RELIGION AND THE
CONTEMPORARY STRATEGIC
ENVIRONMENT
CH (COL) BONNIE KOPPELL
807th Medical Command (Deployment Support)
COMMAND CHAPLAIN
“Culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy.”
Dr. Geert Hofstede
(Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations - DPMSO)
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AGENDA
•
•
•
•
Religion as an Aspect of Culture
Impact of Religion on Operational Environment
Role of the Chaplain
Soldier Leader Engagement /Religious Leader
Engagement
• Freedom of Religion as US National Interest
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What is Religion?
“Religion - the relatively
modest dogma that
God is not mad.”
— Salvador de Madariaga
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NOTE:
Religion ≠Spirituality
Religion = An institutional
structure with defined beliefs and
practices providing a
methodology and community
context for spiritual development.
Spirituality = Fostering
the development of the
spirit, seeking purpose
and meaning in life.
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SO WHAT?
WHY DOES RELIGION MATTER?
WHY SHOULD IT MATTER TO YOU?
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Why Study Religion?
“A fundamental requirement for military success is a
sound understanding of the operational environment.
This requires a careful study of the geography,
population, and culture (emphasis added).”
Joint Publication 3-0,”Joint Operations”, V-18
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RELIGION IS
A FUNDAMENTAL ASPECT
OF CULTURE
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Religion influences the
thoughts/behavior of individuals,
groups, and states.
Knowing the religious factors
helps us understand the culture.
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“Religion (as) the preeminent factor
defining civilization will play a
central role in any effective national
security policy.”
Jonathan Shaw quoting Samuel P. Huntington, ”The Role of Religion in
National Security Policy Since September 11, 2001,” p. 8
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Why is This So Hard?
"Because of the degree to which we as Americans
separate our spiritual lives from our private lives, we
face a certain difficulty in comprehending the depths to
which religions and political considerations interact in
shaping the perceptions and motivations of individuals
from other societies.”
From D. Johnston - Religion, The Missing Dimension in Statecraft, p. 5
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Why Is This So Important?
“If there is any one lesson the last decade should have
taught us, we cannot ensure our security through
unilateral action or by trying to impose our values on
other states and peoples. If we cannot make
(Muslims) – as well as Buddhist, Hindus, and other
faiths – our lasting partners, we will not only lose the
struggles against counterterrorism, we will lose the
world.”
Anthony Cordesman
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A Few Examples
“From Russia, where fascists wrap themselves in the
flag of Orthodox Christianity, to India, where Hindu
pogroms are carried out against Muslims, to the
Middle East, where Iran promotes terror in the name
of Islam, the world looks with wonderment at the
multiplying millions who seem eager to hurl
themselves back into the twelfth century.”
Alan and Heidi Toffler, War and Anti-War, p. 218
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Combat Multiplier
In the past - “Few American military personnel could be
said to have demonstrated much cultural awareness,
much less an interest in acquiring it.”
What we have learned - “The more these (front-line)
troops know about the local culture, the greater the
chance that they will develop relationships that will
prove useful to mission accomplishment.”
Lawrence Yates, The U.S. Military’s Experience in Stability Operations, 1789-2005, 32
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Religious perspectives impact:
• Values
• Centers of Gravity
• Objectives
Understanding the religious factors in the
operational environment enables us to see the
world through their eyes, not ours.
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Be Aware Of:
1. Worship, rituals, customs, and practices of JIIM Force and
religious accommodation requirements.
2. Worship, rituals, customs, leaders, history, religious sites,
beliefs, and practices of the indigenous populations.
3. Relationships among indigenous groups as impacted by
religious factors.
4. The role of religious minorities in the operational
environment.
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Impact of Religion
•
Can be POSITIVE or
NEGATIVE
•
Can HELP or HINDER
mission
•
Can STABILIZE or
DESTABILIZE legitimate
government
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Joint Publication 1-05
Religious Support
• Two major Chaplain responsibilities - religious
advisement and religious support
• Religious advisement – focus on the impact of
religion on joint operations
• Chaplains provide religious advisement consistent
with their noncombatant status
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Chaplain Products
Chaplains may prepare:
• RIA- Religious Impact Assessment
• RAA- Religious Area Analysis
• Running Estimate as the Situation Evolves
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PMESII-PT
Chaplain will have input to the PMESII-PT operational analysis.
PMESIIPT-
Political
Military
Economic
Social
Information
Infrastructure
Physical Environment
Time
(see ATP 1-05.03, A-1ff for religious considerations within PMESII-PT analysis)
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A
Areas
S
Structures
C
Capabilities
O
Organizatio
ns
P
M
E
S
I
I
Political
Military
Economic
Social
Infrastructure
Information
Physical
Environ.
Consider religious
political associations
of power and regional
affiliation; majority
vs. minority religious
demographics
Consider host
nation military
chaplains; where
are religious
services held;
what religions
Consider impact
of physical /
spiritual
devastation;
impact of
desperate poor
on Soldiers
Religious social
bazaars,
festivals,
gatherings
outdoor
assembly sites;
routes to and
from
Religious
communication
networks, sacred
religious identity
tied to land
Religious
International
news groups,
word of mouth,
Religious
statements
What is the
geography like
around
significant
religious areas;
what will
Soldiers face/
endure
National/Provincial/
District religious
centers, religious
assembly halls,
primary religious and
education sites;
monasteries/gravesit
es
How do we
acquire more
chaplains; how
are they
assessed ; how
are they
sustained
Consider loss of
essential
services; swelling
refugee camps;
organizing
search, rescue
and disposition
teams
What religious
authorities
grant
permission for
weddings,
burials,
initiations,
healing and
salvation
Consider routes
to and from
sacred sites;
security for
religious sites;
structure
security
Religious radio
and T.V. towers,
printing shops
What kind of
terrain
surrounds
significant
religious sites
Disputed religious
political resolutions,
transcendent
religious ideologies,
International religious
leadership ability to
impact host nation
policy
What chaplaincy
capabilities are
required for this
mission; how
capable are the
UMTs; assess
resiliency
Consider Soldiers
ability to cope
with trauma, loss,
development of
moral decisions
and distribute aid
What kind of
influence do
religious
societies
demonstrate;
what are their
capabilities
Ability to
navigate
repair\open
roads, to deliver
essential
services;
distribute
needed aid
What % of
religious
leaders are
formally
trained; in what
disciplines
What Religious
Political Groups,
International
affiliations, and Faith
Based Organizations
operate in AO
Consider
external religious
coalitions and
international
NGOs
Operating in AO
How does host
nation receive aid
and distribute it
to the populace;
is it equitable;
how do Soldiers
react
What are the
influential
social
organizations;
are they
effective
What religious
organizations/
ministries of
relief, faith-based
NGOs in AO
Religious News
organizations,
influential
pulpits,
extremist views
What Influential
religious leaders,
councils, and
religious educators;
financial
contributors;
Consider
religious
demographics of
military units;
and populace;
how do we
assess the
Consider how
host nation
religious groups
are
funded/wages;
how are they
dispersing and
Who are the
Influential
social leaders,
influencing
families; are
they religious
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People
P
P
Certified
workers.
Security teams
governmental
oversight and
approval for
repairing
Religious Media
owners,
prominent
preachers,
elders, heads of
family
How many
people can a site
manage; ease of
access; how
many can a site
accommodate
and safely
secure
How do religious
groups
demonstrate
care for ecology;
future
generations
How do religious
leaders and
members show
environmental
concern
T
Time
How much
time will it take
to clear an
area; how
many Soldiers
required
Military chapel
close/expand,
development
of host nation
Chaplain
Corps
/partnerships
Illumination
cycle, weather
impacts
religious
activities
What religious
organizations
define sacred
time, declare
holidays
When are
religious
leaders
appointed and
for how long;
how long can
Soldiers
A Few Examples
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1. You are newly assigned to Afghanistan as part of a
Combat Operational Stress Control team and are
arranging a meeting with the local Imam. He
should be seated:
A - Next to the highest ranking chaplain, who is
female.
B - Next to the highest ranking male leader.
C - Next to the prettiest young woman.
D - In closest proximity to the food.
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2. As part of the peacekeeping force in the
Sinai, you are meeting with an Israeli
counterpart who is an Orthodox Jew. You
should:
A - Plan the meeting for a Saturday when he is off work.
B - Serve bacon cheeseburgers.
C - Dress modestly.
D - Suggest the female Chaplain greet him with a warm
hug.
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3. You are deployed to India as
part of a peacekeeping force. You should:
A - Instruct your driver to honk and accelerate
aggressively toward cattle to clear the road.
B - Instruct your soldiers to avoid disturbing wildlife
when possible, especially cows.
C - Allow your soldiers to shoot at cattle for target
practice.
D - Invite village leaders to a steak barbeque at your
compound.
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4. You are stationed in Japan as a
liaison officer. You should:
A - Leave some rice in your bowl when finishing a meal and
place your chopsticks vertically as a salute to your host’s
generosity.
B - Stomp your boots twice before entering a shrine to give
warning to evil spirits.
C - Help a colleague struggling with chopsticks by using
your chopsticks to help them grasp a slippery vegetable.
D - Wash your face and mouth in the purification fountain
and spit out the water before entering a Shinto shrine.
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5. You are training military doctors
in Algeria during Ramadan. You should:
A - Invite your Muslim colleagues to a lunch
meeting to discuss treatment strategies.
B - Make sure tea and coffee are available in
meeting rooms during the day.
C - Graciously accept an invitation to dinner after
sundown.
D - Greet your Algerian counterparts in the
morning with a gift of American chocolates and insist
they try some.
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There are
a myriad
of ways
we can
offend!
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Communication Synchronization
EVERYTHING
we say or do sends a message!
What you MEAN to say may not be what is
HEARD!
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The Tactical Meets the Strategic
• Where - Afghanistan
• When - Spring 2012
• What - US personnel take action to remove
Qurans that had been cut up and written in by
detainees in order to communicate messages
• IMPACT - US Forces’ actions perceived as
religious persecution rather than counterinsurgency effort
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Communication - Culturally Specific
“Acting without understanding our audiences can
lead to critical misunderstandings with serious
consequences. Understanding subjective impacts
of culture, language, history, religion, environment,
and other factors is critical when crafting
communication strategy for a relevant population.”
USAWC, Information Operations Primer, AY13 Edition, 52
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What are
your
experiences?
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Religious Leader Engagement
Chaplains will often be involved in liaison activities with both:
Indigenous Faith Group Leaders
Faith-based NGO’s
Cultural sensitivity is critical.
Lack of favoritism is critical.
MUST BE ORDED BY THE COMMANDER!
FM 1-05, Religious Support, 2-2
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Why?
Soldier and Leader Engagement support the goals of
both:
• INFORMING and
• INFLUENCING key players in the OE.
(for further information, see FM 3-13: Inform and Influence Activities)
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Liaison Activity
1. Build mutual trust
2. Promote human rights
3. Develop appropriate command relationships
within OA
(FM 1-05, 1-5)
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How?
Premium on Listening
Be aware of own assumptions/biases
Understand cultural differences re:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Communication styles
Attitudes toward conflict
Approaches to completing tasks
Decision making styles
Attitudes toward personal disclosure
Approaches to knowing
(from Maxie McFarland, “Military Cultural Education,” 67ff)
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Religious Freedom: A National
Security Priority
“The United States will continue to make the
promotion of international religious freedom a
key national security and foreign policy priority
for the United States, to advocate forcefully for
these issues publically and privately, in both
multilateral and bilateral settings.”
Denis McDonough, Deputy National Security Advisor,
30 July 2012
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From Secretary of State Clinton
• Religious freedom is an essential element of secure and
thriving societies
• There’s a big difference between democracy and the
tyranny of the majority
• Religious freedom . . .is a bedrock priority of our foreign
policy
• Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion are
enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of
Human Rights
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President Obama’s Vision:
• Religion as a force for unity - cf the Golden
Rule, common commitment to love humanity,
spread peace, and reject violence
• Religious diversity as the foundation of strong
and vibrant societies - reward societies which
evidence religious moderation
as summarized by Shaw, op. cit., 31-32
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“More than at any point in human
history- the interests of nations and
peoples are shared. The religious
convictions that we hold in our hearts
can forge new bonds among people,
or tear us apart.”
President Barack Obama, United Nations General
Assembly, September 22, 2009
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Multinational Social Intelligence
HISTORY AND CULTURE MATTER;
SO DOES LEADERSHIP!
“The burdens of governance require culturally astute
leaders and joint forces capable of adapting to
nuances of religion, ethnicity, and a number of other
considerations essential to success. The military
force should, consistent with security requirements,
respect the religious celebrations and the legitimate
activities of religious leaders.”Joint Publication 3-07, “Stability Operations,” xxviii
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The Way Ahead:
• EXPAND AND INCENTIVIZE…CULTURAL
TRAINING ACROSS THE FORCE (P. 12)
• EXPAND CULTURAL EXPERTISE IN ALL
SERVICES (P. 31)
Decade of War, Vol. 1 - Enduring Lessons from the Past Decade of Operations, Joint and
Coalition Operational Analysis, 15 June 2012
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This Means You!
BE A CULTURALLY ASTUTE LEADER!
UNDERSTAND THE RELIGIOUS
INFLUENCES IN YOUR OPERATIONAL
ENVIRONMENT!
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References
Clinton, Hillary. “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on International
Religious Freedom.” Remarks at the Carnegie Endowment to mark the
release of the State Department’s International Religious Freedom
Report for 2011, Washington, DC, July 30, 2012.
http://carnegieendowment.org/2012/07/30/secretary-of-state-hillary
clinton-on-international-religious-freedom/d2no (accessed July 6, 2013).
Cordesman, Anthony H. “The Lessons and Challenges of September
2011- the New ‘9/11.’” Center for Strategic & International Studies.
http://csis.org/publication/lessons-and-challenges-september-2011-new
911 (accessed July 6, 2013).
Johnston, D., Ed. Religion, The Missing Dimension in Statecraft. New
York: Oxford University Press, 1994.
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References, Cont’d.
Joint and Coalition Operational Analysis (JCOA). Decade of War,
Volume I: Enduring Lessons from the Past Decade of Operations.
Suffolk, VA: Joint and Coalition Operational Analysis, June 15,
2012. http://blogs.defensenews.com/saxotech-access/pdfs/decadeof-war-lessons-learned.pdf (accessed July 6, 2013).
McFarland, Maxie. “Military Cultural Education.” Military Review 85, no.
2 (March-April 2005): 62-69.
Shaw, Jonathan. The Role of Religion in National Security Policy Since
September 11, 2001. Carlisle Papers. Carlisle Barracks, PA: U.S.
Army War College, February 2011.
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References, Cont’d.
TRADOC Culture Center. https://ikn.army.mil/apps/tccv2/ (accessed
July 6, 2013).
Toffler, Alvin and Heidi. War and Anti-War: Survival at the Dawn of the
Twenty-First Century. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1993.
Yates, Lawrence A. The US Military's Experience in Stability
Operations, 1789-2005. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies
Institute Press, 2006.
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Military Publications
U.S. Department of the Army. Army Chaplain Corps Activities. Army Regulation
165-1. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Army, December 3, 2009.
U.S. Department of the Army. Inform and Influence Activities. Field Manual 313. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Army, January 25, 2013.
U.S. Army War College. Information Operations Primer: Fundamentals of
Information Operations. Carlisle Barracks, PA: U.S. Army War College,
Department of Military Strategy, Planning, and Operations & Center for
Strategic Leadership, AY 2013 Edition.
U.S. Department of Defense. Joint Operations. Joint Publication 3-0.
Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Defense, August 11, 2011.
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Military Publications, Cont’d.
U.S. Department of Defense. Religious Affairs in Joint Operations. Joint
Publication 1-05. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Defense, November
13, 2009.
U.S. Department of the Army. Religious Support. Field Manual 1-05.
Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Army, October 5, 2012.
U.S. Department of the Army. Religious Support and External Advisement. Army
Techniques Publication 1-05.03. Washington, DC: May 3, 2013.
U.S. Department of Defense. Stability Operations. Joint Publication 3-07.
Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Defense, September 29, 2011.
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Special Thanks To:
MSG Steven Ferguson
2LT Marc DeLuca
CH (LTC) Robert Brady
CH (LTC) Ira Houck
CH (COL) Mike Dugal
CH (COL) Kenneth Sampson
CH (COL) Jonathan Shaw
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QUESTIONS?
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