This thesis aims to describe American Military Chaplains’ thoughts and concerns on secularism and religious pluralism in the Millennial generation. The goal is to analyze how a potential change in this generation affects the chaplain’s role. The method is in-depth semi-structured interviews with three chaplains from different service branches. The main finding is that they detect a substantial decrease in religiousness, which follows overall trends in society. Their experience is not that pluralism is gaining substantial ground, rather it is that a large portion of the troops are indifferent to religion. Even so, they do not experience a decrease in interest or need for their services, since counselling is an increasing part of their workload. The ambiguity of their role is mostly perceived as a challenge to balance their religious task with non-religious counselling/coaching and practical duties as an officer.

Thesis (D. Min.)--International Baptist Graduate School, 1995. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 228-235).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Erskine Theological Seminary, 2007. / Abstract. Description based on Microfiche version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [108]-112).

The work of the South African chaplains during the First World War was of an extremely high standard. The postwar military failed to recognise this contribution. In the 1920s and early 1930s the chaplaincy was allocated an inferior position within the military. It was only in 1938 that the first chaplains were appointed in the Permanent Force. During the Second World War the unwillingness of the UDF hierarchy to appoint a single chaplain as the head of a Chaplains' Branch influenced the ministry negatively. Inter-denominational issues were resolved on a basis of consensus amongst Principal Chaplains who were granted very little executive power. The establishment of the SA Corps of Chaplains in 1946 confirmed the permanency of the chaplaincy within the UDF. The appointment of the first Deputy Chaplain General in 1949 did much to ensure effective ministry. The discontinuation of this post in 1954 had a detrimental effect on the chaplaincy. With the establishment of the Department of Physical and Spiritual Welfare in 1966 no clear cut division was made between the responsibility for spiritual (pastoral) care and physical care (social welfare). This anomaly was rectified in 1968 when an independent directorate for the chaplaincy was created and in 1970 when a Chaplain General was appointed. The chaplaincy in South West Africa grew from a single chaplain at Walvis Bay in 1963 to an immense organisation with hundreds of chaplains. In 1980 the SWATF Chaplain Service was formed under command of its own director. The presence of SADF/SWATF chaplains in South West Africa ceased in 1989 with the implementation of UN Resolution 435. The 1990s was a decade of great transition and turmoil for the Chaplain Service. In 1994 the military chaplaincies of the TBVC countries, as well as members from MK and APLA, were integrated into the Chaplain Service. The implementation of the transformation policy of the Department of Defence resulted in the Chaplain Service becoming more representative of the communities it serves. / Theology / D. Th. (Theology)

The work of the South African chaplains during the First World War was of an extremely high standard. The postwar military failed to recognise this contribution. In the 1920s and early 1930s the chaplaincy was allocated an inferior position within the military. It was only in 1938 that the first chaplains were appointed in the Permanent Force. During the Second World War the unwillingness of the UDF hierarchy to appoint a single chaplain as the head of a Chaplains' Branch influenced the ministry negatively. Inter-denominational issues were resolved on a basis of consensus amongst Principal Chaplains who were granted very little executive power. The establishment of the SA Corps of Chaplains in 1946 confirmed the permanency of the chaplaincy within the UDF. The appointment of the first Deputy Chaplain General in 1949 did much to ensure effective ministry. The discontinuation of this post in 1954 had a detrimental effect on the chaplaincy. With the establishment of the Department of Physical and Spiritual Welfare in 1966 no clear cut division was made between the responsibility for spiritual (pastoral) care and physical care (social welfare). This anomaly was rectified in 1968 when an independent directorate for the chaplaincy was created and in 1970 when a Chaplain General was appointed. The chaplaincy in South West Africa grew from a single chaplain at Walvis Bay in 1963 to an immense organisation with hundreds of chaplains. In 1980 the SWATF Chaplain Service was formed under command of its own director. The presence of SADF/SWATF chaplains in South West Africa ceased in 1989 with the implementation of UN Resolution 435. The 1990s was a decade of great transition and turmoil for the Chaplain Service. In 1994 the military chaplaincies of the TBVC countries, as well as members from MK and APLA, were integrated into the Chaplain Service. The implementation of the transformation policy of the Department of Defence resulted in the Chaplain Service becoming more representative of the communities it serves. / Theology / D. Th. (Theology)

Text in Afrikaans / Die hoofdoel van hierdie verhandeling is om 'n studie te maak van die interkulturele bediening in die kultureel-diverse konteks van die SuidAfrikaanse Nasionale Weermag. Die benadering wat in hierdie studie gevolg word, is om die historiese pad van politieke stryd van deelnemende magte in die SANW te volg tot en met die historiese integrasie proses wat sy aanvang in 1994 geneem het. Hierdie samestelling van weermagte wat bestaan uit die SAW (Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag), MK (Umkhonto we Sizwe), APLA (Azanian's People Liberation Army), TBVC state, het elkeen respektiewelik sy eie militere- politieke ideologiese pad geloop. Om die verskille verder te aksentueer bestaan hierdie magte uit verskillende kulturele-, etniese-, en godsdienstige agtergronde. Die grootste verskil setel daarin dat hierdie magte aardsvyande van mekaar was. Die verdere verloop van hierdie verhandeling is om 'n blik te werp op hierdie diversiteit en die samehangende vraagstukke en problematiek wat voortspruit uit die integrasie van magte waarin diepgewortelde verskille setel. Teneinde samehorigheid en 'n gees van vreedsame naasbestaan te ontketen,word daar 'n indringende soeke geloods om effektief oor kultuurgrense heen te kommunikeer. Hierdie soeke om sinvol en effektief te kommunikeer geskied ook langs die weg van refleksie vanuit die Skrif. In die lig daarvan dat hierdie verhandeling vanuit die Sendingwetenskap bedryf word, word vraagstukke vanuit die Skrif benader, met antler woorde, watter leiding vind ons vanuit die Woord van God op die problematiek in die SANW. W anneer daar 'n introspeksie gehou word, oor die vraagstukke en problematiek wat voortspruit uit die proses van transformasie in die SANW, dan word daar indringend besin oor die rol wat die kapelaansdiens in die kultureel-diverse konteks van die SANW vertolk, gegee die vraagstukke en problematiek waarin die organisasie gewikkel is. Hierdie navorsing het tot die een slotsom gekom, tewete, dat die kapelaan die rol as fasiliteerder van versoening moet vertolk. Hy doen dit langs die weg van identifisering met die uitdagings waarmee lede worstel en begelei hulle pastoral om die visie van'n verenigde weermag vir die Republiek van Suid-Afrika te intemaliseer. Sy pastoraat bereik sy diepste wese wanneer koninkryksbeginsels soos vrede, geregtigheig, naaste liefde, vergewingsgesindheid en versoening in die konteks van die SANW as uitkomste verkondig word. / The main objective of this thesis is to make a study of the intercultural ministry in the cultural-diverse context of the South African National Defence Force. The approach of this study was to follow the political struggle of participating forces in the SANDF, up to the point of integration in 1994. These forces consists out of the SADF (South African Defence Forces), MK (Umkhonto we Sizwe), APLA (Azanian People's Liberation Army), TBVC States, who travelled their own military, politically and ideological routes. They also differ culturally, ethnically and religiously in their make-up. The thesis focuses on the problems and challenges which were caused by the integration of forces in which deep-seated differences are entrenched. In order to maintain a peaceful co-existence an urgent search was lodged to find ways of effective intercultural communication. Being a missiological study, the focus was on Scripture to find guidance that can overcome problems and challenges in the SANDF. This brings the role of the Chaplain in sharp focus in his ministry to the SANDF. The research came to one conclusion that the Chaplain must fulfill the role of facilitator of reconciliation. He is doing it by way of identification with the challenges with which the members struggle and guide them pastorally to internalize the vision of a United Defence Force for the Republic of South Africa. His pastorate reaches its depths when Kingdom principles, such as peace, righteousness, neighbourly love, forgiveness and reconciliation are proclaimed as outcomes within the context of the SANDF. / Theology / D.Th. (Theology)

Text in Afrikaans / Die hoofdoel van hierdie verhandeling is om 'n studie te maak van die interkulturele bediening in die kultureel-diverse konteks van die SuidAfrikaanse Nasionale Weermag. Die benadering wat in hierdie studie gevolg word, is om die historiese pad van politieke stryd van deelnemende magte in die SANW te volg tot en met die historiese integrasie proses wat sy aanvang in 1994 geneem het. Hierdie samestelling van weermagte wat bestaan uit die SAW (Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag), MK (Umkhonto we Sizwe), APLA (Azanian's People Liberation Army), TBVC state, het elkeen respektiewelik sy eie militere- politieke ideologiese pad geloop. Om die verskille verder te aksentueer bestaan hierdie magte uit verskillende kulturele-, etniese-, en godsdienstige agtergronde. Die grootste verskil setel daarin dat hierdie magte aardsvyande van mekaar was. Die verdere verloop van hierdie verhandeling is om 'n blik te werp op hierdie diversiteit en die samehangende vraagstukke en problematiek wat voortspruit uit die integrasie van magte waarin diepgewortelde verskille setel. Teneinde samehorigheid en 'n gees van vreedsame naasbestaan te ontketen,word daar 'n indringende soeke geloods om effektief oor kultuurgrense heen te kommunikeer. Hierdie soeke om sinvol en effektief te kommunikeer geskied ook langs die weg van refleksie vanuit die Skrif. In die lig daarvan dat hierdie verhandeling vanuit die Sendingwetenskap bedryf word, word vraagstukke vanuit die Skrif benader, met antler woorde, watter leiding vind ons vanuit die Woord van God op die problematiek in die SANW. W anneer daar 'n introspeksie gehou word, oor die vraagstukke en problematiek wat voortspruit uit die proses van transformasie in die SANW, dan word daar indringend besin oor die rol wat die kapelaansdiens in die kultureel-diverse konteks van die SANW vertolk, gegee die vraagstukke en problematiek waarin die organisasie gewikkel is. Hierdie navorsing het tot die een slotsom gekom, tewete, dat die kapelaan die rol as fasiliteerder van versoening moet vertolk. Hy doen dit langs die weg van identifisering met die uitdagings waarmee lede worstel en begelei hulle pastoral om die visie van'n verenigde weermag vir die Republiek van Suid-Afrika te intemaliseer. Sy pastoraat bereik sy diepste wese wanneer koninkryksbeginsels soos vrede, geregtigheig, naaste liefde, vergewingsgesindheid en versoening in die konteks van die SANW as uitkomste verkondig word. / The main objective of this thesis is to make a study of the intercultural ministry in the cultural-diverse context of the South African National Defence Force. The approach of this study was to follow the political struggle of participating forces in the SANDF, up to the point of integration in 1994. These forces consists out of the SADF (South African Defence Forces), MK (Umkhonto we Sizwe), APLA (Azanian People's Liberation Army), TBVC States, who travelled their own military, politically and ideological routes. They also differ culturally, ethnically and religiously in their make-up. The thesis focuses on the problems and challenges which were caused by the integration of forces in which deep-seated differences are entrenched. In order to maintain a peaceful co-existence an urgent search was lodged to find ways of effective intercultural communication. Being a missiological study, the focus was on Scripture to find guidance that can overcome problems and challenges in the SANDF. This brings the role of the Chaplain in sharp focus in his ministry to the SANDF. The research came to one conclusion that the Chaplain must fulfill the role of facilitator of reconciliation. He is doing it by way of identification with the challenges with which the members struggle and guide them pastorally to internalize the vision of a United Defence Force for the Republic of South Africa. His pastorate reaches its depths when Kingdom principles, such as peace, righteousness, neighbourly love, forgiveness and reconciliation are proclaimed as outcomes within the context of the SANDF. / Theology / D.Th. (Theology)

In dieser Dissertation wird die historische Genese einer Entwicklung untersucht, die zum Entstehen eines „evangelikalen Ethos“ in Teilen der US-Streitkräfte und weiteren Bereichen des National Security State geführt hat. Den Ausgangspunkt dieser Arbeit bilden Daten zur religiösen Zusammensetzung der amerikanischen Streitkräfte aus dem Jahr 2009. Sie verweisen auf einen überproportional hohen Anteil evangelikaler Protestanten in den amerikanischen Streitkräften. Der Untersuchungszeitraum reicht vom Aufbau des National Security State im Zweiten Weltkrieg bis zum Ende des Vietnamkrieges. Die Annäherung evangelikaler Protestanten an den nationalen Sicherheitsstaat fand bereits im Zweiten Weltkrieg statt. Vor allem im Kontext des Kalten Krieges setzte zudem die Erkenntnis einer ideologischen und kulturellen Nähe zwischen beiden Sphären ein, während die neoevangelikale Erweckungsbewegung zu neuer Blüte gelangte und eine religiöse Mobilisierung der Vereinigten Staaten im frühen Kalten Krieg stattfand. Die Arbeit beruht u.a. auf teil unveröffentlichten Archivbeständen des Billy Graham Center und des Wheaton College. Methodisch ist die Untersuchung der von Philip Sarasin geprägten Wissensgeschichte verpflichtet. Damit kann eine Vielfalt von Wissensbeständen analytisch gegriffen und ihre Bedeutung für politisches und militärisches Handeln entsprechend gefasst werden. Die Arbeit endet mit einem Ausblick auf die Gegenwart: Das missionarische Sendungsbewusstsein evangelikaler Gläubiger führt zu Konflikten innerhalb der Streitkräfte. Auch im Rahmen der Auslandseinsätze der amerikanischen Streitkräfte ereignen sich bedenkliche Vorfälle, in denen etwa das Verbot der Missionierung durch Militärangehörige missachtet wird. / This dissertation examines the historical genesis of a development that lead to an „Evangelical ethos“ within the U.S. Arnmed Forces and other institutions of the National Security State. The starting point for this dissertation are empirical data from 2009 about the religious composition of the U.S. military. This data refers to a disproportional quota of Evangelical Protestants in the military. The period investigated reaches from the creation of the National Security State during World War 2 until the end of the war in Vietnam. The convergence of Evangelical Protestants and the National Security State began with World War 2. Furthermore, in the context of the Cold War a sense of shared ideological and cultural values developed, while the Neoevangelical revival movement blossomed and a religious mobilization of the United States during the early Cold War took place. This work is based on partly unpublished material from the Billy Graham Center and Wheaton College archives, among others. Methodically, it is committed to Philipp Sarasins approach of a history of knowledge. In this way, a variety of stocks of knowledge can be grasped analytically and their significance for political and military action can be grasped accordingly. This dissertation ends with an outlook on the present times: the evangelical zeal of the believers in uniform leads to conflicts within the military. Furthermore, during assigments abroad highly problematic incidents take place, e.g. the disregard of the prohibition of proselytizing by members of the military.