Change in the Importance of Ethnicity and Religiosity in the British Armed Forces from the Perspective of the Military Chaplaincy

Abstract

Like the armed forces of every country, the British Army is undergoing constant structural change and is doing so to respond to the latest challenges of its time. As part of this process, a clear trend in the personnel composition is becoming apparent, playing a catalyst for change. My working hypothesis is that ethnic and religious change should be the primary focus, precisely because these two factors, and changes in the proportion of these factors, are currently seen as having the most significant impact on military chaplaincy. Furthermore, by looking at these transformations, the growing number of theoretical challenges to the organisation of chaplaincy and the increasing number of practical obstacles to chaplains themselves can be best understood. I will use qualitative method to prove my hypothesis, utilising statistical data and personal narratives. Methods and rules to address the problems that arise without any criteria are not currently in place in the British Army, as it seems that at the moment, even amid change, only flexible responses to these challenges can be given, as the situation demands. I will focus on these at the end of the thesis alongside forecasting the upcoming resolutions.