The world is becoming more diverse, including religious views, which can cause serious disagreements. In this case, pluralism becomes an answer that promotes respect for other people’s beliefs without requiring the rejection of own views. Pluralism is necessary for society and the army since communities have recently been divided, contributing to inequality and discrimination. The ranks of the American army include representatives of various faiths, and the duty of chaplains working with them is significantly different from the activities of civilian ministers. While chaplains also represent multiple faiths, The Covenant and the Code of Ethics for Chaplains of the Armed Forces can apply widely to their activities in providing spiritual support.
American law and culture support the diversity and freedom of religion among American citizens. In particular, the First Amendment prohibits any law supporting only one religion or banning any other. As a result, understanding one’s work in a pluralistic context is a critical step in preparing chaplains for service. Chaplain Corps was created to maintain devotion to freedom of faith in the army and recognize the critical role of religion in soldiers’ lives. Chaplains promote the spiritual development of employees and support their morality and religious freedom. Since individuals from various cultures and traditions represent American society, chaplains must support all soldiers.
The ideas of pluralism extend to the work of chaplains with soldiers and are supported by various regulations. The Code of Ethics for Chaplains, developed by The National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces (NCMAF), provides recommendations for ethical actions in various cases that a priest may encounter. In particular, fidelity to own religious tradition and support for pluralism are expected simultaneously. The code provides some requirements for chaplains themselves, for example, in protecting people and maintaining high standards of personal behavior.Moreover, it prescribes respect for other faiths without imposing convictions.
An essential aspect of chaplains’ activities in a pluralistic environment is understanding the difference between “provide” and “perform.” In some cases, Chaplains can give spiritual advice to colleagues who do not profess the same religion. However, they are not expected to read prayers of one faith if they profess another. For example, a Baptist chaplain cannot perform the Catholic Mass but must provide the necessary conditions and find a person who can perform. Other examples relate to the conduct of rituals, such as weddings, funerals, and sermons – if necessary, the chaplains should not perform them but should provide opportunities for other chaplains’ performance.
Considering the work of chaplains from a Christian point of view, one can distinguish several features for those of this faith. In particular, Christianity recognizes the existence of other religions but does not recognize their beliefs. Because of their love for others, Christians can respect members of other faiths, but their views are denied and considered wrong, distorting the truth. As a result, Christian chaplains can only show tolerance for people of other religions, but not for what they profess.
Thus, chaplains in the ranks of the army widely support the pluralism of religions, reflecting the trends of modern society. They support freedom of faith and provide spiritual support to soldiers. The important thing is that chaplains can profess beliefs that not all soldiers belong to. Therefore, they must distinguish between “perform” and “provide” – perform what corresponds to their religion and provide opportunities for others. Considering the Christian position, chaplains cannot support the beliefs of other faiths, but they can still show tolerance for their representatives.
Bibliography
Dy, Glory. “Is Religious Tolerance Biblical?” Christianity, com. Web.
Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) Chaplains Commission. Handbook for EFCA Chaplains and Candidates. EFCA, 2017. Web.
Headquarters Department of the Army. Army Regulation 165–1. Religious Activities. Army Chaplain Corps Activities. [Washington, DC]: Secretary of the Army, 2015. Web.
“The Constitution.” The White House. Web.