The U.S. military's religion de-listings under Hegseth

[Free]

Here is the full list of faiths being unrecognized by the Pentagon

The Defense Department moved last month to cut roughly 180 religion codes from its previous list of about 220 recognized faiths.

The new list, expected to take effect in July, recognizes 31 religious categories, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Baha’i, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, and non-religion. Christian denominations make up the majority of the new recognized religion categories. The military notes that individuals can still list religions not among the named 31 on their dog tags.

The Pentagon told The Independent that the policy is not meant to be a list of “officially approved” religions, and instead is meant to streamline data-gathering for military chaplains. It pointed to a statement about the new policy from DOD official Sean Parnell on X, who emphasized that the military “places a high value on the First Amendment and the free exercise of religion.”

The move nonetheless angered some veterans and military observers, adding to criticism from those who were already skeptical of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of Christian prayer while referencing military operations.

 

[Free]

Obviously, going from a list of well over 200 recognized faiths and denominations down to about 30 means a lot of groups are left on the cutting room floor *or listed in a way they don't like*. Many of them expectedly quite vocal about such an attack. For example...

LDS groups and Utah Republicans rage as military no longer counts church as Christian under Hegseth religion list shake-up

Mormon leaders, military veterans and elected officials reacted with anger to a new Department of Defense policy that does not consider The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be a Christian religion as part of a wider effort to cut down the U.S. military’s list of recognized faiths.

“The Pentagon’s decision to list The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints apart from other Christian faiths is wrong and needs to be corrected,” Republican Rep. Mike Kennedy, of heavily Mormon Utah, wrote on X on Sunday.

“No one needs to wonder where members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stand,” he added. “We stand with Christ. We are Christians. On that ground, and on the much larger ground of shared faith, values, and purpose, Latter-day Saints stand alongside many Christians of every tradition in following the teachings of Christ. We only ask to be accurately portrayed. I strongly urge the Department to correct the record.”

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

"Ow, my face!!!"

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Obviously, going from a list of well over 200 recognized faiths and denominations down to about 30 means a lot of groups are left on the cutting room floor. Many of them expectedly quite vocal about such an attack. For example...

LDS groups and Utah Republicans rage as military no longer counts church as Christian under Hegseth religion list shake-up

If I properly understand the list, the LDS are still recognised, but as a separate religion rather than as a Christian denomination.

 

[Free]

If I properly understand the list, the LDS are still recognised, but as a separate religion rather than as a Christian denomination.

Edited to take that into account.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

Can count on Hegseth to do the important work to strengthen the military while we loose a war with Iran because of all his fuck ups...

Others took issue with the fact that the new list does not include the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as among its recognized Christian religions, instead listing it under a separate designation.

...yeah, this is a BIG, fuck you to the Mormon church. I don't even think there should be a list of "recognized" religions, but if you're going to have one at all, it should be very loose. Hegseth obviously thinks this is a serious matter that must reflect what he thinks is "correct."

 

[Innula Zenovka]

Can count on Hegseth to do the important work to strengthen the military while we loose a war with Iran because of all his fuck ups...



...yeah, this is a BIG, fuck you to the Mormon church. I don't even think there should be a list of "recognized" religions, but if you're going to have one at all, it should be very loose. Hegseth obviously thinks this is a serious matter that must reflect what he thinks is "correct."

As I understand it, the problem is that the LDS regard the Trinity as three distinct entities with a common purpose rather than as one God in three persons -- father, son and holy spirit -- sharing a common divinity.

Hegseth's view is, I think, shared by the Catholic and Orthodox churches, as well as by most mainstream Protestant denominations, which would presumably make it problematic for Mormon ministers to substitute for ministers of more mainstream denominations under certain circumstances.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

As I understand it, the problem is that the LDS regard the Trinity as three distinct entities with a common purpose rather than as one God in three persons -- father, son and holy spirit -- sharing a common divinity. Hegseth's view is, I think, shared by the Catholic and Orthodox churches, as well as by most mainstream Protestant denominations.

yes.... many mainstream Christian denominations do view the church of LDS as a heresy. I get why they feel that way, but the Church of LDS firmly sees themselves as "Christian" so they are likely not to take this well. ...and they are big Republican doners!