"They want water. I have it, as long as they agree to get baptized..."

[Sir Galahad]

This sounds like an urban legend. Someone could check snopes.com and see if it's listed there. I never saw any Sky Pilots in the army push religion on anyone at any post I was stationed at. In basic, a rabbi did come to see if there were any Jewish soldiers just to let them know arrangements could be made for them on Shabbes and let them know there were rabbis in the army in case they didn't know. But he didn't tell them they had to come, either. Another reason this sounds like BS is because the army chaplains manual also takes into account religions such as Wicca, so doing something as divisive as this seems suspect.

 

[Pendragon]

1. Any top level officer that gives a chaplain 500gals of water in a desert war should be relieved.

2. You dont need that much water for a baptism - there is some debate among sects as to whether immersion or sprinkling is ok - but it is a symbolic act, the props are not as important as the act of faith.

3. Christ would not have done such a thing - he would have used to water for drinking or bathing or something.

4. It would be a lot more "christian" to use the water in a more utilitarian manner.

5. I would not want to be baptised after a few unwashed soldiers were dunked - these guys are going days and weeks without cleaning up. Something rarely mentioned or discussed. If you had that much water, you should use it to make ten 50 gallon dunk refills...

6. This is just too silly and probably is psy-ops...

 

[Glock Glockler]

Chris, you don't appear very consistent, I thought you were all about property rights If the water is his property, why shouldn't he be able to do whatever hell he bloody well pleases with it?

Granted, I think the chaplain is a real bullocks if that's what he's doing, but it's his right, no?

OTOH, if it's the Army's water, that's a different story.

 

[MPFreeman]

What if this 500Gallon Tank is the bapistry? And the purpose of the tank is to baptise people in a proper full emersion baptism? I wouldn't be suprised that some of the Catholic chaplain/priests are carrying vials of holy water for the consecration of the dead during last rights sacrement.

Some of you guys need to relax. If this preacher/chaplain has been baptising folks with <SHOCK>..WATER, the question is not why a probable Baptist/Church of Christ preacher has a bapistry, but why hasn't the logistics command not properly supplied our honorable troops with water.

However, IMO from my personal Christian world view, the said preacher should remember the words of his lord by giving him a drink of water when he is thirsty.

 

[bad_dad_brad]

I think this report is totaly bogus.

Babtism is either done in most Christian denominations:

As an infant to wash away, via the water of life, orginal sin (not necessarily christening, although many denominations will honor a christening as babtism - Lutherans for instance).

Or:

As a self aware individual Christian who understands and accepts the meaning of babtism.

There are exceptions of course. Babtists for instance, maintain you can only be babtized when you are a self-aware Christian.

No Christian minister would hold the water of life as hostage against thirst. That is just totally obscene and most assuredly untrue.

 

[ahadams]

quite frankly folks, this sounds like antichristian propaganda

I'm sorry but this sort of activity would not be supported by any major denomination I know of (and I am an Anglican who has contacts with a bunch of folks including Baptists and Pentecostals, as well as Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, and well, you get the idea).

Has anybody verified this story through a second source?

There were instances back before the start of the current festivities of immersion baptisms by chaplains at the request of specific marines and soldiers, but that was done in what was basically a fighting hole lined with plastic sheets - immersion occurred by the guy squatting down in the hole till the water went over his head - the chaplain said the words and then took his hand off the guy's head and he stood up again.

I have to say the original 'news' story sounds like fiction to me.

 

[Preacherman]

Folks, this story just HAS to be bogus! In the Catholic Church, and as far as I know in ALL Christian churches, baptism MUST be freely chosen, by the one being baptized (or his/her parents in the case of a baby), without coercion, bribery, influence or pressure. If these latter conditions are present, the baptism is INVALID, because it was not freely willed. It's like a "shotgun wedding" - if the marriage vows are not freely exchanged, with full consent, and without ANY outside pressure whatsoever, the marriage is invalid.

Sorry, I can't believe this story - and if it's true, I'll guarantee you that the chaplain's denomination will be swift to discipline him.

 

[Chris Rhines]

Glockler - I'm assuming from the article that the water belonged to the Army. On the other hand, if the chaplain owns the water, then it's a deal between him and his church. I'm not a religious man, but I cannot imagine any church being pleased with his actions. Nor the Army.

All - I'm still looking for third-party verification. I repeat for the record, this story came from a mainstream newspaper, there from a mainstream wire service. I see no reason to dismiss it as false out of hand.

- Chris

 

[Blackhawk]

I'm amazed that this is permitted in the US military. Also seems like a pretty mean thing to do to one's fellow troops.

You're amazed, and I don't believe the story.

 

[jmbg29]

Camp Bushmaster?

Why didn't they just say Chaplain Tomas de Torquemada while they're at it.

Chris, did you ever meet/run across/see a chaplain that acted like this one during your military experience?

 

[Feanaro]

If this is true, it's idiotic. I'm sure a "good" God(IE, not the one in the Old Testament...) would look down on this too. Denying people bathing water until they agree to join your religion isn't very nice. Do unto others and all that.

 

[edamon]

sounds like BS.

-d

 

[Khornet]

Chris-

my religion can beat up your religion.

Sorry--couldn't resist

 

[Khornet]

Chris Rinse

That chaplain should washed out of the program.
You guys are throwing the baby out with the Baath water.
Mission shoulda been scrubbed.
Sounds like soap opera to me.
Probably a serious drain on resources too.
Guy's a dip, anyway.
Hussein this story is authentic?
Post another like that, and Al Nasiriyah.
Now don't Basra me anymore. I'm gonna go drown my sorrows.

 

[seeker_two]

One of the Methodist Elders here read this and said "That irritates the snot out of me."

Me too!...

If this IS a real story, then the good chap may find himself the target for a "religious discrimination" charge in "today's" Army. I wouldn't expect him to hold on to "his" water for long...

I repeat for the record, this story came from a mainstream newspaper, there from a mainstream wire service. I see no reason to dismiss it as false out of hand.

And we ALL know how trustworthy the mainstream media is...:banghead:

[prediction] A brash colonel bringing a couple of squads of his thirsty troops up to be "baptized" & then "acquisitioning" the rest of the "baptistry" so that his troops can "spread the gospel" to the rest of the battalion... [/prediction]

 

[LiquidTension]

If soldiers are already baptized, do they get to bathe anyway?