Mr Winestein

Sir,
I have read and listened to your description of Christians. Respectfully, I disagree. I am a Christian. And I am none of those things. Today, I asked God to bless you. And I will continue in prayer asking God to bless you.
(name withheld)

Dear (name withheld),

Mikey has read your email and asked me to respond.

I am a Christian (Episcopalian in fact) who fully supports Mikey’s and MRFF’s attempt to protect members of the U.S. Military from unconstitutional religious influence in relation to their training, assignment, advancement and retention. As a Christian supporter of MRFF, I truly enjoy efforts to proselytize to everyone here at MRFF. In this private setting, it is both appropriate and appreciated. I have the freedom (as do you) to demonstrably agree with your message, disagree with your message or totally ignore with no chance of repercussions. If on the other hand your proselytized message was being delivered to me in a government controlled situation where your official capacity was superior and mine subordinate, your message becomes immediately oppressive due to the loss of my freedoms as listed above.

Let me use the words of another in further explanation:
No one will be prosecuted simply for sharing one’s faith in the military. Sharing your faith – in a non-official context – is fine. What’s wrong is when it is in a mandatory, official, or any other context in which the power dynamic between the individuals is out of balance (e.g., a commander recommending church attendance to subordinates).

Should fundamentalist of other religious faiths engage in the same type of activity within the U.S. Military, MRFF’s response will be exactly the same. You should also be aware that MRFF fully supports the military chaplaincy role in its passive (i.e. without proselytization) ministrations to the religious needs of all U.S. Service Members of any faith.

The language employed by Mikey in his writings is a forceful calling out of Christian Dominionists and Fundamentalists intent on using the military as their personal playground for proselytizing to an audience controlled by the UCMJ and Lawful Orders from their commanders. Mikey’s and MRFF’s language is a conscious choice to use some of the same language many Christian Dominionst and Fundamentalists consistently deploy against many who happen to disagree with either their proselytized message or their perceived non-existent right to spread it in a strictly government controlled setting.

I can confidently say that Mikey’s words on behalf of MRFF are directed at the actions of certain Christians, not the faith of Christianity.

Peace be with you,
Andy Kasehagen