Customer Reviews

Under Orders: A Spiritual Handbook for Military Personnel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a good book for any chaplain or servicemember. However, there is an error in the section in which he discusses Buddhism: the Dalai Lama (which he misspells here) was not the person the Beatles met, it was actually the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who wasn't Buddhist but a Hindu teacher who introduced Transcendental Meditation to Westerners.

This book is for EVERYONE and not just those in the military. Since I am not in the military, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed that it did not turn out to be another one of those I was THERE books, where the author recounts some moment in time and it's all about THEIR experience in the military. This book is different and quite refreshing. Instead this is a book where YOU are the captive audience reflecting upon YOUR own personal experiences. It's a hard book to put down because you find yourself constantly thinking and evaluating your own personal faith. Under Orders makes you stop, think, and explore your own identity and tests your spiritual journey. I really enjoyed this book and find myself thumbing back through it over and over. You will dog ear your favorites like I have... Don't pass this one up, I highly recommend it for EVERYONE.

Some of the book is good. It offers some sound advice, and for part of the book seems to be promoting a brand of Christianity we need to see more of.

Chaplain McCoy also warns (without "naming names") of the dangerous and unconstitutional practices employed by the para-military church groups that seem to be proliferating in the services.

However, this otherwise good book is flawed by its view that atheists, agnostics, and others are deficient as humans and soldiers, and its last chapters which seem to imply that not only is Christianity somehow superior to atheism, but also other faiths.

I have been an agnostic since my youth, and I also served in the US Marines, including close personal ground combat in Vietnam, where my service included the Siege of Khe Sanh.
I know that my own service was second to none - no matter what their faith.

In the words of one of the men I served with in combat; are "...only American Christians are fit to stop bullets?" He also remarked; "...when we were fighting or getting shot at I don't exactly remember taking time to think about whether I was a true believer in Jesus, Mohammad or Budda."
Amen to that.

I think it is time for all Americans, including the religious, to recall that this country was founded as a secular country - in order to avoid the horrors of religious war that plagued Europe and the rest of the world. We have avoided these - so far. However, there are forces in the Christian community (as Chaplain McCoy himself mentions) who are planning to establish a theocracy in this country - and if you are not "with them" (including a belief in their particular warped version of Christianity), you will be considered against them - even if you consider yourself a Christian.

Once in a while a book is published that meets the needs of a certain group of people and generation. The book "Under Orders - A Spiritual Handbook For Military Personnel" is such a book! In fact, it goes well beyond meeting the needs and provides much insightful and thoughtful advice. It comes as a handbook for this generation of warriors who are currently fighting the war on terrorism; although it is advice that works well with any group or age of military people. Chaplain William McCoy delivers a handbook that is long over due and much needed in today's military environment.

McCoy uses language and phrasing along with life examples that are easy to understand. Readers of this handbook will not have to decipher hidden meanings or symbols--this is all basic fundamental and straight forward thinking. At the end of his chapters he has something called "Considerations" that gets the reader to think and do some personal evaluations.

This book should be in the hands of all our military personnel. It should be required gear for anyone shipping out to a war zone or for a hazardous duty assignment. This is the kind of book that in time will become well worn, highlighted and dog eared because this book was written to be used and not just stored on a shelf. This book is the best of its kind and may be the only one of its kind. It is written for today's Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard.

This book is the MWSA's winner of our Gold Medal for "Best Religious Book" 2006. It receives our coveted FIVE STAR Rating! A MUST READ BOOK!

It is also receives the personal recommendation of the President of the MWSA!

I had no intention of reading a "religious" book when I got this book 2 months into my year in Iraq. I have been in the military for 10 years, and have looked for different ways to define myself spiritually, philosophically outside what job I hold and what car I drive. By coincidence or by design, this book was the right fit for me at the right time.

I disagree with some of the reviewers who state that Chaplain McCoy passes judgement on those who follow other religions or various denominations inside the Christian faith. I read Chaplain McCoy challenging the reader to define yourself in a "real" or "deep" manner and deciding on what actually matters in your life. Chaplain McCoy freely admits that he is a Lutheran Chaplain, and some of his opinions come from that vantage, but I never felt that his book was steering me towards his vision of religion, Christianity of philosophy.

In fact, Chaplain McCoy often challenges the reader to think through what his points and arguments in each chapter (there are "review questions" at the end of each chapter which challenge you to define answers for yourself) and come to an individual decision on who your God or gods is/are and how you will follow them.

As far as my personal experience with the book, Chaplain McCoy provided the insight into my personal experiences that only someone who has "been there/done that" can. If you know someone who is deployed who has a spiritual or philosophical aspect to them (and that certainly includes Christians as well) this book will be a great tool for their personal growth.

Chaplain McCoy's book provides what many who seek spiritual answers in today's modern world are looking for. Bill, through his real life examples in the book, lets you know that is OK to question your faith and to understand you are human and make mistakes. Life is not an easy road to travel, especially for the service member. Easy reading, informative, and not the typical bible-thumping message found in much of Christian literature, Under Orders provides a different outlook on spirituality and exploring your faith. This book is highly recommended for someone desiring to learn about their spirituality without all the pretentious morality. Bill gives it to you in basic terms that is easy to understand and learn from.

Bill McCoy brings the experience of a soldier's Chaplain and the discipline of an academic theologian together in "Under Orders: A Spiritual Handbook for Military Personnel". Effectively avoiding the "how I won the war" pitfalls often found in literature produced by military chaplains, Bill's solid effort makes for an effective instrument in the toolbox of Chaplains daily working with young Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen. Targeting our young military personnel, his method has broad applicability with those post-modern young adults most notably missing from mainline parishes. Expecting to read one chapter, I was hooked and read the whole book in one evening. The next day, I ordered more copies to give away.

The essence of Christian discipleship is to obey the Lord. We are all, after all, "Under Orders." Chaplain Bill McCoy has defined, practically and with great insight, what it is to be a Disciple and a member of the Military, especially during this time of war. His experience as a combat veteran adds authenticity to his expert and compassionate counsel as a pastor to soldiers. He is a respected Army Chaplain, but he speaks clearly to those serving in any branch of the military, and to their families who might want to know how to encourage their loved ones to walk closer to the Lord in this environment. Full disclosure: I am a personal friend of Bill, also an Army Chaplain. In addition we have this in common; my son also serves on active duty as a combatant. My point is this: Bill writes not only as a pastor to fellow servicemen and women, but a father to his children. I received this book toward the end of my second combat tour with the 3d Infantry Division in Iraq. I wish I had it many years before.

An unusual conbination of broad theological background confronting the BIG questions of life through the lens of military service. It demands self-evaluation but perhaps the best parts are those that point the reader to the ultimate truth beyond themselves. As a Christian the author assumes such truth but isn't pushy as he developes his thesis.

My son, who is currently on his second tour of duty - front lines in Iraq, has just messaged me to say that he cannot put this book down! He is not an active reader, so for him to give both thumbs up to this book is quite a compliment. I wanted to pass this news on.
Blessings.