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.
How many more pedophiles have you advocated for today?
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.
Are you really trying to dissect a short prayer said to some young men before they go on a mission where they might lose their lives because it's not Christian enough for your liking?
@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.
I myself was raised in the Catholic Church though as an adult I could be generously described as a lapsed Catholic, but realistically described as an agnostic. Though lately, as I travel through the third and final chapter of my life I find myself reflecting more and more on those ecclesiastical lessons I learned as a lad. Of course the "eye for an eye" fire and brimstone Old Testament doesn't necessarily square with the "whatsoever you do, to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me" or the "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" of the New Testament and the first coming. That said, I'm not so sure first act Jesus squares with the expectations of Judgement Day, second act Jesus either. I reckon that gone will be the humble teacher, suffering servant who brought salvation from the original sin. The expectations of the second coming, at least as I remember, probably squares more. In modern terms if The Holy Bible were titled instead The Holy FAFO, it's the Find Out part.
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"
Uhhhhhhh, can you explain what's going on here.Not sure about your Jesus, but my Jesus is a badass...
Uhhhhhhh, can you explain what's going on here.Not sure about your Jesus, but my Jesus is a badass...
That's the image evoked when I exclaim "Jesus Cornhole Christ" after stubbing my toe on the nightstand.
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"
Are you really trying to dissect a short prayer said to some young men before they go on a mission where they might lose their lives because it's not Christian enough for your liking?
It's far from being the first or only instance.
He hosts monthly Christian worship services for employees, emphasizing how their work is "for Jesus".
His staff regularly makes combat videos captioned with Bible verses
In speeches and interviews, he often argues the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation and troops should embrace God, blasting the notion of a secular military.
A recent press briefing he led with "Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle."
He has a history of defending the Crusades, which had a death toll matching or exceeding that of the Holocaust.
Hegseth instructed U.S. military commanders to tell troops that the war fulfilled biblical prophecies around Armageddon and the return of Christ. I think he was met with a lot of eye rolling, but some dutifully passed on the word to the troops, generating some more eye rolls, most likely.
some background here:
"You can't make someone listen to reason if they aren't willing to think"-- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
I appreciate the thoughtful response.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:
Yes, international law's use of mercy is heavily influenced by Christian traditions, particularly through the development of just war theory, the concept of Christian charity, and the work of early international legal scholars. While mercy is a widely recognized concept, modern international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights are deeply connected to the Christian emphasis on tempering justice with compassion, forgiving enemies, and protecting the vulnerable.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment +4
Key influences and developments include:
- 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.
I'm very familiar with Just War theory and Thomas Aquinas, but am afraid you've missed my point. I'm not talking about justification for the Iran War or any other. I'm talking specifically about no mercy (which Hegseth has now repeatedly promoted) DURING war.
Thomas Aquinas never wavered from his belief that violence was justified only to the extent that it was necessary, soldiers must refrain from cruelty, and a just war was limited by the conduct of just combatants.
Hegseth's view is incompatible with Christianity and international law.
And don't get me started on the drug-boat "war" which was always on shaky legal and moral ground, particularly the incident where a second tap took out two survivors (in the water, clinging to the wrecked boat) from the first hit. Hegseth had reportedly given orders to "kill everyone" onboard. Shortly thereafter, the Republican-led armed service committees of the House and Senate had promised to investigate. I must have missed those hearings and the report.
Is not deserving mercy at the onset of action an automatic disqualifier for the act of mercy during the action? I don't believe for a moment that our ROE includes killing enemies who have surrendered. I don't really see anything wrong with that prayer.
Eisenhower called the D-Day invasion "a Great Crusade". Would that be considered Islamophobic today?
FDR called for God to give the Allied invading force his "strength to their arms".
Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for. - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and likely Hoosier basketball fan.
POTFB
I don't believe for a moment that our ROE includes killing enemies who have surrendered.
Hegseth disagrees, though, if you take him at his word. During a March 13, 2026, briefing on the Iran war, Hegseth said, "We will keep pressing, keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies".
The phrase "no quarter" is widely understood to mean refusing to take prisoners and/or killing surrendering combatants, acts that are illegal under the Geneva Convention and U.S. Army laws-of-war.
Maybe he doesn't understand the meaning of the words he chooses to spew, or maybe he was drunk again.
"You can't make someone listen to reason if they aren't willing to think"-- Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
It's not Christian at all. It's part of a trend by Hegseth, this "no quarter/no mercy" rhetoric, the "kill everybody" instructions which I've mentioned previously.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.
Are you really trying to dissect a short prayer said to some young men before they go on a mission where they might lose their lives because it's not Christian enough for your liking?
He'd be in deep shit if this was any other administration. Actually, with his history, he never would have been appointed Secretary of Defense by any other president.
Yes, but it was more than eye rolls. I've read independently that multiple commanders have told their guys that Trump was anointed by God to light the "signal fire for Armageddon" that will prompt the return of Jesus. I read at military.com that there have been more than 200 complaints about this kind of talk across 50 installations involving every branch of the military.Hegseth instructed U.S. military commanders to tell troops that the war fulfilled biblical prophecies around Armageddon and the return of Christ. I think he was met with a lot of eye rolling, but some dutifully passed on the word to the troops, generating some more eye rolls, most likely.
I have little doubt that the commanders in question have, at a minimum, been emboldened by Pete.
I don't believe for a moment that our ROE includes killing enemies who have surrendered.
Hegseth disagrees, though, if you take him at his word. During a March 13, 2026, briefing on the Iran war, Hegseth said, "We will keep pressing, keep pushing, keep advancing, no quarter, no mercy for our enemies".
The phrase "no quarter" is widely understood to mean refusing to take prisoners and/or killing surrendering combatants, acts that are illegal under the Geneva Convention and U.S. Army laws-of-war.
Maybe he doesn't understand the meaning of the words he chooses to spew, or maybe he was drunk again.
If you honestly believe that our Rules of Engagement include executing troops who have surrendered instead of holding them as prisoners, then you're a bigger moron than I could have ever imagined, and I like to think I have a very vivid imagination.
Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for. - Seamus Heaney, Irish poet and likely Hoosier basketball fan.
POTFB
It's not Christian at all. It's part of a trend by Hegseth, this "no quarter/no mercy" rhetoric, the "kill everybody" instructions which I've mentioned previously.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.
Are you really trying to dissect a short prayer said to some young men before they go on a mission where they might lose their lives because it's not Christian enough for your liking?
He'd be in deep shit if this was any other administration. Actually, with his history, he never would have been appointed Secretary of Defense by any other president.
I'll help you out since you lack the brain power. The Christian thing to do would be for you to shut up and stop posting about what a Chaplain said to some combat soldiers before going on a mission.
@snarlcakes You can't help yourself, can you. You disagree with a poster, you lose the argument, you get frustrated and you resort to insults.
Who knows if a chaplain said the prayer initially. That's what Hegseth claimed, maybe in an effort to give it greater weight. What we know for sure is that Hegseth said it. But regardless, it's flawed and incompatible with the teachings of Christ and the LOAC.
You're not worth my time.