"All we are...is dust in the wind, dude."
Posted on 04/27/2011 2:59:57 PM PDT by arderkrag
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — 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.
Joining the chaplain corps is part of a broader campaign by atheists to win official acceptance in the military. Such recognition would make it easier for them to raise money and meet on military bases. It would help ensure that chaplains, religious or atheist, would distribute their literature, advertise their events and advocate for them with commanders.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
chaplain comes from “chapel”
Do atheists have chapels?
Who knew? To do what? Talk to themselves?
Next they’ll want “holidays”
What's next, Jehovah's Witness chaplains who wander from foxhole to foxhole in pairs?
This would officially classify atheism as a religion, and then subjecting it to all of the scrutiny and issues of other religions.
Then atheism is a Religion if they want a chaplain.. does this mean it can’t be taught in schools?
BTW, let’s have a contest to design the collar insignia for an “officially recognized” atheist “chaplain”
I nominate a little smiley face with the motto “Don’t worry, be happy”
Is this satire?? Instead of giving a dying soldier his last rites, they’ll tell him he’s just “dust in the wind”.
Did you hear about the Jehovah’s Witness who married an atheist?
Their kid grew up going around knocking on doors every Saturday for no particular reason.
You’re just opening things up for the Mormons on bicycles!
I’ve always said atheists have a religion, it’s called Humanism.
No, but I heard of the two atheists fishing in a leaky rowboat. They would stop fishing and bail occasionally. Soon he boat sprung a major leak. One atheist looks at the other and says, "We might drown. You'd better start praying." The other atheist says, "I don't know how to pray. I'm an atheist." The first atheist says, "Well, I once attended a Catholic function. I'll give it a try." He folds his hands, bows his head and intones, "Under the B-12. Under the O-64."
Why not? Atheism certainly requires as much faith as any other religion...
I swear, my country is going to hell.
Send them to the Unitarian chaplains: that’s close enough.
Soldier: I just don’t know, I am scared to the bone when we getinto a firefight...
Atheist Chaplain: Son, it doesn’t matter...
Soldier: But surely you might have some suggestions for me to control my fear...
Chaplain: It doesn’t matter son, think of your self as a dust mote in an impossibly large universe. Think of yourself as that mote just blowing in the wind...
Soldier: Uh...Is their nothing else you can give me. Is there no takeaway?
Chaplain: Think of the universe as a beach of sand and your job is to leave your footprints on that beach....
Soldier: Only to be washed away with the next tide?
Chaplain: Yes, you can recognize the beauty of that image?
Soldier: I think I’ll go see Father Mulhaney...
Chaplain: It doesn’t matter son.
Soldier: Yes, it does you moron....(mutters as he walks away...”God, he quotes Sartre to me when I need some support here.”
I don’t quite get this idea. Atheists do not believe in a higher, supreme being or consciousness. So what exactly would an atheist ‘chaplain’ preach? Is the rejection of all religions actually a religion?
While this probably has ulterior motives, I can imagine one legitimate reason to have an atheist chaplain. Solely as an ombudsman for when atheists are being abused for not being religious.
The military has a problem with idle personnel. It is generally equated with mischief. This often meant that “You either go to church, or you get extra duty.” Slacking off is not seen as an option.
By having an atheist chaplain, there will at least be a supervised, dedicated area for atheists to hang out, while others are at church.
Likely the atheists will still be slacking off, but not in the barracks, and not running free. This is acceptable to NCOs.
More to the point is when soldiers are actively abused for not being religious. This is actually fairly *uncommon*, but when it does happen, there is a great hue and cry, so it gets noticed.
Oddly enough, the most common disputes are not between the religious and the atheist, but between sectarians, who confuse their particular sect’s doctrines as military policy; and those who get hung up on the “church and state” argument, who overstep on what is permitted in the military, usually over things like religious ornamentation, necklaces and prayer beads.
Likewise, there is much confusion over religious minorities.
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