Military Buddhist Chapel Represents Tolerance
The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., is home to the only Buddhist chapel on a U.S. military base. After a controversy over religious intolerance during the summer of 2005, the chapel was built in the basement of the academy's iconic Cadet Chapel.
In 2005, conservative evangelical Christians were accused of trying to force their religion on others. According to current and recently graduated cadets, the religious climate has improved substantially since then.
Chapel Construction
The controversy prompted the Air Force to issue guidelines for religious expression. The military also has made efforts to accommodate all faiths. These include the construction of the 300-square-foot Buddhist chapel at the Air Force Academy paid for by the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism.
The floor is bamboo, and the walls are Port Orford cedar. The focal point is a cherry and ash altar with a Burmese Buddha statue on top.
Curiosity Trumps Judgment
During services, which are held Wednesday evenings, about half of the 18 pillows on the floor are usually occupied.
Tanner Faulkner, an 18-year-old student attending the prep school at the academy, says he feels encouraged to explore his religious curiosity.
"They let us know, 'We have this available for you, and it is possible for you to go to different services, whether you're Jewish faith or Buddhist or Christian or whatever,' " Faulkner says.
Sophomore cadet Dan Dwyer says his fellow cadets seem to have respect for his religion.
"People wonder where I go every Wednesday," Dwyer says. "I tell them I go to the Buddhist service, and it's just more of a curiosity rather than judgment."
Buddhism And Military Service — A Discordant Pair?
Out of 1.4 million people in the military, 5,287 identified themselves as Buddhists as of June 2009. For these folks, questions inevitably arise about whether Buddhism — a pacifist religion — is even compatible with military service.
Sarah Bender is the Buddhist program leader at the Air Force Academy. She says she has plenty of questions herself about whether it's ever right to kill in order to stop further harm. But, Bender says, she leaves the academy every Wednesday evening feeling like this is where she's supposed to be.
"People in the military come up — for real — against questions that most of us just consider abstractly," Bender says. "The questions of Buddhism are the questions of life and death. So, where else would you want Buddhism than right there where those questions are most vivid?"
Bender says the academy is now a place where cadets and staff are free to practice any religion they choose.
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STEVE INSKEEP, host:
It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. Good morning, I'm Steve Inskeep.
Four years ago, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs was at the center of a controversy over religious intolerance. Conservative evangelical Christians were accused of trying to force their religion on others. Since then, the military has issued guidelines for religious expression.
One goal was to accommodate all faiths. So this morning we will ask if the guidelines work.
NPR's Jeff Brady visited a Buddhist chapel at the Air Force Academy.
JEFF BRADY: This 300 square-foot space is the only Buddhist chapel on a U.S. military base. It was built two years back with a private foundation paying the $85,000 construction bill.
(Soundbite of a gong)
BRADY: On most Wednesday evenings, as the weekly service begins, about half the 18 pillows on the floor are occupied.
(Soundbite of a gong)
Unidentified Man: Ti-Sarana.
IN UNISON: I take refuge in the wakening...
BRADY: Green tea is served, incense is burning, and there are long periods of silent meditation before Sarah Bender - the sensei, or leader - begins her talk.
Sensei SARAH BENDER (Buddhist Program Leader, United States Air Force Academy): The Dao also means the way it is. Right? The way is also just the way it is. It's what's real. And the Buddha talked about what's real and how do we touch what's real.
BRADY: Eighteen-year-old Tanner Faulkner is attending a prep school at the academy. This is his second visit to the Buddhist chapel. He says he feels encouraged to explore his religious curiosity.
Mr. TANNER FAULKNER: They were so open about - especially during basic training - they, you know, they let us know, you know, hey, we have this available for you. And it is possible for you to go to different services, whether you're Jewish faith or Buddhist or Christian - or it's whatever. We have it available for you and all you have to do is ask.
BRADY: In 2006, a military panel found no evidence of religious discrimination at the academy but said cadets and staff had more to learn about being sensitive to other people's beliefs.
Dan Dwyer is a sophomore cadet and he wasn't here back then, but he says now his fellow cadets seem to have respect for his religion.
Cadet DAN DWYER: People wonder where, like, I go every Wednesday. I tell them I go to the Buddhist, like, service. And it's just more of a, like, curiosity rather than judgment. It's like, oh, how is that? And so I tell them.
BRADY: More than 5,000 people in the military identify themselves as Buddhists. For these folks, questions inevitably arise about whether Buddhism � a pacifist religion � is really even compatible with military service.
Sensei Sarah Bender says she has plenty of questions herself about whether it's ever right to kill in order to stop further harm. But Bender says she leaves the academy every Wednesday evening, feeling like this is where she's supposed to be.
Sensei BENDER: People in the military come up for real against questions that most of us just consider abstractly. The questions of Buddhism are the questions of life and death. So, where else would you want Buddhism than right there where those questions are most vivid?
BRADY: A watchdog group called the Military Religious Freedom Foundation says the academy has made progress since the controversy four years ago. The group says there are still occasional reports of religious intolerance.
Sarah Bender says, from her experience at the academy, it's now a place where cadets and staff are free to practice whatever religion they choose.
Jeff Brady, NPR News, Denver. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.
