First, I'm a Christian. I believe in Jesus's divinity.
I'm happy that "...one nation under God," "God bless America," "God bless our troops," "In God we trust," etc., are an important part of our American tradition, and frequently uttered in public. However, the relatively recent shift by some political/government leaders to the specificity of Jesus Christ in public prayer and public statements strikes me as inappropriate. Millions of Americans, myself included, embrace Christian beliefs, values and tradition. Millions don't.
I'm pretty sure there are people of a non-Christian faith (or no faith) who will read this, and it would be particularly beneficial to have your perspective.
Next, Pete Hegseth read a prayer yesterday that he said was first given by a military chaplain to the troops who captured Maduro. Here's the prayer:
"Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them ["them" presumably refers to our troops] wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”
The Law of Armed Conflict has standards that do, in fact, reflect mercy. For examples, soldiers don't harm enemies who have surrendered. Soldiers don't kill or torture anyone in their custody. That's a crime under both international and domestic law. Soldiers collect and care for the wounded, whether friend or foe.
Back to Christianity. What does Jesus say about mercy? A lot. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." "Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy."
Seems that Hegseth's prayer, no matter where or when it's uttered, would benefit from revisions.
I know that these are topics that elicit emotions, and the thread will inevitably move to a debate about the establishment clause, but please try to be civil in your replies.
Hegseth/Trump and this administration are fake religious. It's nothing but a tool that they use to get the support of actual believers. That they are so successful at getting religious people to go against their teachings is the craziest part.
Guess we should have a poll on who thinks the Crusades were a positive part of history.
Denying the enemy ‘quarter’ may sound like tough talk, but it would be a war crime. Hegseth is all for it, seemingly claiming that it what Jesus wants.
Of course, bombing hospitals is a war crime. Targeting civilian power plants is a war crime.
Jesus apparently enthusiastically supports war crimes, in the view of this administration.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/18/us/word-of-week-no-quarter-hegseth-cec
"You can't make someone listen to reason if they aren't willing to think"-- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
Seems like you want it both ways by invoking Christian values regarding mercy into your justification for why Hegseth’s words should have been revised.First, I'm a Christian. I believe in Jesus's divinity.
I'm happy that "...one nation under God," "God bless America," "God bless our troops," "In God we trust," etc., are an important part of our American tradition, and frequently uttered in public. However, the relatively recent shift by some political/government leaders to the specificity of Jesus Christ in public prayer and public statements strikes me as inappropriate. Millions of Americans, myself included, embrace Christian beliefs, values and tradition. Millions don't.
I'm pretty sure there are people of a non-Christian faith (or no faith) who will read this, and it would be particularly beneficial to have your perspective.
Next, Pete Hegseth read a prayer yesterday that he said was first given by a military chaplain to the troops who captured Maduro. Here's the prayer:
"Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them ["them" presumably refers to our troops] wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”
The Law of Armed Conflict has standards that do, in fact, reflect mercy. For examples, soldiers don't harm enemies who have surrendered. Soldiers don't kill or torture anyone in their custody. That's a crime under both international and domestic law. Soldiers collect and care for the wounded, whether friend or foe.
Back to Christianity. What does Jesus say about mercy? A lot. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." "Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy."
Seems that Hegseth's prayer, no matter where or when it's uttered, would benefit from revisions.
I know that these are topics that elicit emotions, and the thread will inevitably move to a debate about the establishment clause, but please try to be civil in your replies.
But that’s ok. I think what you’ll find is that the mercy rules you cite re international law developed out of a Christian tradition. So yeah, Christian morality (specifically regarding mercy) is baked in.
The tension between Christianity and armed soldiers rules of fighting is tough to parse. I’m not sure they can be squared at all. Jesus wasn’t really the warrior type.
Seems like you want it both ways by invoking Christian values regarding mercy into your justification for why Hegseth’s words should have been revised.
But that’s ok. I think what you’ll find is that the mercy rules you cite re international law developed out of a Christian tradition. So yeah, Christian morality (specifically regarding mercy) is baked in.
The tension between Christianity and armed soldiers rules of fighting is tough to parse. I’m not sure they can be squared at all. Jesus wasn’t really the warrior type.
Not sure about your Jesus, but my Jesus is a badass...
A good friend will bail you out of jail, but your best friend will be sitting next to you in the cell saying "that was f***ing awesome"
@hurryinghoosiers I wouldn't call Hegseth's religiosity "fake." He and his family have reportedly been active members of a church for several years.
I think an important point is that many Christian churches seemingly place an emphasis on the Old Testament, which actually contains a fair amount of violence and violent imagery. Some books of the Old Testament seemingly promote brutal aggression, which is reflective of the time, place and culture of when/where they were written. The message of Jesus, as set forth in the gospels of the New Testament, is in many respects quite different and doesn't at all comport with Hegseth's "no quarter, no mercy" philosophy. In fact, Jesus unequivocally rejected that approach.
Everyone should unequivocally reject Hegseth's approach, whether you are Christian or not. It's fundamentally immoral, and yes you can be moral and not be religious.
"You can't make someone listen to reason if they aren't willing to think"-- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
@bradstevens The Golden Rule, which necessarily includes mercy, is hardly unique to Christianity.
What religion are you? How do you feel about the trend toward Jesus-specific references by some public officials as opposed to a more generic "God?" Are you ok with Hegseth's prayer?
@all4you You forgot to include a blue-eyed surfer dude Jesus, or Jesus holding an American flag standing next to John Wayne. 
Everyone should all unequivocally reject Hegseth's approach, whether you are Christian or not. It's fundamentally immoral, and yes you can be moral and not be religious.
Morality is overrated. What's immoral is fighting with your hands tied while your enemy does whatever they can/want.
Hegseth seems to think he is in a war movie, or video game
https://trailers.yarn.co/yarn-clip/df51c6c9-8de4-4a27-b9ff-aec4cc856a61
"You can't make someone listen to reason if they aren't willing to think"-- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
@hurryinghoosiers I wouldn't call Hegseth's religiosity "fake." He and his family have reportedly been active members of a church for several years.
I think an important point is that many Christian churches seemingly place an emphasis on the Old Testament, which actually contains a fair amount of violence and violent imagery. Some books of the Old Testament seemingly promote brutal aggression, which is reflective of the time, place and culture of when/where they were written. The message of Jesus, as set forth in the gospels of the New Testament, is in many respects quite different and doesn't at all comport with Hegseth's "no quarter, no mercy" philosophy. In fact, Jesus unequivocally rejected that approach.
Maybe you're right and he's going to a church that doesn't care about moral character and just goes over the old testament. But there are many reasons people go to church other than being true believers themselves. #1 likely being pressure from a spouse or family member or simply just tradition and now their social groups are at the church.
Whatever the case may be, he is proving that going to church doesn't make someone a moral person.
Everyone should all unequivocally reject Hegseth's approach, whether you are Christian or not. It's fundamentally immoral, and yes you can be moral and not be religious.
Morality is overrated. What's immoral is fighting with your hands tied while your enemy does whatever they can/want.
Of course MAGA would think morality is overrated. They sold their morals for Trump.
I'm an atheist. I don't care that much about people's prayers, one way or the other. My morality is Christian infused--as is nearly everyone's in the modern world.@bradstevens The Golden Rule, which necessarily includes mercy, is hardly unique to Christianity.
What religion are you? How do you feel about the trend toward Jesus-specific references by some public officials as opposed to a more generic "God?" Are you ok with Hegseth's prayer?
Go look at the ancient Greeks, Romans, Carthaginians, Persians, Old Testament Jews, Scythians, etc. views on "mercy." Read some articles on the development of international law, "just" wars, etc. It's interesting stuff:
- Just War Theory and Mercy: The Christian tradition of "just war," developed by St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, required that judgment and punishment be executed ex caritate (out of charity/love).
- Early International Law Jurists: 16th and 17th-century scholars such as Hugo Grotius and Spanish Catholic theologians Francisco de Vitoria and Francisco Suárez, who are considered founders of modern international law, relied heavily on biblical sources to argue for the humane treatment of native peoples and, later, prisoners of war.
- Protection of Vulnerable Groups: Christian charity was used to advocate for rights and protections for those outside the immediate sovereign, including the "New World" indigenous populations, which grew into modern human rights frameworks.
- Humanization of Law: The influence of Christianity on Roman law included "humanizing" it by limiting abuse, protecting the poor, and injecting mercy into the strictness of legal codes.
- Modern International Institutions: The emphasis on peacebuilding, compassion, and the prevention of suffering in institutions like the UN shares a legacy with Christian notions of humanity and care for the vulnerable.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment +4
First, I'm a Christian. I believe in Jesus's divinity.
I'm happy that "...one nation under God," "God bless America," "God bless our troops," "In God we trust," etc., are an important part of our American tradition, and frequently uttered in public. However, the relatively recent shift by some political/government leaders to the specificity of Jesus Christ in public prayer and public statements strikes me as inappropriate. Millions of Americans, myself included, embrace Christian beliefs, values and tradition. Millions don't.
I'm pretty sure there are people of a non-Christian faith (or no faith) who will read this, and it would be particularly beneficial to have your perspective.
Next, Pete Hegseth read a prayer yesterday that he said was first given by a military chaplain to the troops who captured Maduro. Here's the prayer:
"Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them ["them" presumably refers to our troops] wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”
The Law of Armed Conflict has standards that do, in fact, reflect mercy. For examples, soldiers don't harm enemies who have surrendered. Soldiers don't kill or torture anyone in their custody. That's a crime under both international and domestic law. Soldiers collect and care for the wounded, whether friend or foe.
Back to Christianity. What does Jesus say about mercy? A lot. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." "Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." "For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy."
Seems that Hegseth's prayer, no matter where or when it's uttered, would benefit from revisions.
I know that these are topics that elicit emotions, and the thread will inevitably move to a debate about the establishment clause, but please try to be civil in your replies.
I don't care much for religion. I also don't abide by the idea that you have to use the same standards for those who uphold no such standards themselves. For example, take the cartels. We know and have literally seen what they are capable of. Why should we give a shit about mercy for those people?