Atheist soldiers want recognition at NC army post

WVEC.com ^ | April 1, 2011 | WVEC.com

[UndauntedR]

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- A group of religious non-believers at Fort Bragg is pushing for the U.S. military to make sure they get the same treatment as religious groups.

Soldiers at the post have filed paperwork seeking recognition for their group, called Military Atheists and Secular Humanists. They want to hold meetings at the base, work with the Army's chaplains and have their gatherings listed in a bulletin of religious services.

[Behemothpanzer]

Here’s a link to their page on meetup.com: http://www.meetup.com/MASHFortBragg/about/

I’d say that there shouldn’t be any obstacles to this group holding meetings at the base or their meetings being listed in a bulletin of ‘religious services’. If they need to petition for recognition in order to be allowed access to space and listings in military bulletins, they are right to do so.

[MaxMax]

I believe this is a ploy to remove any recognition for all religions.
That is what atheists always go for.

[dfwgator]

I believe this is a ploy to remove any recognition for all religions. That is what atheists always go for.

As long as it removes recognition only for Christians, then they're happy.

[Americanexpat]

How they going to discharge them for being atheists when they can't discharge a faggot? How they going to deny them the right to meet when they let Wicca and all the rest of those nut cases practice their religion? We have already given in to too much of this crap. besides a good hard dose of heavy combat usually separates the believers from the atheist.

[stormer]

Army Regulation 601-210, Active and Reserve Components Enlistment Program provides that: A commissioned officer of any service will administer the Oath of Enlistment in DD Form 4 orally, in English, to each application. Make a suitable arrangement to ensure that the oath is administered in a dignified manner and in proper surroundings. display the U.S. flag prominently near the officer giving the oath. The words "So help me God" may be omitted for persons who desire to affirm rather than to swear to the oath.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

I don't understand. What are they going to meet about?

Their belief in their disbelief. If approved that they are on equal footing with traditional beliefs, then the courts will have to disallow them use of public buildings as they do Christians. The argument that there is no God is premised on what evidence? There should go their feeble argument about Church and separation of state too.

[TheThirdRuffian]

They’re idiots, but I don’t have a problem with this.

[TheThirdRuffian]

“How did they recite this?”

The same way Quakers do.

[RichInOC]

The Double Unnatural?

[American Quilter]

...religious non-believers...

...carnivorous vegetarians....childless parents....deaf musicians....

...work with the Army's chaplains...

To do what-- reduce the time and effort chaplains spend on religious responsibilities?

...and have their gatherings listed in a bulletin of religious services.

Like advertising electrical appliances in an Amish church bulletin, birth-control methods in a Mormon church bulletin, shellfish recipes in an orthodox Jewish church bulletin...

[MrB]

When have you ever seen any “atheist” attack any religion except Christianity (or Judaism)?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Reminds me of a cartoon where there's this huge, 150-meter high flaming letter N with a bunch of devotees dancing and bowing before it:

... and this one kinda skeptical-looking guy says to the other guy,

<

"Hmm.... Is Nothing Sacred?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Reminds me of the joke about the Baptists who converted and became Unitarians. They still got every Sunday to go to Church, only they couldn’t remember why.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I meant “got UP every Sunday.” I always hit the post button too fast.

[Sarajevo]

They say it's time for soldiers without religious belief to publicly proclaim their views.

It's just another special interest group.

Actually, I wish that I would have thought of something like that......Guard duty-oh no! It's against my religion.

[wbarmy]

He is right, they are different. He mocks Islam in public and one of them will try to off him. he has every reason to be worried and cowardly. Christians won’t attack him, usually, so he can get a free shot in and think himself brave.

[Jaidyn]

The military, or anyone could give them anything they wanted, but it is impossible for them to have enough. Only Christians can claim that.

[Jack Hammer]

Let me guess - none has ever been under fire.

[thethirddegree]

Put them at the front of the line in the fiercest fighting, along with all the “gays”.