Ray Bradley listens during a planning meeting for the Central North Carolina Atheists and Humanists. Photo by John Nichols, courtesy of U.S. Army
This image is available for Web and print publication. For questions, contact Sally Morrow.
Posted on 04/23/2014 3:10:11 PM PDT by NYer
WASHINGTON (RNS) More than two years after first making his request, Army Maj. Ray Bradley can now be known as exactly what he is: a humanist in the U.S. military.
Ray Bradley listens during a planning meeting for the Central North Carolina Atheists and Humanists. Photo by John Nichols, courtesy of U.S. Army
This image is available for Web and print publication. For questions, contact Sally Morrow.
“I’m able to self-identity the belief system that governs my life, and I’ve never been able to do that before,” said Bradley, who is stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and works on supporting readiness of the Army Reserve’s medical staff.
Lt. Col. Sunset R. Belinsky, an Army spokeswoman, said Tuesday (April 22) that the “preference code for humanist” became effective April 12 for all members of the Army.
In practical terms, the change means that humanists could face fewer hurdles in trying to organize within the ranks; military brass would have better information to aid in planning a deceased soldier’s funeral; and it could lay the groundwork for eventually adding humanist chaplains.
The change comes against a backdrop of persistent claims from atheists and other nonbelievers that the military is dominated by a Christian culture that is often hostile to unbelief. In recent years, activists from the broad spectrum of freethinking organizations have demanded equal treatment as the tradition-bound military grapples with the growth of the spiritual-but-not-religious population.
Jason Torpy, president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, has been pushing for greater recognition of humanists in the armed services; in February, the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to the Pentagon on Bradley’s behalf.
“This is a big victory,” Torpy said, who noted the decision was by the Army and not the other military services. “This is one part, and the easiest part, of a very long list of other reforms that have to happen before we have equality, not just belief or no belief but theistic belief and nontheistic belief like ours.”
The ACLU wrote in its letter that members of nontheistic faiths should have the option of describing themselves, just as members of theistic faiths do.
“Given the wide range of religious-preference designations currently allowed by the armed forces, there is no reason to deny Humanism similar recognition,” ACLU lawyers wrote.
According to a survey by the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, humanists make up 3.6 percent of the U.S. military.
Bradley, 47, said the ability to officially state “humanist” as a religious preference is technically an additional code in the military’s database.
Jason Torpy, president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, speaks on a panel about the freethought movement during the 2013 Religion Newswriters Association Conference in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 28, 2013. Religion News Service photo by Sally Morrow
This image is available for Web and print publication. For questions, contact Sally Morrow.
“The real importance of this change is that our official military records can reflect humanists now,” said Bradley, who initially was listed under the broad category of “no religious preference.”
Although he doesn’t believe in God, Bradley determined that the term “atheist” was not sufficient for him. Frustrated with the lengthy process in getting the “humanist” designation, he had switched to “atheist” in January 2013. But he said “humanist” explains his life stance, which stresses scientific explanations and maximizing human happiness.
He hopes to work now with Torpy to encourage other humanists in the military to officially identify themselves and to seek opportunities for them to meet in facilities and advertise their meetings as many religious groups do.
“It may be very difficult, especially for young soldiers, to take such a step,” he said, noting some would be wary that they might be discriminated against if they reveal they are humanists.
Chaplain (Col.) Kenneth Stice, director of operations for the Army’s Office of the Chief of Chaplains, said the religious preference information — though voluntary — helps the military know how best to respect the religious wishes of an injured or deceased soldier. He said the chaplain corps is beginning to grapple with those who are in the “spiritual but not religious” category and will learn from humanists how to address their particular needs for accommodation.
Bradley said a 2012 meeting at Fort Bragg featuring the president of the American Humanist Association required a “special request” because the group wasn’t officially recognized.
“Humanists have life events, just like any other human being,” such as weddings and naming ceremonies for babies, he said. “Accommodation for that type of events in life, I think, would be important for the chaplaincy to support.”
The religious preference designation could mean that humanist chaplains aren’t far behind.
Torpy’s organization and groups such as the Secular Coalition for America continue to seek humanist chaplains in the military. But Bradley said he sees a more gradual process: first the designation, then a layperson designated as a “distinctive faith group leader” and eventually a chaplain.
“The military doesn’t usually turn on a dime like that,” he said. “I would see it more as a progression of steps.”
Mark, you are correct ONLY because you are thinking with a Christian world view. The crowd that declares there are no absolutes will ignore their contradictory behavior and just do whatever they like.
Agreed. I suppose that a military that serves a higher purpose (i.e., God and country) won’t have any qualms about fragging their officers when given an immoral/unconstitutional order. Can’t have that now. I guess it’s the difference between, “serving the country” and “serving the state”. Obama prefers servicemen/women who will view it as the latter.
Thanks for the ping!
That’s right. It’s beyond denial at this point. And as far as I can tell, humanistic belief system includes environmentalism and evolutionism.
How about somebody sue the public school system?
“No Religous Preference” USED to mean that you didn’t care who gave you last rites on the battlefield. IOW, ANY Chaplain would do.
Active Duty ping.
Gotta replace people like us with people like them so they can be counted on to kill the enemy.
That’d be us. Good luck with that, Twinkletoes.
There’s a storm coming.
In the article, the man says he struggled between the words “atheist” and “humanist”. What he reveals is that his version of humanism is atheistic. That seems honest enough to me.
In short, he is affirming what the supreme court ruled years ago, and that is that atheism is a religion. All this guy is doing is struggling over the name for his denomination. In short, this has a positive side to it...official recognition that both humanism and atheism are religions.
Now, so far as the Army recognizing this and putting it in their book. Their book has every brand of religion imaginable to include Rostafarian. Why don’t we have any Rostafarian chaplains? First, they don’t have a big enough presence in the population even to warrant a chaplain. Second, they haven’t organized to request consideration.
Should a humanist be a chaplain?
In my view they don’t offer anything. A chaplain is approved by his “denomination” primarily to represent them in the military with their own members who are also in the military. That supposed 3.6% number of “humanists” based on some survey is sneaky because it’s not really measuring those who belong to a denomination...or even some assembly of humanists.
They don’t offer anything, first, because they don’t have a group to which they can provide services. They don’t even have “humanist traditions/services/customs” that are common to the “denomination of humanists”. Nor do they have training institutions at which their “leaders” receive their denominational training at the master degree level.
So, they have no training to teach that which they don’t have in common and which they don’t practice.
Finally, a chaplain is also supposed to be available in general support to provide support for those not of his denomination.
Imagine them coming on a dying soldier on a battlefield. Their response: “Sorry, buddy, but you are checking out and there is no hope for afterwards.”
Salvation, thank you for the definition post.
The modern humanists are the heirs of those who in “...the French Revolution the extreme humanistic spirit rebelled against Christian revelation and the Church.” And they have taken it to the point of total anti-Christianity and “freedom FROM Christian religion” related anything.
See my post #30. The key word with these folks is “Freedom FROM, not Freedom OF.”
A supreme court verdict referred to humanism as a religion,
and now the (US Government’s) army officially recognizes it as a religion.
Can we now sue to get humanism removed from schools as it is a state sponsored religion?
(and see tagline)
Humanism started when its founder said “you will be as gods, knowing good and evil”.
Chaplain Xzins:
I wonder what the atheist/humanist collar insignia would be? I suspted they will hardly want the cross or tables as currently authorized for wear.
For earthworshipers I guess they could have the globe, but would need to make it look different from the USMC insignia.
G-F
Agreed...however, if they take the effort to push through representation in the Chaplain Corps, then their philosophy is recognized as a religion. As xzins stated, the purpose of a chaplain is to provide support (implying "spiritual support") to both members of that particular religious confession and to the body of the troops in general.
What I'm trying to get at is that these folks want to have their cake and eat it too. This desire, which has now been legitized, may provide a capability for some push-back...again, if our side is smart.
You may need to re-familiarize yourself with such people as Mikey Weinstein. He has championed the utter removal of all references to Christianity generally throughout the military (and in particular, the USAF) -- and has, throughout the Øbama regime, been very well connected with the brass at the Pentagon.
The point I'm trying to get at is that outfits like Thomas More and the ACLJ should keep their noses to the ground and be ready to quickly work with military members, particularly students at the Service Academies, NCO PME Academies, and the War Colleges, when humanist revisionist histories are taught...or with military members when humanist agendas are pushed through "diversity training" sessions...or in the event that there is some sort of discriminatory conduct during performance reviews...or, even so aggressively as to take up action when somebody has as a copy of a book like "The God Delusion" on their desk at work (since people have been reprimanded for having a Bible on their desk before).
Always before, our battle has been defensive. We insist that we have the "free exercise" right when somebody attempts to take it from us. Now, we finally have the opportunity to take the initiative and go on the offensive: claiming that another religion is being forced on our folks.
This is a truly unique opportunity. I hope we don't miss it.
I have no idea what the atheist/humanist collar insignia would be.
This is the symbol used on headstones at veterans cemeteries:
insignia....”No Hope”
There are no Humanists in foxholes.
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