The problem with the phrase "There are no atheists in foxholes"

Hemant Mehta ([ Ссылка ], [ Ссылка ] , [ Ссылка ])


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There's a saying I've heard so often that it's practically a cliche by now: "There are no atheists in foxholes."

The idea is that if you're in the middle of a war, and you're in the trenches, then you're under so much stress, that you have to believe in God to protect you. Because no atheists would ever risk their lives like that.

It's a really nasty thing to say about atheists, and it's derogatory toward people of faith as well because it implies that faith and fear go together.

But look: A scared atheist is not a Christian.

It's also objectively untrue. There are atheists in the military. Pat Tillman was a former NFL player who lost his life in war -- he was an atheist.

Also in the military? Baseball legend Ted Williams, author Kurt Vonnegut, and founder of Humanistic Judaism Sherwin Wine. All non-religious. All veterans.

Hans Kasten is less well known, but he served in World War II and was the appointed by his peers to speak for thousands of prisoners of war. He himself was sentenced to die with the Jewish comrades that he refused to betray to the Nazis.

He was an atheist. You think he wasn't scared? I'm sure he was. But he was brave.

There's even a whole organization for atheists in the military: The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers at militaryatheists.org. I'll call them MAAF in this video.

There are atheists who are willing to make a sacrifice for other people, even with the knowledge that there's no reward waiting for them in the afterlife. I'd say that makes them especially courageous.

It's been said before, but if you really believe there are no atheists in foxholes, that says less about atheists and more about foxholes -- that even in our military, you have to keep your godlessness under wraps because it could hurt your career advancement or cause your fellow soldiers to treat you differently.

By the way, according to official Department of Defense records gathered by MAAF, Evangelical Christians make up less than 20% of the military, but more than 60% of the chaplaincy.

There are chaplains for Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and Muslims... but the Navy has rejected a Humanist chaplain, presumably only because he doesn't believe in a god.

They've rejected him even though there are more atheists in the military than people from any non-Christian denomination, according to those same Defense Department records.

Many military leaders seem to have turned their backs on atheists in foxholes.

But yes, there are atheists in foxholes. There are also atheist police officers and fire-fighters. Anyone who says there aren't is ignoring the contributions of countless men and women willing to make that sacrifice.

Every now and then, you hear stories about people who didn't serve in the military but pretend to do so. We are rightfully upset and angry anytime that happens.

Well, I would argue that saying atheists don't serve could also be seen as an act of stolen valor. Don't take this away from them.

So remember that the next time you hear someone say it -- be outraged and let them know about it. Even if you're opposed to war and the military in general, I hope that's not a reason to let this awful cliche stand.

And if you are a foxhole atheist, thank you for your service, and I hope you're able to stand up and declare your non-belief the same way your religious peers do.

You've got support from the atheist community and from groups like MAAF.


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