Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

bluedigger

(17,458 posts)
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 03:21 PM 10 hrs ago

DOD Officially Drops 180 Faiths From Military's Recognized Religion List

Source: Military.com


Military.com has learned that the Department of Defense, for the first time in almost 10 years, has dramatically reduced its number of recognized religious faiths and belief systems by approximately 180.

The reforms mark the first time the list has been officially revised since a memo was issued March 27, 2017, decreasing the total number of faiths from roughly 211 to its new number of 31. The changes were iterated in a May 20, 2026, memorandum issued by the Under Secretary of War and signed by Anthony Tata, under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness of the United States, and obtained by Military.com.

This latest revision to the faith codes comes at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to the Tata-signed memo, done to “streamline the DoW collection of religious preferences collection for service members to enhance the delivery of targeted religious support from the Chaplaincy.” It calls for the previously instituted faith and belief codes to be revised within a 60-day period from the issuance of the memorandum.
...

He added that members will not be limited to the list of “religious affiliation codes” when selecting information for their dog tags. The revised list, according to documents obtained by Military.com, include Agnostics, Buddhists, Hindus, Islam (Muslims), Judaism, Sikh, and a wide range of Christian-based groups like Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans and Methodists.

This restructuring of faith codes, which help identity service members as well as the military in planning for appropriated religious coverage to include them, has now excluded minority faith/worldview groups including Atheists, Asatru, Deists, Druids, Eckankar, Heathens, Humanists, Magick, New Age churches, Pagan, Rosicrucianism, Shaman, Spiritualists, Troth, Unitarian Universalists and various Wiccans.

Read more: https://www.military.com/dod-officially-drops-180-faiths-from-militarys-recognized-religion-list

53 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
DOD Officially Drops 180 Faiths From Military's Recognized Religion List (Original Post) bluedigger 10 hrs ago OP
So Unitarian Universalists are no longer recognized? DBoon 10 hrs ago #1
Our Church is really, really big ninjanurse 9 hrs ago #20
Will it fit sideways in the reflecting pool? Chemical Bill 9 hrs ago #25
This message was self-deleted by its author wnylib 9 hrs ago #22
I think that those early US leaders were Deists, not Unitarians. wnylib 9 hrs ago #23
Correct. n/t progressoid 8 hrs ago #34
No UU? Agnostics but not Atheists? yorkster 10 hrs ago #2
get rid of the chaplaincy. let people who kill for a living work out their contradictions nt msongs 10 hrs ago #3
Military service is not inconsistent with most religions. TomSlick 5 hrs ago #47
I'd love to see the list. Lulu KC 10 hrs ago #4
Was wondering the same The Madcap 10 hrs ago #11
We confused them by virtue of the fact TommyT139 7 hrs ago #39
I'm worried about the Pastafarians LT Barclay 8 hrs ago #37
Thanks for giggle Lulu KC 8 hrs ago #38
My dogtags read "ATHEIST" SeattleVet 10 hrs ago #5
Lawsuits in 3, 2. 1, File! reACTIONary 10 hrs ago #6
lol! Baitball Blogger 10 hrs ago #8
As a teacher of mine used to say, great minds.... reACTIONary 9 hrs ago #26
This requires a lawsuit, as soon as plaintiff can be identified. TomSlick 5 hrs ago #46
Lawsuit in 3, 2, 1 ... Baitball Blogger 10 hrs ago #7
What's next? A state religion? BarbD 10 hrs ago #9
Seems like it's heading that way. StarryNite 9 hrs ago #12
Might as well repeal the whole Constitution IronLionZion 9 hrs ago #15
They want us down on our knees..... lastlib 9 hrs ago #17
shitstain will be D.O.A. soon due to this stupidty dave99 9 hrs ago #19
Some of those right-wing viking role players are going to be unhappy SamuelTheThird 10 hrs ago #10
Trump wants to be pope and king. twodogsbarking 9 hrs ago #13
We are no longer the USA - we are now just America TBF 9 hrs ago #14
So much for freedom of religion. This sure to be contested in court. Martin68 9 hrs ago #16
As others have said, lawsuits will go flying sakabatou 9 hrs ago #18
What a bunch of a-holes debsy 9 hrs ago #21
Short list of what was dropped. The Grand Illuminist 9 hrs ago #24
They should leave Athetist or least call it "No affiliation" LeftInTX 8 hrs ago #32
In the midst of an illegal war with Iran it's good to know Hegseth is focused on what is important Raven123 8 hrs ago #27
Ironically, "Tata" is the title of Maya Spiritual Guides Paxman 8 hrs ago #28
Interesting phrase lonely bird 8 hrs ago #29
Put A Hex on Hegseth 2na fisherman 8 hrs ago #30
That goes against Wicca beliefs, and is actually really insulting to them obamanut2012 8 hrs ago #36
You're correct in not practicing slightlv 6 hrs ago #43
Mine simply said, "Prot" for Protestant LeftInTX 8 hrs ago #31
This was announced in March. Why is it in LBN? OnlinePoker 8 hrs ago #33
Did any Christian Post readers post it here? bluedigger 4 hrs ago #49
Wow, all Pagans/Wicca and UNITARIANS?! obamanut2012 8 hrs ago #35
No mention of Pastafarianism or The Church of the Subgenius ? C_U_L8R 7 hrs ago #40
Seems like it was just recently we slightlv 6 hrs ago #41
UUs are strong supporters of LGBQT rights, racial rights, immigrant rights, reproductive rights and Wicked Blue 6 hrs ago #45
We had a UU minister legally marry us, and then a year a day later, had a very good friend of ours perform a handfasting slightlv 3 hrs ago #50
EVERYTHING UU"s stand for is antithetical to your current regime u4ic 3 hrs ago #52
Deist? GenThePerservering 6 hrs ago #42
Pastafarians get a pass?! duckworth969 6 hrs ago #44
Project 2025 clearly says (1) power & (1) religion Nigrum Cattus 4 hrs ago #48
Who is the religious verification czar? tonekat 3 hrs ago #51
I bet worshipping the Golden (Swollen) Calf made the cut. LudwigPastorius 3 hrs ago #53

DBoon

(25,195 posts)
1. So Unitarian Universalists are no longer recognized?
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 03:30 PM
10 hrs ago

The following famous individuals were Unitarians:

George Washington – 1st President of U.S.
John Adams – 2nd President of U.S.
John Quincy Adams – 6th President of U.S.
Thomas Jefferson – 3rd President of U.S. and author of Declaration of Independence
Paul Revere
Adlai Stevenson
William Howard Taft – 27th President of U.S. and Chief Justice of U.S. Supreme Court
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. – U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Are these people no longer Americans?

list from https://ushartford.org/about-uuism/famous-unitarians/

ninjanurse

(137 posts)
20. Our Church is really, really big
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 04:59 PM
9 hrs ago

I’m Unitarian, we have a huge church. That’s how you measure it, right?

Response to DBoon (Reply #1)

wnylib

(26,635 posts)
23. I think that those early US leaders were Deists, not Unitarians.
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 05:04 PM
9 hrs ago

Not the same things.

msongs

(74,337 posts)
3. get rid of the chaplaincy. let people who kill for a living work out their contradictions nt
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 03:33 PM
10 hrs ago

TomSlick

(13,103 posts)
47. Military service is not inconsistent with most religions.
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 09:00 PM
5 hrs ago

People who belong to a religion that forbids military service do not serve in a volunteer force and are exempt from a draft as conscientious objectors.

Chaplains are important for the welfare and moral of service members, including service members that are not religious.

The Madcap

(2,091 posts)
11. Was wondering the same
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 03:55 PM
10 hrs ago

after that glorious takedown of the orange buffoon a few years ago...

oh, and for being affirming and treating women like human beings...

SeattleVet

(5,950 posts)
5. My dogtags read "ATHEIST"
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 03:38 PM
10 hrs ago

For a few years I had to accept 'NO PREFERENCE', which was a lie, since I certainly DID have preference!

I saw a newspaper article about a kid in the Navy that had gone to court and had "ATHEIST" approved. I immediately headed to the base personnel office and demanded that I also get my personal preference. (As far as I know, I was one of the first Air Force person new to get that designation.)

They complied.

IronLionZion

(51,623 posts)
15. Might as well repeal the whole Constitution
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 04:43 PM
9 hrs ago

This administration doesn't like most of it anyway. They'll just keep the 2nd amendment.

TBF

(37,425 posts)
14. We are no longer the USA - we are now just America
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 04:38 PM
9 hrs ago

sponsored by the Heritage Foundation. That's it. Surprised they kept agnostics and Methodists on the list.

The Grand Illuminist

(2,076 posts)
24. Short list of what was dropped.
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 05:05 PM
9 hrs ago

Atheist
Humanist
Deist
Pagan
Wiccan (including various Wiccan traditions)
Druid
Asatru
Heathen
The Troth
Magick
Shaman
Spiritualist
Unitarian Universalist
Eckankar
Rosicrucianism
New Age Churches

LeftInTX

(34,884 posts)
32. They should leave Athetist or least call it "No affiliation"
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 05:44 PM
8 hrs ago

I won't comment on the others, because there are so many of them.


I believe Unitarians were considered "Protestant" in the 1960s or possibly X?


Religious Codes & Their EvolutionPrior to 1962, the U.S. military used specific single-letter abbreviations to save space on stamped identification tags
P: Protestant
C: Catholic
H: Hebrew (Jewish)
X: Other or unspecified religion (introduced in 1952)
Y: No religious preference (introduced in 1952

My Unitarian cousins were considered to be more or less Protestant.

Raven123

(7,960 posts)
27. In the midst of an illegal war with Iran it's good to know Hegseth is focused on what is important
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 05:16 PM
8 hrs ago

Paxman

(13 posts)
28. Ironically, "Tata" is the title of Maya Spiritual Guides
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 05:28 PM
8 hrs ago

And Pagan/Natural Spirituality is the fastest growing tradition in America

lonely bird

(3,068 posts)
29. Interesting phrase
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 05:31 PM
8 hrs ago

Enhance the delivery of “targeted” religious support…

This list is ok. Everyone else can fuck off.

2na fisherman

(376 posts)
30. Put A Hex on Hegseth
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 05:32 PM
8 hrs ago

Maybe some Wiccans would be willing to put a curse on him or some with a faith in Voodoo can stick pins in dolls with his likeness. Maybe everyone who wants him gone can focus attention on him to direct lots of bad vibes toward him. If you can petition the lord with prayers, why not send lots of negative psychic energy to Hegseth and his false piety.

slightlv

(8,092 posts)
43. You're correct in not practicing
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 07:48 PM
6 hrs ago

black Magick. But there are various interpretations of the Rede, depending on but not exclusively to different trads. I was taught it as inclusive and not straight out exclusive. Beyond that there are grey area such as .mirror magick. And protective magic that includes those even beyond yourself. Pagans of all sorts were warriors. And some of the most interesting goddesses we have are warrior mother goddesses.

But like I said above there are a lot of trads and individual beliefs, which is one reason I love this path. Peace to you and yours from a pagan veteran. And my thoughts to Circle Sanctuary and Selena Fox with this announcement. They fought so many years for our recognition. I can imagine the range of emotions going through them today

LeftInTX

(34,884 posts)
31. Mine simply said, "Prot" for Protestant
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 05:39 PM
8 hrs ago

It also had the wrong blood type. I had the wrong blood type until I got pregnant and found out I was rh negative

bluedigger

(17,458 posts)
49. Did any Christian Post readers post it here?
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 09:39 PM
4 hrs ago

I just went with the dateline from my source. Mea culpa.

slightlv

(8,092 posts)
41. Seems like it was just recently we
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 07:32 PM
6 hrs ago

Won pur fight for Wicca to be recognized, although we still had to fight to keep Christians from desrcrating our worship areas. And just like that they once again disregard our existence.

Okay... as much as I detest the move I gotta ask... UU??? Christ, what did they do to offend anybody?!

Wonder how much of the military would be left if all the other faiths got up and walked out due to discrimination. Some of us had to do mental twists just to feel ok with enlisting. So let's see, I'm Craft, and a woman. Not good enough to fight for our country the way this DoW wants. But I can still fight for it in my own witchy way. Hail Hecate!

Wicked Blue

(9,052 posts)
45. UUs are strong supporters of LGBQT rights, racial rights, immigrant rights, reproductive rights and
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 08:10 PM
6 hrs ago

economic justice

That's probably why they've been "declassified" by hogsbreath.

Wikipedia:
The modern Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) was formed in 1961 through the consolidation of the American Unitarian Association, established in 1825, and the Universalist Church of America, established in 1793. The UUA is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and serves churches mostly in the United States. A group of thirty Philippine congregations is represented as a sole member within the UUA. The Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) became an independent body in 2002. The UUA and CUC were two of the seventeen members of the now defunct International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (1995–2021). In 2025, 0.4% of American adults, or approximately 1.1 million people, were estimated to identify with Unitarian Universalism (not limited to the UUA denomination) according to the Public Religion Research Institute's Census of American Religion.[

(my bold)


slightlv

(8,092 posts)
50. We had a UU minister legally marry us, and then a year a day later, had a very good friend of ours perform a handfasting
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 10:26 PM
3 hrs ago

GenThePerservering

(3,841 posts)
42. Deist?
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 07:48 PM
6 hrs ago

WTF - many of the founding fathers adhered to Deism - it inspired one of the basic tenets of the separation of church and state...oh, that's why they don't like it.

Nigrum Cattus

(1,361 posts)
48. Project 2025 clearly says (1) power & (1) religion
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 09:18 PM
4 hrs ago

Project 2025, is a detailed plan for Trump and
MAGA Republicans to gut checks and balances, take over the government, and impose their agenda.
Armed with Project 2025, infused with absolute immunity from the MAGA Supreme Court, and
unrestrained by the checks and balances that safeguarded certain rights and freedoms during the first
term, Trump would have everything he needs to enact a radical MAGA takeover. Trump’s Project 2025
will imbue Trump and his inner circle with unprecedented control over our lives.

tonekat

(2,584 posts)
51. Who is the religious verification czar?
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 10:44 PM
3 hrs ago

This is stupid, either accept all of them or none of them.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»DOD Officially Drops 180 ...