Chaplains Quotes:

A chaplain's biggest gift is to be present and just listen.

- Diane Johnson

topic: Chaplains, Just Listen

He that preaches war is the devil's chaplain.

- John Ray

topic: War, Devil, Chaplains

Communism, being the lay form of Catholicism, and indeed meaning the same thing, has never had any lack of chaplains.

- George Bernard Shaw

source: "Biography/ Personal Quotes". www.imdb.com.

topic: Communism, Form, Chaplains

I realized during my time as a chaplain that I didn't want to be a minister.

- John Green

topic: Want, Ministers, Chaplains

What a book a devil's chaplain might write on the clumsy, wasteful, blundering, low, and horribly cruel work of nature!

- Charles Darwin

source: Letter to J. D. Hooker, 13 July 1856

topic: Chaplains, Clumsy

Is the appointment of Chaplains to the two Houses of Congress consistent with the Constitution, and with the pure principle of religious freedom? In strictness the answer on both points must be in the negative. The Constitution of the U. S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion. The law appointing Chaplains establishes a religious worship for the national representatives, to be performed by Ministers of religion, elected by a majority of them, and these are to be paid out of the national taxes. Does this not involve the principle of a national establishment ... ?

- James Madison

source: "Concerned Catholic Paul Ryan Wants Priests to Shut Up About the Poor" by Charles P. Pierce, www.esquire.com. April 27, 2018.

topic: Religious, Law, Two, Chaplains

The sermon was based on what he claimed was a well-known fact, that there were no Atheists in foxholes. I asked Jack what he thought of the sermon afterwards, and he said, "There's a Chaplain who never visited the front.

- Kurt Vonnegut

topic: Atheist, Atheism, Foxholes, Chaplains

In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome where it became an institution. Next, it moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America where it became an enterprise.

- Richard Halverson

topic: Philosophy, Men, Rome, Chaplains, Centering

Jesus was not killed by atheism and anarchy. He was brought down by law and order allied with religion, which is always a deadly mix. Beware those who claim to know the mind of God and who are prepared to use force, if necessary, to make others conform. Beware those who cannot tell God's will from their own. Temple police are always a bad sign. When chaplains start wearing guns and hanging out at the sheriff's office, watch out. Someone is about to have no king but Caesar

- Barbara Brown Taylor

topic: Jesus, Kings, Gun, Chaplains

Let vice and immorality of every kind be discouraged as much as possible in your brigade; and, as a chaplain is allowed to each regiment, see that the men regularly attend during worship. Gaming of every kind is expressly forbidden, as being the foundation of evil, and the cause of many a brave and gallant officer's and soldier's ruin.

- George Washington

topic: Men, Evil, Brave, Chaplains

The chaplain of the Senate does not pray for the Senate. He watches the Senate and prays for the country.

- Sam Levenson

topic: Country, Government, Doe, Chaplains

Intercession is the truly universal work for the Christian. No place is closed to intercessory prayer: no continent, no nation, no city, no organization, no office. No power on earth can keep intercession out.

- Richard Halverson

source: "No Greater Power: Perspective for Days of Pressure".

topic: Christian, Spiritual, Religious, Intercessory Prayer, Intercession

Most people do not realize that there was a paid chaplain in Congress even before the Revolutionary War ended.

- Francis Schaeffer

source: Francis August Schaeffer (1982). “The Complete Works of Francis A. Schaeffer: A Christian view of the west”

topic: War, Godly, People, Chaplains, Revolutionary War

The Governor was strong upon The Regulation Act: The Doctor said that Death was but A scientific fact: And twice a day the Chaplain called, And left a little tract.

- Oscar Wilde

source: 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol' (1898) pt. 3, st. 3

topic: Strong, Science, Doctors, Governors, Chaplains

It is the church's job, as Dr. [Martin Luther] King says, to be the conscience of the state, not the chaplain of the state.

- Shane Claiborne

source: "Plotting goodness together: An interview with Shane Claiborne". Interview with Jonathan Merritt, religionnews.com. May 22, 2013.

topic: Kings, Jobs, Church, Dr Martin Luther King, Chaplains

A chaplain is the minister of the Prince of Peace serving the host of the God of War--Mars. As such, he is as incongruous as a musket would be on the altar at Christmas. Why, then, is he there? Because he indirectly subserves the purpose attested by the cannon; because too he lends the sanction of the religion of the meek to that which practically is the abrogation of everything but brute Force.

- Herman Melville

topic: War, Would Be, Purpose, Chaplains, Prince Of Peace

The Concord Coalition in Virginia complained about pork projects and wasteful spending in the federal budget. Consider the Senate chaplain's salary. As occupations go, only mind readers in Los Angeles have fewer things to do all day.

- Argus Hamilton

topic: Virginia, Mind, Pork, Wasteful Spending, Chaplains

You don't have to let yourself be terrorized by other people's expectations of you.

- Sue Thoele

source: Sue Patton Thoele (2016). “The Courage to Be Yourself: A Woman's Guide to Emotional Strength and Self-Esteem”, p.39, Conari Press

topic: People, Expectations, Chaplains

An atheist chaplain would be the perfect vehicle for convincing wounded warriors that they should end their lives because there's nothing in the future and there's nothing now, so why not just save money and kill themselves.

- Gordon Klingenschmitt

source: Song: Glass Hotel, Album: Eye

topic: Atheist, Warrior, Perfect, Wounded Warrior, Chaplains

The Southern Baptist Convention, as you know, decided in the year 2000 that women should not be permitted to be pastors or deacons or chaplains in the military service. Some Southern Baptist seminaries don't even permit women to teach male students. I don't agree with that. But they can go in and quote a few passages of Paul that women should be restricted in their services.

- Jimmy Carter

topic: Military, Years, Southern, Southern Baptist, Chaplains

The U.S. Army has recently removed the cross from the insignia worn by chaplains. In its place is a sun with its rays, symbolizing the divine in all things.

- Chris Murray

topic: Christian, Religious, Army, Chaplains

The Constitution of the U.S. forbids everything like an establishment of a national religion.

- James Madison

source: "Concerned Catholic Paul Ryan Wants Priests to Shut Up About the Poor" by Charles P. Pierce, www.esquire.com. April 27, 2018.

topic: Constitution, Separation, Founding Fathers Religion, Chaplains, Founding Fathers Religious

It is a Constitution that morphs while you look at it like Plasticman.... That is contrary to our whole tradition, to in God we trust on the coins, to Thanksgiving proclamations, to (Congressional) chaplains, to tax exemption for places of worship, which has always existed in America.

- Antonin Scalia

topic: America, Scary, Looks, God We Trust, Places Of Worship

I condemn false prophets, I condemn the effort to take away the power of rational decision, to drain people of their free will - and a hell of a lot of money in the bargain. Religions vary in their degree of idiocy, but I reject them all. For most people, religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain.

- Gene Roddenberry

source: "In His Name". Book by E. Christopher Reyes, p. 39, 2010.

topic: Atheist, People, Effort, Organized Religion, False Prophets

The men who wrote the First Amendment religion clause did not view paid legislative chaplains and opening prayers as a violation of that amendment... the practice of opening sessions with prayer has continued without interruption ever since that early session of Congress. It can hardly be thought that in the same week the members of the first Congress voted to appoint and pay a chaplain for each House and also voted to approve the draft of the First Amendment... (that) they intended to forbid what they had just declared acceptable.

- Warren E. Burger

topic: Prayer, Men, Views, Chaplains

Mentioning God in the Pledge of Allegiance is no different in kind than allowing government salaried Chaplains for the military or for the Congress, or including the official motto, In God We Trust, on our currency.

- Orrin Hatch

topic: Military, Government, Scary, God We Trust, Chaplains

Not long ago I heard a Navy chaplain refer to the sage advice of the Apostle to put first things first...If we are to heed the admonition to put first things first...one of the main essentials which lies at the very beginning of civilization is that of security.

- Calvin Coolidge

topic: Put First Things First, Chaplains, First Things First

Turn pimp, flatterer, quack, lawyer, parson, be chaplain to an atheist, or stallion to an old woman, anything but a poet; for a poet is worse, more servile, timorous and fawning than any I have named.

- William Congreve

source: William Congreve (1785). “Love for Love: A Comedy”, p.8

topic: Atheist, Pimp, Atheism, Stallions, Flatterer

The House of Commons starts its proceedings with a prayer. The chaplain looks at the assembled members with their varied intelligence and then prays for the country.

- Alfred Denning, Baron Denning

source: Daily Telegraph, October 12, 1989.

topic: Country, Prayer, House, Chaplains, Proceeding

When I was 14 a chaplain at school gave me a reading list. I read everything and I went back to him with a question: how can you really believe in this stuff?

- A.C. Grayling

source: "This much I know". Interview with Tim Adams, www.theguardian.com. July 4, 2009.

topic: Chaplains

You know what, citizens? If you don't have a gun - I'm telling you as a Christian chaplain - sell your clothes, and buy a gun. It's time! The government persecution will be coming against you, and you needs to arm yourselves...

- Gordon Klingenschmitt

topic: Christian, Gun, Clothes, Chaplains

...several of the first presidents, including Jefferson and Madison, generally refused to issue public prayers, despite importunings to do so. Under pressure, Madison relented in the War Of 1812, but held to his belief that chaplains shouldn't be appointed to the military or be allowed to open Congress.

- James Madison

topic: Prayer, Military, War, Madison, War Of 1812

I don't think ministering requires a religious context. The number one thing is that every parent is extremely worried about their kid. Of course, when a chaplain shows up, that can exacerbate this worry rather than calm it.

- John Green

source: Interview with Jade Chang, www.goodreads.com. December, 2012.

topic: Religious, Kids, Thinking, Chaplains

We need French chaplains and imams, French-speaking, who learn French, who love France. And who adhere to its values. And also French financing.

- Manuel Valls

topic: Love, Needs, France, Chaplains