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Team Shaw embraces seasonal festivities

  • Published
  • By Chaplain (Maj.) Richard Holmes
  • 20th Fighter Wing Chapel
One of the many benefits of military life is meeting people who are different than I am. Whether the difference is their political perspective, world-view, or even religious belief, the diversity is valued.

Another hallmark highlighting the uniqueness of our way of life is that with diversity, there is also respect. In the Armed Forces, these two values go hand-in-hand.

The Constitution of the United States guarantees its citizens the free exercise of religion, while preventing the government from establishing religion. Recently updated, Air Force Instruction 1-1, Air Force Standards, dated Nov. 12, 2014, echoes these values stating:

“Every Airman is free to practice the religion of their choice or subscribe to no religious belief at all. You should confidently practice your own beliefs while respecting others whose viewpoints differ from your own. Every Airman also has the right to individual expression of sincerely held beliefs, to include conscience, moral principles or religious beliefs, unless those expressions would have an adverse impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, good order, discipline, health and safety, or mission accomplishment.”

On Nov. 30 at 5:30 p.m., a Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is scheduled to be held at the Friendship Chapel grounds. Multiple faith groups will be represented at the event, and displays will be lit until Jan. 9. For details on submitting a religious faith-group display, please contact the 20th Fighter Wing Chapel staff at 803-895-1106.

Many religious holidays occur during the months of December and January, including the Buddhist celebration of Bodhi Day, the Jewish tradition of Hanukkah, Pagan and Wiccan observances of winter solstice, the Western Christian church’s celebration of Christmas, the Eastern Christian church’s observance of Christmas, and the Sikh celebration of Gobindh Singh’s Birthday.

You might be wondering why Christmas is listed twice. In Christianity the Western Churches, such as Roman Catholic and most protestant churches, celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25. The Eastern Church, also known as the Orthodox Church, celebrates Christmas later. This year, the Orthodox Christmas celebration falls on Jan. 7.

Also, as the religious displays are lit on base each night from Nov. 30 – Jan. 9, you will notice that the Menorah is only lit from Dec. 24 – Jan. 1. This is because Hanukkah occurs between those dates.

As we begin this season of religious holidays, I encourage you to practice your faith with sincere devotion, respect persons of other faiths including those who may not profess any religious belief, and appreciate the blessing that we live in a country that celebrates religious diversity and the principles that each of us can honor our faith tenets in peace and good will, free from persecution