{"id":69200,"date":"2023-09-08T22:51:57","date_gmt":"2023-09-08T22:51:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/09\/08\/activist-wants-unconstitutional-christian-bookstore-off-this-base\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:40:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:40:14","slug":"activist-wants-unconstitutional-christian-bookstore-off-this-base","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2023\/09\/08\/activist-wants-unconstitutional-christian-bookstore-off-this-base\/","title":{"rendered":"Activist wants \u2018unconstitutional\u2019 Christian bookstore off this base"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>This article has been updated to correct an error in Josh Creson\u2019s occupational specialty in the Army.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An activist hopes to remove a small Christian bookstore operating in an exchange mini-mall on Fort Liberty, N.C. claiming a violation of separation of church and state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Faith2Soar store has operated as a concessionaire in an Army and Air Force Exchange Service mall location for eight months after previously opening from kiosks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe have no trouble with any of these stores at all if they\u2019re in some local mall. But it\u2019s about the time, place and manner. This is on U.S. military property,\u201d said Mikey Weinstein, founder of the non-profit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2023\/06\/26\/defense-bill-targets-religious-freedom-group-for-its-advocacy-work\/\" target=\"_blank\">Military Religious Freedom Foundation<\/a>. \u201cWe would be just as upset if it were another religion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weinstein said \u201cthe Constitution makes it clear that [the government] will not establish religion. This is the epitome of establishing religion, in a post exchange.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re not stopping anybody\u2019s free exercise\u201d of religion, said Weinstein, an Air Force Academy graduate who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/02\/17\/navys-religious-needs-assessment-is-unconstitutional-critics-say\/\" target=\"_blank\">has sparred with a series of Christian organizations and military commands<\/a> for nearly two decades. His organization boasts 85,000 members, including currently serving military, veterans, civilians and others, of various faith and non-faith groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe obvious COMMAND endorsement and favor of fundamentalist Christianity, to the exclusion of all other faith and non-faith traditions of your subordinate U.S. Army soldiers, by the Fort Liberty command structure is unmistakable, untenable, illegal, immoral, and unethical!!,\u201d Weinstein wrote, in an Aug. 31 letter registering his complaint with Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding general of the 18th Airborne Corps and Fort Liberty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt represents the heinously un-American, unconstitutional epitome of unlawful, \u2018in-your-face\u2019, fundamentalist Christian nationalism, triumphalism, exceptionalism, domination, bullying and supremacy,\u201d Weinstein wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weinstein calls for AAFES to investigate the store, and to remove it, saying his group \u201cwill exhaust all remedies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Fort Liberty spokesman referred questions to AAFES. The store owner, Josh Creson, said local AAFES officials had met with him to look at the items in the store since Weinstein\u2019s complaint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No action has been taken against the store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Exchange has thoroughly reviewed all aspects of the issues that have been raised,\u201d said AAFES spokesman Chris Ward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weinstein \u201cis flat-out wrong on the law,\u201d said Mike Berry, director of military affairs at the non-profit First Liberty Institute, which is providing legal representation to the bookstore. \u201cIt would be unconstitutional and illegal for the government to exclude a bookstore or any other type of business from operating in an AAFES area simply because they are a Christian or other faith-based business.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2023\/07\/14\/ban-on-troops-communicating-with-civil-rights-group-clears-house\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP23023553339381.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Ban on troops communicating with civil rights group clears House<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The amendment to the defense authorization bill would forbid service members from contacting the Military Religious Freedom Foundation or its leadership.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Blindsided by complaint<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The owner of Faith2Soar, Josh Creson, told Military Times he was blindsided by Weinstein\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019ve never been approached by anyone complaining about our presence here at all. We\u2019ve received a tremendous amount of praise and appreciation from people saying they are so thankful we are here, but nothing ever negative,\u201d Creson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re a for-profit organization. We\u2019re not tied to the military,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like any vendor, the company went through the process for AAFES\u2019 approval to operate as a concessionaire. As with other vendors, more than 20% of their sales goes to AAFES in support of morale, welfare and recreation programs for troops and families, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also operates a store in the civilian community outside the gate, in Spring Lake. N.C..<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to Christianity-based products, the store also sells inspirational and self-help books on a variety of topics as well as some products related to Judaism or other religions, per requests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Christian nationalism on base?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weinstein described the store<b> <\/b>as \u201cChristian nationalist\u201d. Although there are varying definitions of the term \u201cChristian nationalism,\u201d the most common descriptions involve Christianity playing a dominant and institutionalized role in society, according to a survey of U.S. adults conducted in September, 2022 by the Pew Research Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Creson disputed Weinstein\u2019s characterization. \u201cI don\u2019t post things about politics, or argue for one religion over another,\u201d he said. While he sells patriotic items, he stressed he offers \u201cnothing negative, nothing that bashes other political parties or bashes any other religions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Creson served in the 82nd Airborne Division, he said, and left the Army in 2004. He was a logistician in the Army, he said, and after leaving the Army, worked with a program that involved deploying linguists of multiple religions alongside military and diplomats, for almost 12 years. \u201cI believe in freedom, the right to choose your religion,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe don\u2019t preach to people, or try to convert people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First complaint<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weinstein said he was alerted to the store\u2019s existence in late August, when a soldier emailed his organization about the bookstore in an AAFES mini-mall, \u201cselling t-shirts reading \u2018Salvation is Found in JESUS\u2019 and other very exclusively Christian messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weinstein said he contacted a senior Army official, \u201cwho told us we were being punked, that it wasn\u2019t true.\u201d He later verified the details with some of his organization\u2019s members at the post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AAFES hasn\u2019t received any negative customer feedback specific to this concession operation, Ward said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Authorization for concessionaires to operate in an AAFES complex is provided in a commodity concessions contract \u201cwhich stipulates all merchandise displayed by concessionaires should be appropriate for sale and representation in military markets,\u201d Ward said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked about whether AAFES guidelines for concessionaires address religious items, Ward said AAFES products and vendors \u201care reviewed to determine compliance with the prohibitions regarding the sale of items that are illegal, promote the use of drugs, or include words, symbols or scenes that are lewd, profane or vulgar. If a product or vendor is determined to be in violation of these restrictions, the Exchange takes corrective action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked if any businesses selling religious items related to the Jewish faith, Muslim faith, or others have ever asked to be a concessionaire at a military installation \u2013 and whether AAFES sells these items inside the stores, Ward said \u201cCustomer demand determines product and service availability. The Exchange provides a diverse and inclusive assortment of religious-themed merchandise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few examples of merchandise not authorized for sale by a concessionaire include the Confederate flag and related products, items containing racial or ethnic slurs, official military uniform items, and items that include words, symbols or scenes that are lewd, profane or vulgar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Creson said Weinstein\u2019s efforts have spurred a response that has caused him to be concerned about the safety of his family, and the negative effects on his business. He\u2019s received vulgar phone calls, and has seen posts on social media suggesting that people damage his store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve asked for prayers for the opposition,\u201d he said. \u201cWe believe in the goodness of all people. We believe the way things are spiraling out of control is not good, it\u2019s not healthy for anybody, especially for military men and women,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Military Religious Freedom Foundation wants to remove a small Christian bookstore from a mini-mall on Fort Liberty, N.C.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":107588,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":69,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[101,23,72,12,25,13,69],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3302],"class_list":["post-69200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-home","category-military-culture","category-news","category-newsletters","category-off-duty","category-your-marine-corps"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"S2AFCST7TRGVDNEFMYOVIME3Y4","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-military\/2023\/09\/08\/activist-wants-unconstitutional-christian-bookstore-off-this-base\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented 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