Fox News: Atheists Seek Chaplain Role

[Lars77]

Run time: 02:40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DnHF_JF36Y   Posted on YouTube: November 16, 2011 By YouTube Member: AtheistMediaBlog Views on YouTube: 1643   Posted on DU: November 17, 2011 By DU Member: Lars77 Views on DU: 2144

 

[pnwmom]

1. How many times here on DU have atheists insisted that atheism isn't a belief,

or a set of beliefs?

It will be interesting to see what they think about this. I don't see why an atheist, or non-believer, would want to lead people of faith in worship.

[greiner3]

8. "Me thinks the lady doth protest too much;'

"would want to lead people of faith in worship."

A push to have non-theological 'chaplains' provide counseling to those who do not want the line of 'it was god's will' or some such explanation of events beyond any control for say 'collateral damage' in times of war. I agree with other posters that the roles of chaplains has taken on an Evangelical bent and any soldier wanting their services and does not agree to follow their proscribed thinking and preaching risks command punishment and promotional problems. This has been documented in the news lately. There have been several soldiers who have come forward saying they have been coerced into 'converting.' Their careers have been stalled because they refuse to accept chaplains' view that their God's way is the only way.

Chaplain is just a word. Theological training consists of the studying one tome; the Christian Bible. Evangelicals even go so far as saying their version of the Bible is the only one. There are many translations of the Bible and recent evidence puts the only 'true' origination of the Bible as the outcome of the Council of Mycea in ACE 299. Prior to this there were up to 40 books of 'disciples' of Jesus. It is said that one of these books was of Mary Magdalene where Jesus survived whatever happened to him when the other books say he was put to death by Roman hands. This book also goes on to say Jesus married and had children. Needless to say the Council dropped this book as heresy.

Being a Chaplain they received some training in counseling. A humanist would e able to counsel with the training of many different avenues; psychiatrist, psychologist and/or common sense that the world is neither inherently good or bad. It is an individualist's actions that cause so much trouble in this world.

No gods; no monsters.

[pnwmom]

11. Why couldn't the humanists talk to a counsellor, then, instead of a chaplain?

Why couldn't humanists/atheists just get jobs as counsellors? Why would they specifically want a job as a chaplain?

[Lars77]

14. Maybe the army does not provide a position as councellor with the same status and role as chaplain?

[provis99]

2. an atheist "leader" is a dumb idea.

It would be like a group of people who don't believe in unicorns getting a leader who talks to them about how they don't believe in unicorns.

This atheist is going about it all the wrong way. The point he should be making is that it is an abomination to have military chaplains at all; if religious military members feel a need for religious guidance, they can get it from their private, civilian pastors and priests. Military chaplains are a blatant contradiction of the separation of church and state, and frankly, it is disgusting to ask chaplains to bless the killing of people and the destruction of things anyways.

[ScottLand]

3. As an atheist, if I were in the military and needed somone in

which to confide, I couldn't see going to a chaplain whose goal it was to convert me to his religion. If there are no atheists to act in that capacity, then you're not being represented. This is my first time hearing of this issue, but putting myself in that place...

Seems like they could say "oh, wait, we respect your opinion, but this isn't the way to go about it..." about anything that differs from their establishment.

[pnwmom]

13. Why wouldn't you just confide in a counsellor or therapist?

A lot of them are atheist and, in any case, they don't push religious beliefs on anyone.

[ScottLand]

16. Good point.

I thought about that later...I really don't know anything about the military.

[Bucky]

4. I love it when people say, "It's not for me, therefor no one else should have it."

And by "love it" I mean "hate it."

[sarchasm]

5. Christianists have brought this upon themselves ...

... by blurring the line between church and state.

[Capt. America]

6. None of these God-boys have ever answered my question: How many angels can dance on the

head of a pin?

[knightmaar]

7. Of course there's a place for such a person

Me: I need to talk to someone.
Priest: Let us say a prayer first.
Me: I'm not religious.
Priest: Ah! There's your problem. You need Jesus in your life.
Me: No. My problem is I had to shoot a 12 year old Iraqi boy right after he killed my buddy with a grenade.

Do you see how I might need to talk to someone about this? Someone who isn't going to blather at me about Jesus, Trinities and other things that make no sense to me?

And, oh no! "Chaplain" means worship! You can't be a "chaplain" if you don't worship something!

I don't care what the word means, you self righteous, pedantic jackass. "Hysteria" means "craziness caused by the uterus". So what? We use it to mean irrationality for both genders.

What atheists are looking for is the same comfort that the military is willing to give to believers. If you're not going to discriminate, then you ought to be giving atheists the same privilege. Babbling on about the literal meaning of the word "chaplain" - which is this guy's sole argument - is pointless.

Either you support your soldiers or you don't.

[dotymed]

9. Kurt Vonnegut Jr. was a "humanist" which is an atheist.

He believed in civic duty and helping people. Why is that not a good stance for Chaplains to take? Must they tell the soldiers that only if they believe in their version of God, will they be able to live a satisfying life? War goes against the tenants of every religion that I am aware of. These traditional Chaplains attempt to justify killing within their religious parameters. Personally, I think that an Atheist is just as qualified to spiritually council our Atheist soldiers as any "accepted" religion.

[pnwmom]

12. How is an atheist qualified to support theists in their religious beliefs?

An atheist would make a fine counsellor or therapist. But I don't see the point of an atheist being a religious chaplain.

[Lars77]

15. Since the army does not provide any such positions, maybe that is what he wants to point out.

[amyrose2712]

10. Just curious, wouldn't a psychologist work here?

Not saying it is wrong just wondering.

[surrealAmerican]

17. I think it would ...

... but then, I think that chaplains ought not be part of our military. Establishing a religious role for a state employee is a hairs breadth away form establishing a state religion.