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Pentagon Report Rejects Religious Right Arguments On DADT

By Candace Chellew-Hodge

…her on a daily basis. The other reality is that policies regarding Service members’ individual expression and free exercise of religion already exist, and we believe they are adequate. Service members will not be required to change their personal views and religious beliefs; they must, however, continue to respect and serve with others who hold different views and beliefs. The argument that chaplains will be muzzled is also laid to rest in the re…

How Belief in Moscow as ‘The New Rome’ Explains Kirill’s Astonishing Declaration That ‘Russia Has Never Attacked Anyone’

By Katherine Kelaidis

…then taken on further significance. No longer merely a single political or military act, for some the reclamation of Constantinople signifies a much broader type of liberation, a near-cosmic event which will see Orthodoxy triumph over a sinful world. Thus Russia, in this view, isn’t just a military power on the side of the Orthodox Faith, but is (like the baptized Rome) a divinely chosen baptizing, Christianizing agent in an immoral world. For exa…

Why ISIS War Would Make Paris Attacks a Success

By Mark Juergensmeyer

…and the French public who could easily be whipped up into enthusiasm for a military attack on ISIS—which is precisely what ISIS wants. This is why the response to ISIS is such a critical matter. A knee-jerk Islamophobic response that accuses Islam of violence will help ISIS by alienating Muslims and reinforcing the notion that the Islamic world is under siege and needs to be defended. Similarly, policies that will restrict Syrian refugees—themselv…

Why the Obama/Hillary Clinton Approach to Middle East Peace is Doomed to Failure

By Rabbi Michael Lerner

…more time to finish wiping out Hamas operatives in Gaza—then hope that the military success will strengthen Ehud Barak (head of the Israeli Labor Party) and Tzipi Livni (head of Olmert’s Kadima party) in the February elections, and that these two will form a government to negotiate a peace agreement with a Palestinian Authority whose power will be strengthened by the defeat of the military option proposed by Hamas. The New York Times Ad: On Wed. J…

The End of Carson?

By Sarah Posner

…loving success story with a calm and soothing demeanor. Now he’s fighting with the press, claiming that he did try to stab a friend (or relative) and confirming doubts about his claimed interactions with a high-ranking military officer and the nation’s most prestigious military academy. That would undermine any presidential candidate’s standing, but especially the standing of one who has nothing to go on but his autobiography….

Egyptian President Al-Sisi is a Dictator, Not a Reformer of Islam

By Mohamad Elmasry

…revolution” is about political domination, not religious reform. The 2013 military coup was not a confrontation against extremism: it was an attempt by Egypt’s “deep state” to reverse the nation’s democratic gains and to once again assume complete control over its political economic system. It’s important to note that Egypt’s military coup was carried out against the Muslim Brotherhood, a moderate Islamist group that had dominated Egypt’s first-e…

When Religion is a Refuge for Scoundrels: ‘Ryan Budget’ Edition

By Daniel C. Maguire

…nd the tax breaks and further deregulate the dogs of greed. And as for the military, ah yes, the military, Ryan said they did not ask enough, though they have never been known for modesty in their requests. With the military budget around $2 million per minute, there is no need to further feed that black hole in the economy—but feed it Ryan would. Kill-power is prized more highly than Head Start and Medicare. Enter the Real Catholic Social Teachin…

Satanic Harmonies and Zoom Church: Readers Respond

By Daniel Schultz

…based on the very mixed and often counterproductive end results of violent military ‘solutions’ to social problems, as opposed to nonviolent resistance approaches to such problems. It is not that the violent military interventions are ‘sinful’ while nonviolent resistance is morally superior (though I may well believe that personally, along with my church’s teaching). It is rather that habitual reliance on violent military approaches has myriad and…

On The Kerry Apartheid Comment and the Cycle of Chutzpah

By Sarah Posner

…system of control and expropriation of land that is founded on the use of military force. Arbitrary violence is of the essence of military rule, which cannot rely on democratic legitimacy. As enforcers of Israel’s regime in the Occupied Territories, we know of “mock arrests,” random humiliating punishments; use of civilians as human shields; numerous checkpoints and barriers between and inside Palestinian villages and cities; “mappings;” curfews;…

Coming Out Twice: Sexuality and Gender in Islam

By Susan Henking

…gender or sexual orientation, even if one would never want to serve in the military (or even opposes the existence of the military!). And one should support anti-discrimination measures within big corporations or banks, even if one despises the financial shenanigans of such organizations. This is a question of political strategy, not radically idealism. We need to get realistic about what battles to fight first, and which to prepare for later on. …