Atheist “chaplains” in the military?
So atheism is now a religion? What am I missing here?
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.
Ok, then don’t believe – but why in the world does a group of nonbelievers need a “chaplain” to represent them in the military? Well according to them it would make things more convenient, I guess:
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.
“Official acceptance”? You’re a nonbeliever. Who has to “accept” that? Be what you are. You need others to help spread your literature and advertise your events? Why? It’s about not doing something isn’t it?
The whole point is lost on me – except the fact that these are militant atheists who have made their nonbelief into a sort of pseudo-religion, and, as Saul Alinsky taught, want to use their opponents rules against them.
As for the military chaplain ploy, here’s their problem:
But winning the appointment of an atheist chaplain will require support from senior chaplains, a tall order. Many chaplains are skeptical: Do atheists belong to a “faith group,” a requirement for a chaplain candidate? Can they provide support to religious troops of all faiths, a fundamental responsibility for chaplains?
The answer to question one is “no” if you ask most real atheists. The answer to question two is also “no”. So they are 0-2 on the requirements necessary to be a chaplain. As a kid I grew up in non-denominational army chapels that conducted faith based services. How does a atheist do that? They don’t. In fact, atheists don’t hold services at all, faith based or otherwise. That’s kind of the point, isn’t it?
And:
Military atheist leaders say that although proselytizing by chaplains is forbidden, Christian beliefs pervade military culture, creating subtle pressures on non-Christians to convert.
Which is interesting since what the atheists are trying to do is set up a mechanism where they can proselytize their nonbelief – something they claim to hate about religions. What, not enough atheists to suit them?
Seriously – this is an absurdity that true atheists all over should denounce.
Geez.
~McQ