More than two dozen Democratic members of Congress are requesting an internal investigation at the Department of Defense regarding claims from uniformed officers that commanders have painted the current war in Iran as one rooted in Christian biblical prophecy.
A complaint shared by an anonymous non-commissioned officer to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) claimed that non-commissioned officers were told that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that President Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,” as originally reported by journalist Jonathan Larsen. Between Saturday and Tuesday afternoon, MRFF logged more than 200 similar complaints across 50 installations encompassing every branch of the military, its founder, Mikey Weinstein, told Military.com.
The accusations, which received no direct response from the Pentagon when inquired by Military.com, have drawn widespread attention—in part due to the Pentagon’s open embrace of Christianity through monthly prayer services in addition to appearances and speaking engagements by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Christian-themed events. MRFF is composed roughly of 95% Christians.
On Friday, Congressional Freethought Caucus co-chairs Reps. Jared Huffman (CA) and Jamie Raskin (MD) and House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel Ranking Member Chrissy Houlahan (PA) led 27 of their Democratic colleagues in requesting U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Inspector General Platte B. Moring III to open an investigation into these reports and claims “invoking religious prophecy and apocalyptic theology to justify the United States’ military actions in Iran.”
“If accurate, these outrageous statements—justifying a war based on interpretations of biblical prophecies, and informing troops that they are risking their lives to advance a specific religious vision—raises not only glaring Constitutional concerns, but potential violations of Department of Defense regulations regarding religious neutrality and breaches of professional obligations and standards expected of military leadership,” the lawmakers wrote in their two-page letter shared with Military.com.
Members of the United States Armed Forces swear an oath to support and defend our secular Constitution—not any specific religious doctrines—and servicemembers must be able to carry out their duties free from coercive religious messaging by their chain of command.
A caucus spokesperson deferred requests by Military.com for additional remarks to the letter itself. Military.com reached out to the DOD inspector general for comment.
The letter was signed by moderate and progressive Democratic members including Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Mark Pocan, Eric Swalwell, Veronica Escobar and Pramila Jayapal.
Complaint In Question
The complaint in question that drew widespread attention earlier this week came from an individual who identified themselves as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in a unit currently outside the Iran combat zone but who could be deployed at any time to help facilitate the mission in Iran dubbed Operation Epic Fury.
That complainant is also a self-described Christian who emailed MRFF on behalf of 15 troops that included at least 11 Christians, one Muslim, and one Jew.
“He urged us to tell our troops that this was ‘all part of God’s divine plan’ and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ,” the NCO wrote in the email. “He said that ‘President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.’”
Democrats are inquiring whether these latest allegations “are part of a broader political climate in which Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and senior civilian officials have publicly framed Middle East policy in explicitly religious terms.”
“Public statements by administration officials and allies invoking biblical claims about Israel and the region—along with rhetoric suggesting a prophetic or religious dimension to geopolitical conflicts—risks emboldening similar messaging within military ranks,” the letter’s signees said.
We urge you to assess whether Secretary Hegseth’s extreme religious rhetoric has metastasized into segments of the military chain of command in ways that contravene constitutional protections, departmental rules and standards, or professional military norms.
HandFedFenrir on
We need to purge these zealots from our armed forces and government.
ennuiinmotion on
That story was made up, it’s embarrassing that now actual lawmakers are believing it.
Edit: To summarize for those who don’t know, MRFF is one guy who doesn’t use any sort of journalistic ethics and doesn’t provide any evidence. Previous “testimonies” follow the exact same format as this complaint, indicating they were written by one person, probably himself. The 200 cases are not related to the Iran War and are actually just all of the cases he claims to have collected over time of Christian zealotry. In a word, he’s untrustworthy and refuses to provide any evidence to anyone else. And when Hement Mehta asked to see the original email the guy sent the version he edited. He even said at some point it’s not his job to investigate if anything he reports is true. Also ask yourself why this was reported to *him* and not any of the any well-known atheist or church/state groups.
eugene20 on
Search for Hegseth third temple, a 2018 video of him will come up.
Tom1952Phx on
Absolutely necessary. I wonder where the Republican lawmakers are this is non partisan. Hegseth and company should be the ones facing Court Marshall. Not Senator Kelly
508G37 on
I mean Hegesth literally wrote a book called American Crusade
Uberslaughter on
“Blood for the blood god”
-Pete Hegseth
fjordwich on
Theyre doomsday Christians and even according to the Christian Bible that makes them the fucking antichrists
chockedup on
What a mess. Metastatic religion! Hope they can get to the bottom of this, but since Trump et alia is now pounding Iran, it may be too little too late; on the other hand, late is better than never.
IMHO_grim on
I literally just went on a deep dive of this topic before seeing this. The evangelicals and their Armageddon fascination that makes them worship Israel is insane.
IrrelevantLeprechaun on
Lawmakers want a lot of things, but unless they have actual means of enforcement, then all the Fed has to do is…ignore them.
jvd0928 on
These dumbasses think a rapture will raise up all of them when the battle starts.
This whole corney rapture idea was added to the bible a thousand years after the Crucifixion. It is just some bullshit a scribe inserted when copying an older bible.
Veritable_Vox on
Maybe I didn’t pay enough attention back when I last read the bible, but I’m pretty sure kickstarting Armageddon doesn’t get you a free instant pass into heaven. If anything using God as a prop and excuse for your terrible actions is honestly taking the Lord’s name in vain. And attacking civilians, unarmed navy ships, and especially hundreds of small children, is definitely straight up murder. Why they believe performing and endorsing such actions will get them the rapture fast pass I’ll never understand.
wassuppaulie on
Let’s see how long before Trump claims that Jesus came up to him with tears in his eyes and says “I voted for you, you have the best words, even better than the Gospels, and Jesus is sending victory to Trump in Iran like nobody’s ever seen before.” Over/under is Sunday night.
No-Tomatillo3698 on
We need more unflattering photos of this idiot’s mug
SoggyBoysenberry7703 on
Fucking good. What absolute lunatic says that kind of thing?
16 Comments
From the article:
More than two dozen Democratic members of Congress are requesting an internal investigation at the Department of Defense regarding claims from uniformed officers that commanders have painted the current war in Iran as one rooted in Christian biblical prophecy.
A complaint shared by an anonymous non-commissioned officer to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) claimed that non-commissioned officers were told that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that President Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,” as originally reported by journalist Jonathan Larsen. Between Saturday and Tuesday afternoon, MRFF logged more than 200 similar complaints across 50 installations encompassing every branch of the military, its founder, Mikey Weinstein, told Military.com.
The accusations, which received no direct response from the Pentagon when inquired by Military.com, have drawn widespread attention—in part due to the Pentagon’s open embrace of Christianity through monthly prayer services in addition to appearances and speaking engagements by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Christian-themed events. MRFF is composed roughly of 95% Christians.
On Friday, Congressional Freethought Caucus co-chairs Reps. Jared Huffman (CA) and Jamie Raskin (MD) and House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel Ranking Member Chrissy Houlahan (PA) led 27 of their Democratic colleagues in requesting U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Inspector General Platte B. Moring III to open an investigation into these reports and claims “invoking religious prophecy and apocalyptic theology to justify the United States’ military actions in Iran.”
“If accurate, these outrageous statements—justifying a war based on interpretations of biblical prophecies, and informing troops that they are risking their lives to advance a specific religious vision—raises not only glaring Constitutional concerns, but potential violations of Department of Defense regulations regarding religious neutrality and breaches of professional obligations and standards expected of military leadership,” the lawmakers wrote in their two-page letter shared with Military.com.
Members of the United States Armed Forces swear an oath to support and defend our secular Constitution—not any specific religious doctrines—and servicemembers must be able to carry out their duties free from coercive religious messaging by their chain of command.
A caucus spokesperson deferred requests by Military.com for additional remarks to the letter itself. Military.com reached out to the DOD inspector general for comment.
The letter was signed by moderate and progressive Democratic members including Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Mark Pocan, Eric Swalwell, Veronica Escobar and Pramila Jayapal.
Complaint In Question
The complaint in question that drew widespread attention earlier this week came from an individual who identified themselves as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in a unit currently outside the Iran combat zone but who could be deployed at any time to help facilitate the mission in Iran dubbed Operation Epic Fury.
That complainant is also a self-described Christian who emailed MRFF on behalf of 15 troops that included at least 11 Christians, one Muslim, and one Jew.
“He urged us to tell our troops that this was ‘all part of God’s divine plan’ and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ,” the NCO wrote in the email. “He said that ‘President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.’”
Democrats are inquiring whether these latest allegations “are part of a broader political climate in which Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and senior civilian officials have publicly framed Middle East policy in explicitly religious terms.”
“Public statements by administration officials and allies invoking biblical claims about Israel and the region—along with rhetoric suggesting a prophetic or religious dimension to geopolitical conflicts—risks emboldening similar messaging within military ranks,” the letter’s signees said.
We urge you to assess whether Secretary Hegseth’s extreme religious rhetoric has metastasized into segments of the military chain of command in ways that contravene constitutional protections, departmental rules and standards, or professional military norms.
We need to purge these zealots from our armed forces and government.
That story was made up, it’s embarrassing that now actual lawmakers are believing it.
Edit: To summarize for those who don’t know, MRFF is one guy who doesn’t use any sort of journalistic ethics and doesn’t provide any evidence. Previous “testimonies” follow the exact same format as this complaint, indicating they were written by one person, probably himself. The 200 cases are not related to the Iran War and are actually just all of the cases he claims to have collected over time of Christian zealotry. In a word, he’s untrustworthy and refuses to provide any evidence to anyone else. And when Hement Mehta asked to see the original email the guy sent the version he edited. He even said at some point it’s not his job to investigate if anything he reports is true. Also ask yourself why this was reported to *him* and not any of the any well-known atheist or church/state groups.
Search for Hegseth third temple, a 2018 video of him will come up.
Absolutely necessary. I wonder where the Republican lawmakers are this is non partisan. Hegseth and company should be the ones facing Court Marshall. Not Senator Kelly
I mean Hegesth literally wrote a book called American Crusade
“Blood for the blood god”
-Pete Hegseth
Theyre doomsday Christians and even according to the Christian Bible that makes them the fucking antichrists
What a mess. Metastatic religion! Hope they can get to the bottom of this, but since Trump et alia is now pounding Iran, it may be too little too late; on the other hand, late is better than never.
I literally just went on a deep dive of this topic before seeing this. The evangelicals and their Armageddon fascination that makes them worship Israel is insane.
Lawmakers want a lot of things, but unless they have actual means of enforcement, then all the Fed has to do is…ignore them.
These dumbasses think a rapture will raise up all of them when the battle starts.
This whole corney rapture idea was added to the bible a thousand years after the Crucifixion. It is just some bullshit a scribe inserted when copying an older bible.
Maybe I didn’t pay enough attention back when I last read the bible, but I’m pretty sure kickstarting Armageddon doesn’t get you a free instant pass into heaven. If anything using God as a prop and excuse for your terrible actions is honestly taking the Lord’s name in vain. And attacking civilians, unarmed navy ships, and especially hundreds of small children, is definitely straight up murder. Why they believe performing and endorsing such actions will get them the rapture fast pass I’ll never understand.
Let’s see how long before Trump claims that Jesus came up to him with tears in his eyes and says “I voted for you, you have the best words, even better than the Gospels, and Jesus is sending victory to Trump in Iran like nobody’s ever seen before.” Over/under is Sunday night.
We need more unflattering photos of this idiot’s mug
Fucking good. What absolute lunatic says that kind of thing?