Atheists in Foxholes

[Chris O.]

Greetings,
I have created a group on www.facebook.com (http://www.facebook.com) called "Atheists in foxholes." It was inspired by the website www.atheistfoxholes.org (http://www.atheistfoxholes.org), but is not associated with it. I have tried several times to contact www.atheistfoxholes.org (http://www.atheistfoxholes.org) for their support, but their form won't recognize my email address. I would like to attract other military members who happen to be atheists. I am a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force, and would like more people to recognize that there are non-believers participating in this nation's defense. I thought that participation on Facebook may be an attractive option. If you could help me spread the word, I would greatly appreciate it. link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8482125381

Thanks,
Chris Owen.

[Ryokan]

I'm a veteran, and served in Bosnia with the NATO forces. However, being an atheist soldier is no big deal in the Norwegian armed forces. It's probably the majority view. I actually have no idea if any of the soldiers I served with were Christians, as it never came up.

Well, except for the army chaplain, of course, but he didn't do much religious stuff. Mostly he made waffles for the troops to boost moral, but few people ever turned up for those events. He also organized charity events towards the civilian population, for which I volunteered to help quite often. I also found out that the chaplain was a huge Asimov fan, and since I'm also an Asimov fan, we became quite good friends. We never did talk religion, though. It seemed to me religion wasn't really that important to him. All in all, a very good man.

Most of that was off-topic, though. Sorry :p

[Akhenaten]

Hi Chris. I'm sorry if I'm distracting from the intent of your thread, but I found Ryokan's response above to largely echo my own experience as a member of the Australian Defence Force. Anecdotally, I'd say atheism was the norm, although I did know a few of my mates to be xtians. As seems to be the case in Denmark, the subject never came up.

Having said that, your cause sounds worthy and I wish you the very best. USAF rocks!

Notwithstanding the above, if you feel that an atheist Digger can contribute in any way, I'd be pleased to oblige.

Cheers,
Dave Hawkes.

[triadboy]

I'm a veteran, and served in Bosnia with the NATO forces. However, being an atheist soldier is no big deal in the Norwegian armed forces.

When George Bush was campaigning for the presidency, as incumbent vice president, one of his stops was in Chicago, Illinois, on August 27, 1987. At O'Hare Airport he held a formal outdoor news conference. There Robert I. Sherman, a reporter for the American Atheist news journal, fully accredited by the state of Illinois and by invitation a participating member of the press corps covering the national candidates had the following exchange with then Vice President Bush.

Sherman: What will you do to win the votes of the Americans who are atheists?
Bush: I guess I'm pretty weak in the atheist community. Faith in god is important to me.

Sherman: Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists?

Bush: No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.
http://www.holysmoke.org/sdhok/aa011.htm


In the 70's, I was an agnostic Radioman on a nuke Sub.
In the 80's, I was an atheist and an ICBM Launch Officer in the AF.

Can you imagine how I felt when I heard this statement from Vice President Bush? What ignorance.

[Darth Rotor]

I wonder how George Bush, the elder, feels about Pat Tillman. Me, I think he was a patriot.

DR

[Pope130]

Not strictly speaking an "Atheist in a foxhole", but I was an "Agnostic in the cockpit". My experience was pretty like Ryokan and Akhenaten, the issue just never came up. The only occasions I can recall being asked directly about religion were when filling out forms for dog tags and disposition of remains.

I also worked with Chaplains off and on. Mostly nice folks who focused on the project and didn't bring religion into the discussion. I had a particularly strange experience once in Dharan, Saudi Arabia. I helped the Provisional Wing Chaplain set up the rec-center for Pass-Over. An agnostic (with strong atheist leanings) and a Catholic god-shouter building a Jewish Temple in Saudi Arabia. It all seemed to make some kind of sense at the time.

And on the original topic: Chris O., good job on the project, and good luck in the Force.

Robert Klaus, MSgt USAF Ret.

[Beerina]

Hehe, "there are no athiests in foxholes"? Just like there are no Christians "when surfing the Internet when nobody's watching", or "in a strip club for your buddy's bachelor party".