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bluedigger

(17,461 posts) Thu Jun 4, 2026, 03:21 PM Jun 4

DOD Officially Drops 180 Faiths From Military's Recognized Religion List [View all]

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.
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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

68 replies

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DOD Officially Drops 180 Faiths From Military's Recognized Religion List [View all] bluedigger Jun 4 OP

So Unitarian Universalists are no longer recognized? DBoon Jun 4 #1

Our Church is really, really big ninjanurse Jun 4 #20

Will it fit sideways in the reflecting pool? Chemical Bill Jun 4 #25

This message was self-deleted by its author wnylib Jun 4 #22

I think that those early US leaders were Deists, not Unitarians. wnylib Jun 4 #23

Correct. n/t progressoid Jun 4 #34

I believe that Deists are out also. nt Dear_Prudence Jun 5 #58

No UU? Agnostics but not Atheists? yorkster Jun 4 #2

I've seen a lot of people who object when atheism is termed a 'religion' Igel Jun 5 #65

Yes, atheism as a religion - hadn't thought of that. yorkster Jun 5 #67

get rid of the chaplaincy. let people who kill for a living work out their contradictions nt msongs Jun 4 #3

Military service is not inconsistent with most religions. TomSlick Jun 4 #47

Are you serious? If this was a joke, it's not funny. Either way, it's disrespectful and mean-spirited. ShazzieB Jun 5 #61

he purpose of a military is to get what it wants, by killing if necessary. last time I heard msongs Jun 5 #62

Well, that's an interestiingly non-nuanced take on a very complex issue. 🙄 ShazzieB Jun 5 #63

thanks for sharing. we disagree. that's allowed nt msongs Jun 5 #64

I'd love to see the list. Lulu KC Jun 4 #4

Was wondering the same The Madcap Jun 4 #11

We confused them by virtue of the fact TommyT139 Jun 4 #39

I'm worried about the Pastafarians LT Barclay Jun 4 #37

Thanks for giggle Lulu KC Jun 4 #38

My dogtags read "ATHEIST" SeattleVet Jun 4 #5

Mine stated 'No Preference' because Brother Buzz Jun 5 #66

Lawsuits in 3, 2. 1, File! reACTIONary Jun 4 #6

lol! Baitball Blogger Jun 4 #8

As a teacher of mine used to say, great minds.... reACTIONary Jun 4 #26

This requires a lawsuit, as soon as plaintiff can be identified. TomSlick Jun 4 #46

Lawsuit in 3, 2, 1 ... Baitball Blogger Jun 4 #7

What's next? A state religion? BarbD Jun 4 #9

Seems like it's heading that way. StarryNite Jun 4 #12

Might as well repeal the whole Constitution IronLionZion Jun 4 #15

They want us down on our knees..... lastlib Jun 4 #17

shitstain will be D.O.A. soon due to this stupidty dave99 Jun 4 #19

Looks like you can take the 'we' out of that statement! Hope22 Jun 5 #55

Some of those right-wing viking role players are going to be unhappy SamuelTheThird Jun 4 #10

Trump wants to be pope and king. twodogsbarking Jun 4 #13

We are no longer the USA - we are now just America TBF Jun 4 #14

So much for freedom of religion. This sure to be contested in court. Martin68 Jun 4 #16

As others have said, lawsuits will go flying sakabatou Jun 4 #18

What a bunch of a-holes debsy Jun 4 #21

Short list of what was dropped. The Grand Illuminist Jun 4 #24

They should leave Athetist or least call it "No affiliation" LeftInTX Jun 4 #32

In the midst of an illegal war with Iran it's good to know Hegseth is focused on what is important Raven123 Jun 4 #27

Ironically, "Tata" is the title of Maya Spiritual Guides Paxman Jun 4 #28

Interesting phrase lonely bird Jun 4 #29

Put A Hex on Hegseth 2na fisherman Jun 4 #30

That goes against Wicca beliefs, and is actually really insulting to them obamanut2012 Jun 4 #36

You're correct in not practicing slightlv Jun 4 #43

Mine simply said, "Prot" for Protestant LeftInTX Jun 4 #31

This was announced in March. Why is it in LBN? OnlinePoker Jun 4 #33

Did any Christian Post readers post it here? bluedigger Jun 4 #49

Wow, all Pagans/Wicca and UNITARIANS?! obamanut2012 Jun 4 #35

No mention of Pastafarianism or The Church of the Subgenius ? C_U_L8R Jun 4 #40

We All Need Some Slack, And Freedom From Religion 2na fisherman Jun 5 #60

Seems like it was just recently we slightlv Jun 4 #41

UUs are strong supporters of LGBQT rights, racial rights, immigrant rights, reproductive rights and Wicked Blue Jun 4 #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 Jun 4 #50

We were married by a UU minister as well Wicked Blue Jun 5 #57

EVERYTHING UU"s stand for is antithetical to your current regime u4ic Jun 4 #52

Deist? GenThePerservering Jun 4 #42

Pastafarians get a pass?! duckworth969 Jun 4 #44

Project 2025 clearly says (1) power & (1) religion Nigrum Cattus Jun 4 #48

Who is the religious verification czar? tonekat Jun 4 #51

I bet worshipping the Golden (Swollen) Calf made the cut. LudwigPastorius Jun 4 #53

Well, He'll. COL Mustard Jun 5 #54

I am guessing Russian Orthodox Bluestocking Jun 5 #56

Yep. Just erase the 5% of Atheists,... pat_k Jun 5 #59

MaddowBlog-Hegseth's Pentagon slashes the number of religious faiths it officially recognizes LetMyPeopleVote Jun 7 #68