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Religion & Moral Injury. Big Idea: The lack of religious consideration could cause dilemmas for Soldiers and leaders trying to maintain and/or regain their moral bearing. COL Jim Erbach Department of Command and Leadership May 2014. Moral Injury.
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Religion & Moral Injury Big Idea: The lack of religious consideration could cause dilemmas for Soldiers and leaders trying to maintain and/or regain their moral bearing. COL Jim Erbach Department of Command and Leadership May 2014
Moral Injury Moral injury: The psychological damage service members face when their actions in battle contradict their moral beliefs. Moral injury results from having to make difficult moral choices under extreme conditions, experiencing morally anguishing events or duties, witnessing immoral acts, or behaving in ways that profoundly challenge moral conscience and identity and their supporting values. A uniquely internal phenomenon that erodes a Soldier’s self-worth.
Examples of Religion’s Affect • Christianity can afford peace knowing “sin” is forgiven and all can experience God’s grace, mercy and peace. • Taoism seeks good to balance evil. • Islam provides atonement for “sins” meaning it is concealed in the world; forgiveness is gained on the day of resurrection. • Hindus believe when a person is mature enough to face atonement, seven stages must be undergone: admission, remorse, repentance, confession, showing shame, penance and reconciliation. Then all is forgiven and forgotten. We are in the business of creating options for commanders. Why eliminate the option of religion’s reconciliatory affect? If a soldier is unable to come to terms with his (in)actions it can injure self-confidence, stunt the desire to participate, question rightness, and cultivate distrust in leadership.
Value of Religion Bharat VirSingh, a Sikh Philosopher, puts it this way: “Religion helps to regulate our conduct and behavior in society by providing a set of morals and value-system for human existence… It prevents deterioration of the mind due to dehumanization and desensitization caused by highly mechanized modern living, thus providing stability…” In a manner of speaking, religion gives humanity a manner in which to measure behavior, a way of discerning good behavior from bad, of right from wrong. “It is in the national interest that personnel serving in the Armed Forces be protected in the realization and development of moral, spiritual, and religious values consistent with the religious beliefs of the individuals concerned.” GEN George C. Marshall
