Air Force Academy Now Welcomes Spell-Casters

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[LyricFox]

Air Force Academy Now Welcomes Spell-Casters

Just a few years ago, the Air Force Academy was considered such an evangelical hothouse that the place got sued for its alleged discrimination against non-Christians. Today, the Academy is boasting of its thriving pagan community — and its friendliness towards spell-casters.


Read More http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/10/air-force-academy-now-welcomes-spell-casters/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Fpolitics+%28Wired%3A+Politics%29#ixzz138JlxPy3

[Aisling]

However, the Rede “would not apply to a battlefield,” according to the Academy release.

Ya think?   

[RandallS]

Ya think?   

The Neo-Wiccan "Harm None as a commandment" would not work. The original advice interpretation "if it harms none its definitely okay to do, no further moral hand-wringing needed" would not say anything about what one should or should not do in battle. 

[ScorpioMoon]

The Neo-Wiccan "Harm None as a commandment" would not work. The original advice interpretation "if it harms none its definitely okay to do, no further moral hand-wringing needed" would not say anything about what one should or should not do in battle. 

That was rather well said. *thumbsup*

[Sperran]

However, the Rede “would not apply to a battlefield,” according to the Academy release.

It certainly wouldn't be the only religious advice put aside for the battlefield...e.g. turn the other cheek.

Sperran

[Melamphoros]

It certainly wouldn't be the only religious advice put aside for the battlefield...e.g. turn the other cheek.

"Thou shalt not kill...."

[Sperran]

"Thou shalt not kill...."

Except the more accurate translation is "Thou shalt not murder" and a life justly taken on the field of battle would not be considered murder under Jewish law. 

Sperran

[ScorpioMoon]

It certainly wouldn't be the only religious advice put aside for the battlefield...e.g. turn the other cheek.

Sperran

If you read Randall's post, you'll see that Wiccans do not "put aside" the advice of the Rede on the battlefield.

The Rede says, if want to do something that won't cause any harm, don't think twice. That leaves us to infer that if what we're going to do will indeed cause harm, we need to be very sure of what we're doing, why we're doing it, and that we're willing to accept any consequences as a result of doing it. Going into battle in order to protect our country and it's millions of citizens - most soldiers believe that's worth any consequences.

[Pyperlie]

Except the more accurate translation is "Thou shalt not murder" and a life justly taken on the field of battle would not be considered murder under Jewish law. 

I should hope not, considering all the genocide in the OT.

Although, I always wondered what was up w/the coveting commandments; it's not like there's a human being alive who hasn't been covetous.  That, and the honoring thy parents thing, seeing how many horrifying excuses for human beings are parents.

[Sperran]

If you read Randall's post, you'll see that Wiccans do not "put aside" the advice of the Rede on the battlefield.

The Rede says, if want to do something that won't cause any harm, don't think twice. That leaves us to infer that if what we're going to do will indeed cause harm, we need to be very sure of what we're doing, why we're doing it, and that we're willing to accept any consequences as a result of doing it. Going into battle in order to protect our country and it's millions of citizens - most soldiers believe that's worth any consequences.

I am quite familiar with the Rede and whether it is considered advice or commandment.  My comment is more to the point that the military is quite comfortable asking people of all faiths to put aside religious beliefs in order to get the job done.

Sperran

[ScorpioMoon]

I am quite familiar with the Rede and whether it is considered advice or commandment.  My comment is more to the point that the military is quite comfortable asking people of all faiths to put aside religious beliefs in order to get the job done.

Sperran

Ah, I see. Thank you for clarifying that point.

[Sperran]

I should hope not, considering all the genocide in the OT.

Although, I always wondered what was up w/the coveting commandments; it's not like there's a human being alive who hasn't been covetous.  That, and the honoring thy parents thing, seeing how many horrifying excuses for human beings are parents.

There are lots of ways to deal with these issues.  One is to remember that while the Ten Commandments get a lot of play, there are actually 613 mitzvot (commandments) in Torah, not to mention the complexities of oral  law and commentary that add a lot of context that makes any given commandment make more sense.  

Beyond that, covetousness is not so much the issue as what it leads to.  People that spend all their time wishing they had something else or were someone else lead pretty miserable lives.  And these people are often led to commit grievous crimes in order to satisfy their covetousness.  If you think about it, most theft and adultery happens because of covetousness.

I think in honoring your parents, you are getting a glimpse into that culture.  Kinship ties were incredibly important.  At other points in the Torah, parents were ordered to be kind and generous to their children; it wasn't just a one-way street.

Sperran.

[Pyperlie]

I think in honoring your parents, you are getting a glimpse into that culture.  Kinship ties were incredibly important.  At other points in the Torah, parents were ordered to be kind and generous to their children; it wasn't just a one-way street.

Wasn't there something about killing kids who got mouthy?

I don't want to get into a debate on the finer points of the Bible; it's been awhile since I've even skimmed any of it.  I just kinda wondered.

[Sperran]

Wasn't there something about killing kids who got mouthy?

I don't want to get into a debate on the finer points of the Bible; it's been awhile since I've even skimmed any of it.  I just kinda wondered.

I'm not aware of a verse talking about that.  That isn't to say that there might be an isolated case of that, but I would say that it is more important to take the text as a whole and not a single incident.  Context is also important so I wouldn't want to comment on that unless you could find a particular verse.

Sperran

[Melamphoros]

I'm not aware of a verse talking about that.  That isn't to say that there might be an isolated case of that, but I would say that it is more important to take the text as a whole and not a single incident.  Context is also important so I wouldn't want to comment on that unless you could find a particular verse.

Checking the Skeptics Annotated Bible (because it has this sort of thing broken down into convenient categories) I think that Pyperlie was thinking about Exodus 21:17 -- "And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death."

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