Tell the ranking members of the Senate Armed Services Committee - Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and John Warner (R-VA) - how you feel about religious extremism in the military.
Recent news reports have quoted General William Boykin, deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence, as speaking about America's "Christian army," the holy war we're waging against the "idol" of Islam's false God, and the "spiritual battle" we are fighting against "a guy named Satan" who "wants to destroy us as a nation, and he wants to destroy us as a Christian army."
Conservative Christian organizations have launched a campaign to support the General, saying that he is under attack simply for being a Christian. As Christians, Sojourners believes Gen. Boykin's views are bad theology that does not reflect biblical teaching. We must not confuse the Christian faith with the American nation.
The Pentagon has said only that it will conduct an internal investigation of Gen. Boykin's comments. Yet even President Bush has said that the General's opinion "doesn't reflect what the government thinks." We believe more serious action is warranted - Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld should ask the General to resign his position.
Let your voice be heard-as Christians and others of good will who believe in social justice and peace, not religious extremism. The kingdom of God does not endorse the principalities and powers of nation-states, armies, and the ideologies of empire; but rather calls them all into question. Tell the Senate Armed Services Committee that General Boykin does not speak for you, and that they should urge Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to remove him from his position in the Pentagon.
Send your message by visiting: http://go.sojo.net/campaign/general_boykin_should_resign
