wanted to make the Chaplain Corps great again” by instituting a cultural shift to make spiritual well-being on par with physical and mental well-being. Hegseth has held Christian prayer services at the Pentagon with controversial Christian nationalist speakers, including Moscow Christ Church Pastor Doug Wilson. Some critics describe the move as a push toward Christian theocracy.
A middle finger to the Constitution
A former military chaplain told Military.com the revised list is “horrible” and not the American way. The former chaplain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the new list is an “excuse for the failure to provide the free exercise of religion for everybody.”
Mikey Wienstein, co-founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, told Military.com the new list is a “middle finger to the United States Constitution’s separation of church and state.” An Air Force veteran, Weinstein said codes have existed to help service members, especially in times of war.
“Reducing the number of religious faiths from hundreds down to 31 is another absolute, clear, filthy and disgusting, unconstitutional, immoral and unethical attempt to force only the approved solution, getting closer and closer to Christian nationalism,” he said.
Weinstein and the former chaplain are both correct: Reducing the number of recognized religions and faith groups is not right and could be considered cruel if a person is forced to give up their faith to serve in the military.
The First Amendment is clear: There is freedom of religion in the U.S., not just for one group, but all faiths and belief systems. A DOD memo cannot and should not try to change that fact.
The new approved faiths list
Agnostic (AN)
Baha’i faith (BH)
Buddhism (BU)
Christian – Assemblies of God (AG)
Christian – Baptist (BA)
Christian – Brethren (BR)
Christian – Catholic (CA)
Christian – Church of Christ (CC)
Christian – Church of God (CG)
Christian – Church of the Nazarene (CN)
Christian – Episcopal/Anglican (EA)
Christian – Evangelical (EV)
Christian – Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW)
Christian – Lutheran (LU)
Christian – Methodist (ME)
Christian – Non Denominational (ND)
Christian – Orthodox (OX)
Christian – Other (CO)
Christian – Pentecostal (PE)
Christian – Presbyterian (PR)
Christian – Quaker (QU)
Christian – Reformed (RE)
Christian – Scientist (SC)
Christian – Seventh Day Adventist (SA)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (CJ)
Hindu (HI)
Islam (Muslim) (IS)
Judaism (Jewish) (JU)
No Religion (NR)
Other Religions (OR)
Sikh (SI)
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