June 2012

In February 2011 I was discharged as a conscientious objector after 7 years in the Navy.  Part of the conscientious objector process is an interview with an investigating officer.  His job is to assess the “depth and sincerity” of the applicant’s beliefs.  My interview spanned three days and covered both technical legal points and broad theological concepts.  Here is a short excerpt where we talk about why I prefer to describe myself as “pro-peace” rather than “anti-war.”

The investigating officer is in bold, and I am in plain text.

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In February 2011 I was discharged as a conscientious objector after 7 years in the Navy.  Part of the conscientious objector process is an interview with an investigating officer.  His job is to assess the “depth and sincerity” of the applicant’s beliefs.  My interview spanned three days and covered both technical legal points and broad theological concepts.  Here is a short excerpt where we talk about some of the ways nonviolence impacts my interaction with the state outside of a military context.

The investigating officer is in bold, and I am in plain text.

Read the rest of this entry »

In February 2011 I was discharged as a conscientious objector after 7 years in the Navy.  Part of the conscientious objector process is an interview with an investigating officer.  His job is to assess the “depth and sincerity” of the applicant’s beliefs.  My interview spanned three days and covered both technical legal points and broad theological concepts.  Here is a short excerpt where I we talk about the role of “salvation,” and how it led to my pacifist convictions.

The investigating officer is in bold, and I am in plain text.

Read the rest of this entry »