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Strengthen your spirituality: Respect others’ beliefs

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danielle Johnson
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing public affairs
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  For many Americans, the holiday season is on its way; for many others it's already here.

This week, Hindus around the world celebrated Diwali, a popular celebration known as the Festival of Lights which celebrates the victory of good over evil, and earlier this month Jewish people celebrated Rosh Hashanah, the celebration of New Year's Day (year 5769), and Yom Kippur, which is a day of fasting also known as the Day of Atonement and is the holiest day of the year for Jewish people.

Regardless of your religion, military members have a responsibility to be respectful of other people's beliefs. Members of the U.S. military serve side-by-side with servicemembers of various religions: Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Christians and Wiccans live, work and play together. This diversity of race, religion and economic background is rarely seen in many parts of the world, and should be celebrated within our Air Force.

The U.S. military has a long-standing reputation of breaking barriers. Races were integrated in the military before many civilian communities were desegregated. Unlike many other countries' militaries, economic background and social status does not determine an American's military rank or status. Likewise, the military does not discriminate based on personal beliefs: all servicemembers are encouraged to strengthen their spiritual well-being.

So regardless of your personal beliefs and experiences, take some time to learn about the following upcoming religious holidays. For more information, visit www.interfaithcalendar.org or call the chaplain's office at (609) 754-HOPE.

Nov. 15 - The First of Advent, or Christmas Fast, is celebrated by Christians as the beginning of a 40-day period of preparation for Christmas. Advent is observed with the lighting of advent candles, displays of wreaths and special ceremonies. It begins on the Sunday nearest Nov. 30 and is the beginning of the Christian worship year.

Dec. 6-8 - The Islamic Hajj is celebrated with the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, which for many Muslims is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Muslims on Hajj attend a service on the plains in front of Mount Arafat.

Dec. 8 - Eid al-Adha, the Islamic Festival of Sacrifice, concludes Hajj and is celebrated even when not on pilgrimage. The three-day festival is celebrated with offerings of food, recalling Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah. The food is then distributed to the poor - an expression of one of the five Pillars of Islam: generosity.

Dec. 21 - Yule, which marks the New Year in the Anglo-Saxon and northern traditions of Wicca, is celebrated by ritually shedding the impurities of the past year and contemplating the year ahead.

Dec. 22-29 - Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, celebrates the power of God and the faithfulness of Israel. During the eight-days of Hanukkah, special readings and praise songs focus on liberty and freedom and the eight-candle Menorah is lighted - one candle each day.

Dec. 25 - Christmas, a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus, is celebrated with prayer, gift exchanges and family gatherings. Christmas Eve is observed with worship, candle lighting, manger scenes and festive meals.

Dec. 29 - The first of Muharram, which is the first month of the Islamic year 1430, celebrates the migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina, where they established the first Islamic community.