What does religious freedom mean in a total institution? How can military chaplains, each committed to their own unique faith, work in a religiously pluralistic institution? How can there be taxpayer-funded clergy in a nation that formally separates church and state? In this book, Kim Philip Hansen uses the chaplains' own words to describe their successes and failures, friendships and conflicts, their routine work, and their scandals. Suffused with tension, wit and grace, their stories are about a group of men and women trying to put some of America's noblest ideals into practice under difficult circumstances.

Chaplain pseudonyms and faith groups -- Note on quotations -- Introduction -- Military chaplains and their work -- Accommodating and limiting religion in the military -- Muslims, witches and chaplains -- Military chaplains' experiences with diversity -- Culture war in the chaplain corps.