Creeping Christianity damaging military.

• Position: YOUR LIFE

An active-duty soldier is suing the Department of Defense, alleging discrimination by the U.S. Army on the basis of his atheism. Specialist Jeremy Hall claims that, for example, he was ostracized by Christian soldiers when he refused to join them in holding hands around the table and participate in a prayer at Thanksgiving. His Federal lawsuit asserts he was kicked off the promotion track for lacking religious faith.

"This lawsuit highlights one aspect of the insidious process by which the religious right's 'faith-based' agenda is corrupting American institutions," maintains Thomas Bowden, an analyst at the Ayn Rand Institute, Irvine, Calif. "In the faith-friendly atmosphere of the Bush Administration, religionists are taking big swings at the wall of separation between church and state. The allegations in this suit are consistent with recent controversies over evangelical proselytizing in the Air Force Academy and mealtime prayers at the Naval Academy.

"The military is duty-bound to actively shield its soldiers from ostracism and persecution such as that alleged in Specialist Hall's suit. Servicemen, like all...