A Catholic legal and moral analysis of NZDF’s scenario linking Christian communities to extremism. Calls for clarification, consultation, and religious dignity.
I suppose the Jones thing in Guyana and the Texas massacre might be described as Christian but really the last act of Christian violence was the 30 years war. It’s a bit cloth-eared for the Defence Force to do this. In my day the participants in these exercise were given nommes de guerre. Imaginative stuff like “Redland”.
Disclosure: My belief is that God exists only within our minds, not as an external entity. I also accept that religions each have their own beliefs, practices and traditions; some, unfortunately, at odds with others. And yes, inhumane behaviour is often excused or justified in the name of so-called religions. Scenarios to practice defences against religious extremism make sense, don't they? However, such scenarios should most certainly not nominate any particular group as a likely 'cause'. History tells us that inter religious conflicts are not limited to any particular sects or faiths, given the circumstances of the time. Surely "Group A" and "Group B" would suffice!
Once again Zoran speaks out with courage and wise reasoning. I was very concerned when reading the article this post refers to. As a Pastor of an independent Protestant Church does the scenario painted by the NZDF make me a suspect? I have shared my concerns for the way NZ has been changing and the political challenges that globalisation makes, the "undoing"of all God's moral laws........Can we celebrate this Christmas eve day with out having to look over our shoulder? As Zoran noted, " A clarification, consultation an explanation from the Govt, NZDF, needs to be addressed. May all Christian Denominations ask for it as well as the Catholic Church.
I agree with Zoran's sentiments, but I suspect this was more a matter of laziness than ill-will towards local Christian communities. The "Visayan People's Front" appears to be a fictional Christian group used by the US and Australian armies for training purposes. I would guess that the NZDF took this over and transplanted it to the South Island, apparently lacking the imagination to come up with a more plausible local insurgency. (I'd be happy to invent one, if paid the usual consultant's fee.) If anyone has reason to be concerned about this, it's probably the actual Visayan people of the Philippines, who are predominantly Roman Catholic, live in a largely Muslim area, and who seem to be the origin of this fictional scenario.
Sharp analysis of how institutional framing can pathologize belief without intending explicit persecution. The parallel drawn between state engagement with tikanga and religious consultation really landed, both require epistemic humility rather than bureaucratic defintion. The self-fulfilling prophecy point is esp important, treating faith as latent threat ironically cultivates the very alienation that breeds reactionary extremism.
I am afraid, that although I respect Zoran's writings generally, this one is making a mountain out of a molehill. The NZDF, as any professional military, regularly creates and updates fictional employment scenarios to prepare the NZDF for future possible eventualities, for updating and testing tactics, techniques and procedures, or fielding new equipment. These need to have a degree of plausibility and some aspects of reality about them, otherwise useless or even incorrect understandings could result. In terms of using a Christian-inspired terrorist group in a scenario is not an attack on the Christian religion or the Catholic Church. But it does recognise a contemporary reality - white supremacist groups for example, routinely press an association with the Christian religion. The Evanglical movement in the United States today is routinely pressing out into secular politics, the idea of "Christian nationalism" and a "Christian nation" as a counter to Islamic extremists. Increasingly, we are seeing instances where Christian doctrine and teachings are being twisted to justify political, verbal and even physical violence. The issue at the centre of the scenario is that of extremism and how extremists act regardless of the cause that underpins and justifies for them their actions. It is a bit precious to attack the NZDF for insensitivity and lack of imagination on this type of scenario.
Yes, probably an inflated molehill, but well argued at any rate by Zoran. I also wonder how it would have been received had the rogue character been a bunch of radical Muslims (far more likely) or grumpy savages from various Iwi playing wannabe terrorists ? (almost happened in the Ureweras - trust me on that one, I saw the camps)
"white supremacist groups for example, routinely press an association with the Christian religion"
I find the whole 'alt-right' hysteria to be somewhat overblown. How many neo-Nazis have you seen lately driving their trucks through crowded Christmas markets or murdering innocent Jews at an Aussie beach? 'White supremacists' are a great distractor for our feeble leaders, just as they use 'gun laws' to obfuscate and divert attention from their complete failure as leaders of democratic civilisation. And these run well in the media. But the actual menace facing the free world is the Islamic one, the Jihadi nutjobs who pray daily that they will be able to martyr themselves through killing as many non-Muslims as they possibly can. To be honest, I was half expecting you to try and argue a link between Neo-Nazis the IDF and Charlie Kirk. It would make a perfect triumvirate for the woke media to blame for all ills.
I suppose the Jones thing in Guyana and the Texas massacre might be described as Christian but really the last act of Christian violence was the 30 years war. It’s a bit cloth-eared for the Defence Force to do this. In my day the participants in these exercise were given nommes de guerre. Imaginative stuff like “Redland”.
Disclosure: My belief is that God exists only within our minds, not as an external entity. I also accept that religions each have their own beliefs, practices and traditions; some, unfortunately, at odds with others. And yes, inhumane behaviour is often excused or justified in the name of so-called religions. Scenarios to practice defences against religious extremism make sense, don't they? However, such scenarios should most certainly not nominate any particular group as a likely 'cause'. History tells us that inter religious conflicts are not limited to any particular sects or faiths, given the circumstances of the time. Surely "Group A" and "Group B" would suffice!
Once again Zoran speaks out with courage and wise reasoning. I was very concerned when reading the article this post refers to. As a Pastor of an independent Protestant Church does the scenario painted by the NZDF make me a suspect? I have shared my concerns for the way NZ has been changing and the political challenges that globalisation makes, the "undoing"of all God's moral laws........Can we celebrate this Christmas eve day with out having to look over our shoulder? As Zoran noted, " A clarification, consultation an explanation from the Govt, NZDF, needs to be addressed. May all Christian Denominations ask for it as well as the Catholic Church.
I agree with Zoran's sentiments, but I suspect this was more a matter of laziness than ill-will towards local Christian communities. The "Visayan People's Front" appears to be a fictional Christian group used by the US and Australian armies for training purposes. I would guess that the NZDF took this over and transplanted it to the South Island, apparently lacking the imagination to come up with a more plausible local insurgency. (I'd be happy to invent one, if paid the usual consultant's fee.) If anyone has reason to be concerned about this, it's probably the actual Visayan people of the Philippines, who are predominantly Roman Catholic, live in a largely Muslim area, and who seem to be the origin of this fictional scenario.
Are you sure that they are not preparing for Brian tamaki
Sharp analysis of how institutional framing can pathologize belief without intending explicit persecution. The parallel drawn between state engagement with tikanga and religious consultation really landed, both require epistemic humility rather than bureaucratic defintion. The self-fulfilling prophecy point is esp important, treating faith as latent threat ironically cultivates the very alienation that breeds reactionary extremism.
I am afraid, that although I respect Zoran's writings generally, this one is making a mountain out of a molehill. The NZDF, as any professional military, regularly creates and updates fictional employment scenarios to prepare the NZDF for future possible eventualities, for updating and testing tactics, techniques and procedures, or fielding new equipment. These need to have a degree of plausibility and some aspects of reality about them, otherwise useless or even incorrect understandings could result. In terms of using a Christian-inspired terrorist group in a scenario is not an attack on the Christian religion or the Catholic Church. But it does recognise a contemporary reality - white supremacist groups for example, routinely press an association with the Christian religion. The Evanglical movement in the United States today is routinely pressing out into secular politics, the idea of "Christian nationalism" and a "Christian nation" as a counter to Islamic extremists. Increasingly, we are seeing instances where Christian doctrine and teachings are being twisted to justify political, verbal and even physical violence. The issue at the centre of the scenario is that of extremism and how extremists act regardless of the cause that underpins and justifies for them their actions. It is a bit precious to attack the NZDF for insensitivity and lack of imagination on this type of scenario.
It's about time Christians got precious about their beliefs...it appears that no one else will.
Yes, probably an inflated molehill, but well argued at any rate by Zoran. I also wonder how it would have been received had the rogue character been a bunch of radical Muslims (far more likely) or grumpy savages from various Iwi playing wannabe terrorists ? (almost happened in the Ureweras - trust me on that one, I saw the camps)
"white supremacist groups for example, routinely press an association with the Christian religion"
I find the whole 'alt-right' hysteria to be somewhat overblown. How many neo-Nazis have you seen lately driving their trucks through crowded Christmas markets or murdering innocent Jews at an Aussie beach? 'White supremacists' are a great distractor for our feeble leaders, just as they use 'gun laws' to obfuscate and divert attention from their complete failure as leaders of democratic civilisation. And these run well in the media. But the actual menace facing the free world is the Islamic one, the Jihadi nutjobs who pray daily that they will be able to martyr themselves through killing as many non-Muslims as they possibly can. To be honest, I was half expecting you to try and argue a link between Neo-Nazis the IDF and Charlie Kirk. It would make a perfect triumvirate for the woke media to blame for all ills.