Traditions and roots of communication with military chaplains in wartime

Abstract

This research explores the chaplaincy from a critical-cultural communication model, focusing on how the representation of the military chaplain has been understood within culture, how chaplains understand their role today, and how they communicate their messages to military members in light of growing religious diversity. This case study grounded in theoretical framework, focuses on chaplains within the U.S. National Guard; a highly underrepresented area within research and provides unique opportunities for examining the duality of responsibilities. This article examines what makes a soldier kill or fight for his/her country if it goes against religious/ethical values, and more specifically, how that dichotomy is dealt with in the Chaplain Corps through their work and communication with members of the military. The article begins with a chaplain’s experience as a conscientious objector and then weaves together ‘just war’ and American civil religion theories, and the real-life experiences of the chaplains.

Keywords

• Religion
• communication
• ethics
• military
• chaplain
• representation