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

[bluedigger]

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

[DBoon]

1. So Unitarian Universalists are no longer recognized?

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]

20. Our Church is really, really big

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

[Chemical Bill]

25. Will it fit sideways in the reflecting pool?

[wnylib]

23. I think that those early US leaders were Deists, not Unitarians.

Not the same things.

[progressoid]

34. Correct. n/t

[Dear_Prudence]

58. I believe that Deists are out also. nt

[yorkster]

2. No UU? Agnostics but not Atheists?

Go to hell.
Um, make that get lost, turn blue.

[msongs]

3. get rid of the chaplaincy. let people who kill for a living work out their contradictions nt

[TomSlick]

47. Military service is not inconsistent with most religions.

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.

[Lulu KC]

4. I'd love to see the list.

Did Episcopalians make the cut?

[The Madcap]

11. Was wondering the same

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

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

[TommyT139]

39. We confused them by virtue of the fact

...that we run the National Cathedral!

[LT Barclay]

37. I'm worried about the Pastafarians

[Lulu KC]

38. Thanks for giggle

I'll take those anytime!

[SeattleVet]

5. My dogtags read "ATHEIST"

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.

[reACTIONary]

6. Lawsuits in 3, 2. 1, File!

[Baitball Blogger]

8. lol!

Same.

[reACTIONary]

26. As a teacher of mine used to say, great minds....

...roll in the same gutter!

[TomSlick]

46. This requires a lawsuit, as soon as plaintiff can be identified.

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Lawsuit in 3, 2, 1 ...

[BarbD]

9. What's next? A state religion?

We'll have to change the Constitution.

Help me jesus.

[StarryNite]

12. Seems like it's heading that way.

[IronLionZion]

15. Might as well repeal the whole Constitution

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

[lastlib]

17. They want us down on our knees.....

...in the church of THEIR choice.........

[dave99]

19. shitstain will be D.O.A. soon due to this stupidty

[Hope22]

55. Looks like you can take the 'we' out of that statement!

They do what they want! Change the Constitution….no problem! There, it’s done!!

[SamuelTheThird]

10. Some of those right-wing viking role players are going to be unhappy

[twodogsbarking]

13. Trump wants to be pope and king.

[TBF]

14. We are no longer the USA - we are now just America

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

[Martin68]

16. So much for freedom of religion. This sure to be contested in court.

[sakabatou]

18. As others have said, lawsuits will go flying

[debsy]

21. What a bunch of a-holes

They are all awful

[The Grand Illuminist]

24. Short list of what was dropped.

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]

32. They should leave Athetist or least call it "No affiliation"

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]

27. In the midst of an illegal war with Iran it's good to know Hegseth is focused on what is important

[Paxman]

28. Ironically, "Tata" is the title of Maya Spiritual Guides

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

[lonely bird]

29. Interesting phrase

Enhance the delivery of “targeted” religious support…

This list is ok. Everyone else can fuck off.

[2na fisherman]

30. Put A Hex on Hegseth

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.

[obamanut2012]

36. That goes against Wicca beliefs, and is actually really insulting to them

Just an FYI.

[slightlv]

43. You're correct in not practicing

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]

31. Mine simply said, "Prot" for Protestant

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

[OnlinePoker]

33. This was announced in March. Why is it in LBN?

https://www.christianpost.com/news/military-reduces-faith-codes-to-address-political-correctness.html

[bluedigger]

49. Did any Christian Post readers post it here?

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

[obamanut2012]

35. Wow, all Pagans/Wicca and UNITARIANS?!

[C_U_L8R]

40. No mention of Pastafarianism or The Church of the Subgenius ?

Gone deep state, no doubt.

[2na fisherman]

60. We All Need Some Slack, And Freedom From Religion

The Church of the Subgenius is a parody religion meant to engage in a form of culture jamming when it comes to the treatment of religion. So all apologies to any who were offended by my remarks about putting a hex on Trump etc. As an atheist, I believe most if not all religions devolve into self-parody by their assumptions of supernatural powers and the self-aggrandizement of church leaders and their constant need to ask you for money in the form of tax-free contributions. If there was a tax on all churches, our national debt could be almost eliminated. They don't deserve this tax-free ride. So many charlatans and con men are hiding behind religion, of all denominations. And religion is so divisive. There's always an US and Them to fight in wars made holy.

[slightlv]

41. Seems like it was just recently we

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]

45. UUs are strong supporters of LGBQT rights, racial rights, immigrant rights, reproductive rights and

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]

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

[Wicked Blue]

57. We were married by a UU minister as well

and that was what led us to become UUs.

[u4ic]

52. EVERYTHING UU"s stand for is antithetical to your current regime

[GenThePerservering]

42. Deist?

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.

[duckworth969]

44. Pastafarians get a pass?!

The Flying Spaghetti Monster must be so relieved 🙄

[Nigrum Cattus]

48. Project 2025 clearly says (1) power & (1) religion

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]

51. Who is the religious verification czar?

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

[LudwigPastorius]

53. I bet worshipping the Golden (Swollen) Calf made the cut.

[COL Mustard]

54. Well, He'll.

You don’t need more than Christian, Catholic and Jewish anyway!

[Bluestocking]

56. I am guessing Russian Orthodox

is still on the list

[pat_k]

59. Yep. Just erase the 5% of Atheists,...

the 0.5% of Unitarian universalists, 0.4% wiccan/neopagan, 0.3% of Humanists (with more than 2% generally identifying with secular humanism), and so on.

Of the exclusions, excluding Atheists is the strangest. Seems the military would like that category because it wouldn't require much in the way of customized religious/spiritual support.

I don't know the percentages that identify with all the other groups are, but at a guess, I think the exclusion of Atheists erases the most people in one go.

Guess Hegseth thinks the saying "there are no Atheists in fox holes" is some sort of statement of fact.