It seems the near universal opinion on this conservative forum is that this is ‘no big deal’. But it is a big deal. The nontheists are just asking for support so they can serve.
Assertions are that there really is no discrimination going on. The demeaning and derogatory opinions against atheists expressed here are representative of those in the military. How successful can an atheist expect to be with that kind of sentiment from all sides, especially the chain of command?
Several have suggested that these people aren’t really atheists or wouldn’t be in a foxhole. That may be a comfortable myth, but the truth is that they have been in foxholes. The MAAF site has a long list of atheists in foxholes - http://www.maaf.info/expaif.html
Then there is the assertion that the poor poor evangelicals that hold a majority position at every level of command are the real persecuted majority. The only problem lies with those who want to abuse their power to blast prayers over loudspeakers, or to give Christian prayers to a captive audience, or to fund multi-million dollar global evangelism programs under the guise of ‘family support’ like Strong Bonds. It is part of our Oath to the Constitution and the first clause of the first amendment to put the mission first. There is still an opportunity for personal religion and the second clause of the first amendment as long as it’s not done officially.
Another assertion is that atheism isn’t a religion and doesn’t deserve protection. That’s really the important problem to solve. The deeply-held beliefs of nontheists are equivalent personally and legally to traditional religious beliefs, and it only helps to build the team by reaching out to the nontheists to provide morale, family, equal opportunity, and counseling support.
People here seem to want to shout down the minority. Atheists just want to serve without feeling like second-class citizens. It’s no different than Women, African-Americans, or Jews before us.
First you will have to make up your mind as to whether atheism is a religion, as you claim; or a race, or gender as you also claim .
Or is it just a choice people make, for which you think all others should behave so that those who freely made the choice should never, ever have their feelings hurt, as you also claim.
One is a belief, one is a race, the third is childishness masquerading as a legal right.
Or is it just whatever is most convenient to your agenda at the time ?