I’ve long suspected that, for some, atheism (as opposed, say, to agnosticism or simple indifference) has many of the characteristics of religious faith, so here (via the New York Times) is just a bit more confirmation:
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.
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?
Jason Torpy, a former Army captain who is president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, said humanist chaplains would do everything religious chaplains do, including counsel troops and help them follow their faiths. But just as a Protestant chaplain would not preside over a Catholic service, a humanist might not lead a religious ceremony, though he might help organize it.
“Humanism fills the same role for atheists that Christianity does for Christians and Judaism does for Jews,” Mr. Torpy said in an interview. “It answers questions of ultimate concern; it directs our values.” …
I wonder, but to each his own
The solution to this problem is to replace chaplains, rabbis, ect. with professional councilors. The councilors have better training, and the religious controversy would go away.
I don’t think the purpose is to have a chaplain to pat atheists on the back for not believing in a magic sky daddy. It’s not unheard of for atheists to illustrate the idiocy of taxpayer-subsidized religion by demanding parity for nonbelievers. That seems to be the intent of the people planning the Rock Beyond Belief event at Ft. Bragg.
If the government finds that they have to spend more money supporting viewpoints besides Christianity, they might well drop the whole thing in favor of a less expensive secular program (such as counselors, as John suggests).
An atheist is to a religious person what a non-smoker is to a smoker. Do non-smokers have meetings? Do non-smokers go around forming social clubs around their non-smoking?
An atheist who wants an atheist chaplain doesn’t understand what atheism is. Secular Humanism on the other hand is a specific philosophy, which may or may not be appropriate to have a chaplain for.
When I shipped for Iraq in 2004, I wrote “Atheist” in the Religion box for my dog tags. When I got them, they read, “No Pref.”
For me religion is simply not a live option. But it is an historical and social reality, and atheism’s attempts to mimic that reality are slightly pathetic.
For me, religion is simply not a live option. But it is an historical and social reality – and atheists’ attempts to mimic that reality are slightly pathetic.
So they want an officially recognized support group, is that it?
More pathetic than religion? Seems unlikely.
Having an Atheist chaplain is ridiculous – but any number of atheist chaplains are reasonable. Even more reasonable, as the commentator notes, would be the abolishment of chaplains.
Even more reasonable, as the commentator notes, would be the abolishment of chaplains
Why on earth? They’re good for morale. And that’s the role they most importantly serve, for the believers. Morale matters. (There are plenty of psychological counselors available also, for those who want that.)
@Joseph: agreed.
When I was in Iraq, I went through a three-month period in which I lost my marriage, a close friend, and my belief that anything we were doing over there was better than doing nothing (and almost always a hell of a lot worse). My small base also took 2-20 mortars, rockets and other explosives per day for several weeks during that stretch. I needed to talk to someone, and a chaplain was the only option available. I told him I was an Atheist, so he just listened, and gently invited me to attend a service (which I did, for the purpose of being somewhere quiet and peaceful for an hour). I don’t know if he saved my life, but he definitely made it better.
There should be more counselors, because a more dogmatic, pushy chaplain might have made things worse for a guy like me in that moment. But he seems to have taken his mission to minister to all seriously, and for that I thank the Chaplain’s Corps and the values they teach.