Atheists Seek Chaplaincy In the U.S. Armed Forces

[MCWAY]

This is a joke, right?

CULTURE DIGEST: Atheists seek chaplaincy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--As contradictory as it sounds, a lack-of-faith group is seeking to be acknowledged as a faith group within the United States military. Atheists are pushing for status as chaplains.

The New York Times reported in April that joining the chaplain corps is part of a broader campaign by atheists to win official acceptance in the military, which would help ensure that their literature would be distributed, their events would be advertised and they would have clout with commanders.

"Humanism fills the same role for atheists that Christianity does for Christians and Judaism does for Jews," Jason Torpy, president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, told The Times. "It answers questions of ultimate concern; it directs our values."

Atheists groups are emerging at military posts, including one called Military Atheists and Secular Humanists at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and a new chapter at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

"Defense Department statistics show that about 9,400 of the nation's 1.4 million active-duty military personnel identify themselves as atheists or agnostics, making them a larger subpopulation than Jews, Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists in the military," The Times said.

Atheist leaders, though, say those numbers don't even take into account the nonbelievers among the 285,000 service members who claim no religious preference on military surveys. Yet about 90 percent of the 3,045 active duty chaplains are Christians.

"Military atheist leaders say that although proselytizing by chaplains is forbidden, Christian beliefs pervade military culture, creating subtle pressures on non-Christians to convert," The Times said.

One example is the Army's Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, which requires soldiers to complete surveys to indicate their risk for stress and suicide. The Army says the surveys are meant to determine whether a soldier has "a strong set of beliefs, principles or values" that can sustain him in adversity, but atheists don't appreciate being probed with religious code words.

The Times also cited an event sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association at Fort Bragg last fall called Rock the Fort, held on the post's parade grounds. In response, an atheist soldier is testing the waters by organizing a counter event called Rock Beyond Belief with author Richard Dawkins headlining.

"Atheist and secular humanist groups in the military are hardly new," The Times said. "But at some bases, they have become better organized and more vocal in recent years."

Hmmm....atheists whining and crying, to the point where they need special buddies group in the Army, (at taxpayers' expense, no less) AAALLLLLL to shield themselves from someone they don't believe exists. First "un-churches", now un-chaplains?

And they call Christians nuts!!!  

P.S. Because this involves our military (which is a political issue) I posted this here first, instead of the Religous Thread section.

[Deicide]

That's very strange.

Very strange.

I would have no part of it.

[MCWAY]

The more I read this, the more I can't help but snicker, after hearing all that yak over the years about how "weak-minded" Christians are and how they need a crutch. Now, atheists want military chaplains. I guess "un-churches" weren't enough.

Exactly what is all this "pressure" to convert in the military. Chaplains cannot proselytize by law. They can offer religious services. You either use them or you don't. No sweat off your back, one way or the other. Furthermore, their primary mission is to provide such in combat conditions, BECAUSE SOLDIERS CAN'T GO TO CHURCH, WHILE THEY'RE DEPLOYED (ever tried finding a Baptist facility in Afghanistan?).

What services could atheists possibly need in combat conditions, that they can't ALREADY get from current chaplains or from some already-existing military source, that requires their having "un-chaplains"? Having a mere social club isn't a "need"; we have blogs and Facebook for that. Heck, if you want just to meet and socialize, using military facilities, all you have to do is run it through your chain of command and follow procedures.



Here's a good one: Christian beliefs pervade military culture... DUHH!!! OF COURSE IT DOES. This is a Judeo-Christian nation (at least nominally), despite what our current president thinks. It's been such since its inception, which is why the Christian flag is the ONLY ONE that can be flown over our nation's flag. "God and country" is as American as apple pie (figuratively speaking).

[The True Adonis]

The more I read this, the more I can't help but snicker, after hearing all that yak over the years about how "weak-minded" Christians are and how they need a crutch. Now, atheists want military chaplains. I guess "un-churches" weren't enough.

Exactly what is all this "pressure" to convert in the military. Chaplains cannot proselytize by law. They can offer religious services. You either use them or you don't. No sweat off your back, one way or the other. Furthermore, their primary mission is to provide such in combat conditions, BECAUSE SOLDIERS CAN'T GO TO CHURCH, WHILE THEY'RE DEPLOYED (ever tried finding a Baptist facility in Afghanistan?).

What services could atheists possibly need in combat conditions, that they can't ALREADY get from current chaplains or from some already-existing military source, that requires their having "un-chaplains"? Having a mere social club isn't a "need"; we have blogs and Facebook for that. Heck, if you want just to meet and socialize, using military facilities, all you have to do is run it through your chain of command and follow procedures.



Here's a good one: Christian beliefs pervade military culture... DUHH!!! OF COURSE IT DOES. This is a Judeo-Christian nation (at least nominally), despite what our current president thinks. It's been such since its inception, which is why the Christian flag is the ONLY ONE that can be flown over our nation's flag. "God and country" is as American as apple pie (figuratively speaking).

So misinformed you have driven yourself to lunacy.  History is not your strong suit.

[MCWAY]

So misinformed you have driven yourself to lunacy.  History is not your strong suit.

This is the part where you spew a bunch foolishness and I hack it up like a Japanese chef with a raw piece of steak on his grill.

But, enlighten us, O blabbering one. Why do those poor little "freethinkers" need chaplains, to soothe they oh-so-strong psyches and protect them from that mean ol' supposedly non-existent God, should they decide to get shot at for Uncle Sam, for a living?

[The True Adonis]

This is the part where you spew a bunch foolishness and I hack it up like a Japanese chef with a raw piece of steak on his grill.

But, enlighten us, O blabbering one. Why do those poor little "freethinkers" need chaplains, to soothe they oh-so-strong psyches and protect them from that mean ol' supposedly non-existent God, should they decide to get shot at for Uncle Sam, for a living?

They shouldn`t need anything.  I personally don`t care what religion or non-religion a soldier is.  Thats his choice and as long as we can ridicule all of it, it is fine by me.

[MCWAY]

They shouldn`t need anything.  I personally don`t care what religion or non-religion a soldier is.  Thats his choice and as long as we can ridicule all of it, it is fine by me.

My, my, my! How noble of you.

They shouldn't need everything. But for some reason they do. The question is why. More importantly, why do they need that they can't already get with a chaplain or some other DoD resource.

[MCWAY]

Still wondering what atheists need so badly, that can't already be provided by standard chaplains or any other DoD resource, that warrants them needing "un-chaplains".

[Dos Equis]

This is a joke, right?

CULTURE DIGEST: Atheists seek chaplaincy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--As contradictory as it sounds, a lack-of-faith group is seeking to be acknowledged as a faith group within the United States military. Atheists are pushing for status as chaplains.

The New York Times reported in April that joining the chaplain corps is part of a broader campaign by atheists to win official acceptance in the military, which would help ensure that their literature would be distributed, their events would be advertised and they would have clout with commanders.

"Humanism fills the same role for atheists that Christianity does for Christians and Judaism does for Jews," Jason Torpy, president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, told The Times. "It answers questions of ultimate concern; it directs our values."

Atheists groups are emerging at military posts, including one called Military Atheists and Secular Humanists at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and a new chapter at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

"Defense Department statistics show that about 9,400 of the nation's 1.4 million active-duty military personnel identify themselves as atheists or agnostics, making them a larger subpopulation than Jews, Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists in the military," The Times said.

Atheist leaders, though, say those numbers don't even take into account the nonbelievers among the 285,000 service members who claim no religious preference on military surveys. Yet about 90 percent of the 3,045 active duty chaplains are Christians.

"Military atheist leaders say that although proselytizing by chaplains is forbidden, Christian beliefs pervade military culture, creating subtle pressures on non-Christians to convert," The Times said.

One example is the Army's Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, which requires soldiers to complete surveys to indicate their risk for stress and suicide. The Army says the surveys are meant to determine whether a soldier has "a strong set of beliefs, principles or values" that can sustain him in adversity, but atheists don't appreciate being probed with religious code words.

The Times also cited an event sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association at Fort Bragg last fall called Rock the Fort, held on the post's parade grounds. In response, an atheist soldier is testing the waters by organizing a counter event called Rock Beyond Belief with author Richard Dawkins headlining.

"Atheist and secular humanist groups in the military are hardly new," The Times said. "But at some bases, they have become better organized and more vocal in recent years."

Hmmm....atheists whining and crying, to the point where they need special buddies group in the Army, (at taxpayers' expense, no less) AAALLLLLL to shield themselves from someone they don't believe exists. First "un-churches", now un-chaplains?

And they call Christians nuts!!!  

P.S. Because this involves our military (which is a political issue) I posted this here first, instead of the Religous Thread section.

LOL!  You gotta be kidding me.  An atheist chaplain?  lol . . . .

[The True Adonis]

It is stupid and a waste of time and money if anything is granted.

[loco]

It is stupid and a waste of time and money if anything is granted.

Then why this post?

So misinformed you have driven yourself to lunacy.  History is not your strong suit.

[The True Adonis]

Then why this post?

Because this is not a Christian Nation nor has it ever been or was it ever intended to be so.  The Religious flag nonsense was also rather hilarious to me.

[MCWAY]

It is stupid and a waste of time and money if anything is granted.

Waste of money indeed, especially (now that I think about it) considering that chaplains are able to assign religious lay leaders, people who aren't ordained ministers, to accomadate specific religious denominations (i.e. Baptists, Methodists, Lutheran, Catholic).

So, theorectically speaking, couldn't a chaplain assign someone as a "humanist" lay leader, to accomodate these poor isolated folk, who feed oh-so-pressure (in between gunshots) to convert?

[MCWAY]

Because this is not a Christian Nation nor has it ever been or was it ever intended to be so.  The Religious flag nonsense was also rather hilarious to me.

Laugh at this!


U.S. CODE Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 7 (part c):

No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof: Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.


Although, I do need to make one clarification. A worship pennant can be flown over the US flag, during religious services. During a Jewish services, the Jewish worship pennant can be flown over the US Flag.