Marines compare Fallujah mission to battles of King David
-9/11/04
In scenes that evoke
Marines compare Fallujah mission to battles of King David
-9/11/04
In scenes that evoke images of a modern-day crusade US Marines in Iraq are drawing parallels between their own situation and that of the biblical King David.
Many on the coalition forces perceive themselves “as warriors fighting barbaric men opposed to all that is good in the world” a news agency has reported.
The news will be disturbing to many Christians around the world who see Jesus as someone committed to non-violence and their example to follow, rather than a warring king from the Hebrew scriptures.
But before the current push into Fallujah marines reportedly “swayed to Christian rock music and asked Jesus Christ to protect them”.
Men with buzz cuts and clad in their camouflage waved their hands in the air, M-16 assault rifles laying beside them, and chanted heavy metal-flavoured lyrics in praise of Jesus Christ late Friday in a yellow-brick chapel, says a report circulated by the French news agency Agence France Presse (AFP).
“You are the sovereign. You’re name is holy. You are the pure spotless lamb,” a female voice cried out on the loudspeakers as the marines clapped their hands and closed their eyes, reflecting on what lay ahead for them.
AFP said the US military, with many soldiers coming from the conservative American south and Midwest, has deep religious roots.
In times when fighting looms, many soldiers draw on their evangelical or born-again heritage to help them face the battle.
“It’s always comforting. Church attendance is always up before the big push,” said First Sergeant Miles Thatford.
“Sometimes, all you’ve got is God.”
Between the service’s electric guitar religious tunes, marines stepped up on the chapel’s small stage and recited a verse of scripture, meant to fortify them for war.
One spoke of their Old Testament hero – David – a shepherd-boy who would become Israel’s king, battling the Philistines some 3,000 years ago.
“Thus David prevailed over the Philistines,” the marine said, reading from scripture, and the marines shouted back “Hoorah, King David,” using their signature grunt of approval.
The marines drew parallels from the verse with their present situation, where they perceive themselves as warriors fighting barbaric men opposed to all that is good in the world, the agency report said.
“Victory belongs to the Lord,” another young marine read.
Their chaplain, named Horne, told the worshippers they were stationed outside Fallujah to bring the Iraqis “freedom from oppression, rape, torture and murder…We ask you God to bless us in that effort.”
The marines then lined up and their chaplain blessed them with ‘holy oil’ to protect them.
“God’s people would be anointed with oil,” the chaplain said, as he lightly dabbed oil on the marines’ foreheads.
Marines compare Fallujah mission to battles of King David
-9/11/04
In scenes that evoke images of a modern-day crusade US Marines in Iraq are drawing parallels between their own situation and that of the biblical King David.
Many on the coalition forces perceive themselves “as warriors fighting barbaric men opposed to all that is good in the world” a news agency has reported.
The news will be disturbing to many Christians around the world who see Jesus as someone committed to non-violence and their example to follow, rather than a warring king from the Hebrew scriptures.
But before the current push into Fallujah marines reportedly “swayed to Christian rock music and asked Jesus Christ to protect them”.
Men with buzz cuts and clad in their camouflage waved their hands in the air, M-16 assault rifles laying beside them, and chanted heavy metal-flavoured lyrics in praise of Jesus Christ late Friday in a yellow-brick chapel, says a report circulated by the French news agency Agence France Presse (AFP).
“You are the sovereign. You’re name is holy. You are the pure spotless lamb,” a female voice cried out on the loudspeakers as the marines clapped their hands and closed their eyes, reflecting on what lay ahead for them.
AFP said the US military, with many soldiers coming from the conservative American south and Midwest, has deep religious roots.
In times when fighting looms, many soldiers draw on their evangelical or born-again heritage to help them face the battle.
“It’s always comforting. Church attendance is always up before the big push,” said First Sergeant Miles Thatford.
“Sometimes, all you’ve got is God.”
Between the service’s electric guitar religious tunes, marines stepped up on the chapel’s small stage and recited a verse of scripture, meant to fortify them for war.
One spoke of their Old Testament hero – David – a shepherd-boy who would become Israel’s king, battling the Philistines some 3,000 years ago.
“Thus David prevailed over the Philistines,” the marine said, reading from scripture, and the marines shouted back “Hoorah, King David,” using their signature grunt of approval.
The marines drew parallels from the verse with their present situation, where they perceive themselves as warriors fighting barbaric men opposed to all that is good in the world, the agency report said.
“Victory belongs to the Lord,” another young marine read.
Their chaplain, named Horne, told the worshippers they were stationed outside Fallujah to bring the Iraqis “freedom from oppression, rape, torture and murder…We ask you God to bless us in that effort.”
The marines then lined up and their chaplain blessed them with ‘holy oil’ to protect them.
“God’s people would be anointed with oil,” the chaplain said, as he lightly dabbed oil on the marines’ foreheads.