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Atheists Seek a Place Among Military Chaplains
nytimes.com ^ | 04/27/2011 | James Dao

Posted on 04/27/2011 12:34:20 PM PDT by massmike

In the military, there are more than 3,000 chaplains who minister to the spiritual and emotional needs of active duty troops, regardless of their faiths. The vast majority are Christians, a few are Jews or Muslims, one is a Buddhist. A Hindu, possibly even a Wiccan may join their ranks soon.

But an atheist?

Strange as it sounds, groups representing atheists and secular humanists are pushing for the appointment of one of their own to the chaplaincy, hoping to give voice to what they say is a large — and largely underground — population of nonbelievers in the military.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: atheism; atheismandstate; military; militarychaplains; moralabsolutes; religion
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1 posted on 04/27/2011 12:34:27 PM PDT by massmike
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To: massmike

Diversity. Yeah. The army needs more diversity.

And in a few years - why I’m predicting they’ll even let them homo’s join up.

Sure.

/sarc


2 posted on 04/27/2011 12:36:53 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd (A Birther: One who has questions or concerns over the birth of Barry Barack Hussein Soetero Obama)
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To: massmike

chaplin = A member of the clergy attached to a branch of the armed forces.

Atheists have no religion there fore can not be part of the clergy.


3 posted on 04/27/2011 12:40:58 PM PDT by 70th Division (I love my country but fear my government!)
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To: massmike

An atheist chaplain - talk about a do nothing government job!


4 posted on 04/27/2011 12:41:37 PM PDT by The Sons of Liberty (Psalm 109:8 Let his days be few and let another take his office. - Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin)
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To: massmike

Not exactly sure why non believers need a chaplain...to keep them strong in their faith[lessness]?

Yet another leftist oxymoron...or moron, for short.


5 posted on 04/27/2011 12:43:33 PM PDT by Adder (Part 1 Accomplished)
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To: massmike

Atheists already effectively have this, it’s called counselors.

Plus most chaplains are happy to lend an ear and give non-religious advice to atheist soldiers. They consider all soldiers to be under their care, not just the ones of the same religion.


6 posted on 04/27/2011 12:44:56 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: massmike; All

Pat Tillman was a professed atheist and some in his family believe he was deliberately murdered. About 16% of the population profess no religion. With 3,000 chaplains, this would indicate a need for 480 people to attend to their needs. There are licensed secular Celebrants who provide birth, marriage, and death ceremonials for their followers.


7 posted on 04/27/2011 12:45:14 PM PDT by gleeaikin
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To: massmike; wagglebee
To do so would be an admission that atheism IS a religion (the no-god god) and that to impose THEIR theological belief system on public education and the town square is to make theirs the officiated faith in America.

It is a religion, one with no formal text, hierarchy, or ceremony. But it has an absolute conviction on a matter of faith. And it's been seeking to evangelize to the “lost people” following the “false religon(s)”.

8 posted on 04/27/2011 12:46:44 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (The biggest waste of brainpower is to want to change something that's not changeable. -Albert Brooks)
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To: massmike

How can an atheist be a chaplain in the first place?

The whole idea is totally absurd.


9 posted on 04/27/2011 12:47:17 PM PDT by scorchedearther
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To: massmike

But I thought there were no atheists in foxholes.


10 posted on 04/27/2011 12:49:01 PM PDT by AU72
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To: massmike

LOLZ! What would they do?? Other than council from a humanist perspective, they’d have no duties. Sounds like someone just wants a free no-work gubmint’ job!


11 posted on 04/27/2011 12:56:56 PM PDT by Clock King (Ellisworth Toohey was right: My head's gonna explode.)
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To: Clock King

council=counsel


12 posted on 04/27/2011 12:58:51 PM PDT by Clock King (Ellisworth Toohey was right: My head's gonna explode.)
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To: massmike
I like it! By all means let the atheists (continue to) establish themselves as a religion. They already take on most of the trappings. Then the battle really transforms. After all, Atheism is simply one end of the religious spectrum, the end where there is no God.

With that concept in place, atheism loses its claim to being secular and must be treated as any other religion. Their demand that all things God be removed from the public sphere would require that Gubermint in effect establish their belief system as the national religion and that is a clear First Amendment violation.

13 posted on 04/27/2011 1:01:15 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (What is so remarkable about the LFBC is ... that it is unremarkable. Then why ...?)
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To: massmike
So they're admitting that Humanism is every bit as much a religion as any other?

Albeit with the obvious exception that their god is self.

A notable trait Humanism holds in common with some religions, most notably Islam, is it's oppressive legalism: You better hold to the essential doctrines, (in Humanism the "gospel" of course being the "right" to kill babies), or you're an ignorant bigot and hater.

14 posted on 04/27/2011 1:11:23 PM PDT by TheClintons-STILLAnti-American
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To: massmike; a fool in paradise; 185JHP; 230FMJ; AKA Elena; Albion Wilde; Aleighanne; ...
Moral Absolutes Ping!

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[ Add keyword moral absolutes to flag FR articles to this ping list ]


15 posted on 04/27/2011 1:13:48 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: The Sons of Liberty

***An atheist chaplain - talk about a do nothing government job!****

Back when I was in the USAF there was a card you had to fill out if you went to the Chaplain, to account for lost time. We called it the TS card. Tough S#!t. Those cards are no longer used.

It would be the perfect thing for atheists in the military. Give them to each chaplain to give to the atheists who come whine to them.


16 posted on 04/27/2011 1:39:46 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (Click my name. See my home page, if you dare!)
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To: massmike
groups representing atheists and secular humanists are pushing for the appointment of one of their own to the chaplaincy

This is the type of idiocy which embarrasses atheists like me. I no more support this drivel than any of you Christians support Fred Phelps.

17 posted on 04/27/2011 2:19:58 PM PDT by Notary Sojac (Populism is the antithesis of conservatism)
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To: massmike

Yep, its a religion


18 posted on 04/27/2011 2:21:38 PM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)
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To: massmike
First comes the atheist "clergy". Then ...


19 posted on 04/27/2011 2:22:22 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (The last Democrat worth a damn was Stalin. He purged his whole Party.)
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To: massmike
This ought to be an easy one for the Army Heraldry Institute for insignia...

Christian

Jewish

Buddhist

Muslim







Atheist

20 posted on 04/27/2011 2:29:52 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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