# Hegseth's Pentagon is drastically reducing the number of religions recognized by the military **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 5, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649 "2026-06-05T19:42:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/41 "2026-06-05T22:56:08Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Well, the previous list required them to stockpile 200+ faith leaders. That, AIAICT, never happened. Chaplains are, supposed to be, chaplains, you don’t get one from your particular religion. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/42 "2026-06-05T23:02:18Z")
> [@vbob](#): > > Google is pleased to inform me that “Yes, a Unitarian Universalist (UU) can absolutely be a Wiccan shaman and an atheist.” Again this is why they did this. It all sounds a bit silly. Many of those “religions” that were removed are not particularly stringent or ardent religionists. No one will complain. Next it _will_ be someone who is a bit more ardent in their beliefs, but there aren’t many/any servicemen who follow that belief, so who cares? And it will continue that way until you have single denomination backed up by the state and it’s military ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/43 "2026-06-05T23:04:14Z")
At the same time, is anyone going to mind if a Baptist minister is called if they’re Methodist? Can one even tell the two ministers apart? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/44 "2026-06-05T23:05:11Z")
I’m trying to think of the last time I read in the news about a chaplain who _wasn’t_ Christian. Hmm. A quick search reveals that 97% of chaplains are Christian. Not a single one is “humanist or secular.” Yep. Separation of church and state personified. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/45 "2026-06-05T23:13:24Z")
It’s almost as though finding the right faith leader isn’t at all what the change was about. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/46 "2026-06-05T23:21:26Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Looks like Jefferson, Franklin, and other Deist founding fathers wouldn’t be welcome in Kegsbreath’s military. …other? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/47 "2026-06-05T23:47:22Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (CJ) And there we have it, my fellow Latter-day Saints. We are officially, according to a major part of the United States government, _not Christians_. And you wonder why I mock so many LDS for voting for the ~~Evangelical~~ Republican party. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > - Christian - Episcopal/Anglican (EA) And this is completey ignoring the fact the Anglicans just split. > [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’m amazed that Islam survived the cut. But why should we give a fuck about what the military recognizes as legitimate religion? I can think of two reasons immediately: the first is who can become Chaplains, and the second is which symbols the VA may put on veteran’s headstone. But since they’re now declaring the LDS is not Christian, I guess they’ll have to come up with another symbol for our military chaplains since only Christian chaplains use the cross on their uniform. As to why this is being done: of course it’s part of their agenda. I’m honestly surprised there are any non-approved Christian groups listed. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2026, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/48 "2026-06-05T23:51:38Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I could look it up, but what is Christian Nationalist? It’s the belief that the most important of Christ’s teachings is that white men should hold dominion over all of the Earth and trod everyone else under their feet, and that all of Christ’s other teachings are unimportant. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/49 "2026-06-06T00:19:22Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s the belief that the most important of Christ’s teachings is that white men should hold dominion over all of the Earth and trod everyone else under their feet, and that all of Christ’s other teachings are unimportant. Yeah, it’s a political movement to make the world into a Christian theocracy. Many nations have people who follow that ideology, it’s definitely not isolated to the USA. But key is that it’s a fascist political movement that cloaks itself in religion. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/50 "2026-06-06T00:23:20Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > There are so many bigger threats to our Democracy, a 2 letter code on a dog tag seems like a minor issue or RO. That’s coming from a place of privilege. Now a lot of people who die in service of their country don’t get their symbol of choice on their headstone. It doesn’t have to be important to you personally but I’d like to consider their personal choice. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/51 "2026-06-06T00:32:16Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/xZFM0CYYKwQ/hqdefault.jpg "Simpsons —“Christian, Jew, or miscellaneous”") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZFM0CYYKwQ) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/52 "2026-06-06T00:32:55Z")
The options for emblems on headstones is a [longer list](https://www.cem.va.gov/hmm/emblems.asp) with almost a hundred options (at present). ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/53 "2026-06-06T00:45:41Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > And this is completey ignoring the fact the Anglicans just split. So did the Methodists. But those of us who didn’t split from the United Methodist Church know exactly who ~~Goebbels~~ Hegseth was talking about and it ain’t us. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/54 "2026-06-06T01:27:19Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > But those of us who didn’t split from the United Methodist Church know exactly who ~~Goebbels~~ Hegseth was talking about and it ain’t us. It ain’t never _us_. Until it _is_. And then it’s too late for _us_. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/55 "2026-06-06T01:30:01Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > At the same time, is anyone going to mind if a Baptist minister is called if they’re Methodist? Can one even tell the two ministers apart? The Baptists are dunkers while the Methodists are sprinklers but that’s at the other end of life. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/56 "2026-06-06T01:48:53Z")
> [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](#): > > Where’s Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912? [Die, heretic!](https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2005/sep/29/comedy.religion) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/57 "2026-06-06T01:54:23Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > the same time, is anyone going to mind if a Baptist minister is called if they’re Methodist? Can one even tell the two ministers apart? Nope, at least not until they’ve got rid of the Muslims and the Sikhs and the Mormons. Then they will take an interest in those non conformists. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/58 "2026-06-06T02:01:11Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > It’s almost as though finding the right faith leader isn’t at all what the change was about. I agree. I feel that the real purpose here is it gives Hegseth and Trump an excuse to purge the armed forces of chaplains they consider disloyal to the regime. They want to make sure that when any troops have moral qualms about carrying out the orders they’ve been given, they’ll only be able to approach approved religious figures. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/59 "2026-06-06T05:49:48Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > 1. Christian - Quaker (QU) I’m petty sure there are more Pastafarians than there are Quakers in the US military. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2026, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649/60 "2026-06-06T06:12:27Z")
I very highly doubt that there are more Quakers then there are atheists… unless someone actually claims there are less than 0.03 percent of Americans that are atheists. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hegseths-pentagon-is-drastically-reducing-the-number-of-religions-recognized-by-the-military/1030649.md?page=4)