Thursday, June 27, 2013

No Non-Believers To Serve

A friend form the Atheist/Agnostic parent group we went to back when we lived in Washington recently posted this article on group's Facebook board. Colorado's Representative Jared Polis proposed legislation that would allow non-religious chaplains to serve the growing number of non-religious service members; the proposal was defeated 150 to 274.

Several of my friends shared their opinion on it, and while we agreed that indeed it was a step in the right direction to even bring up a bill like that, it is disheartening listening to the elected congressmen and –women explaining their decision to vote against the bill. Atheists, secular humanists, or ethical culturists would not be able to provide proper service as chaplains. They would call fallen comrades “worm food”(Texas Rep. Mike Conaway) and upset the wounded or dying soldiers; Louisiana's Rep. John Fleming went as far as calling the proposal "a mockery". Again, the same old prejudice. Again, the bias against a group of people that is ever-growing (the number of non-religious soldiers in the military may be as high as 25%, according to the article), but sill screamed down so often. I, myself, have faced prejudice and alienation by people for my non-belief. On the other hand, I have experienced people coming up to me with an open mind and sincere questions, which I always appreciate.

Something that has been lacking for a long time and must be engrained in society again is tolerance and acceptance. This is a country made of people from many countries, with different traditions, different skin colors, different customs, and also different faiths. So why is it so scary for many people to wrap their heads around non-believers? We are just another group in this big old melting pot. There are good people among us, those who strive to be as good as they can, those that only care for themselves, and bad ones, like in any other group of people. I have met so many deeply caring people, doctors, nurses, whole-hearted mothers who have raised amazing kids, teachers, artists, you name it, just like in any other group.  

I have met others, too.  But I have honestly never met someone cruel enough to do what we are accused to by these congressmen. Yes, an Atheist chaplain would probably not tell a soldier about heaven awaiting him, but he would be just as fit to accompany a soldier on his last path. He will be just as qualified to provide solace and support to family members and comrades. A Hindu or Buddhist chaplain probably do things different than a Christian chaplain, and so would an Atheist one. There are so many ways of providing chaplain services to those needing them, since there are people of many believes in this world. 

As a question back to the people who claim an Atheist chaplain cannot serve a Christian soldier: if your claim is true, how can a Christian chaplain serve a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, or Atheist soldier? In that case, a chaplain of about every (non-) faith has to be attached to a unit, in order to ensure that every solder is provided with proper service. Near impossible, I dare to claim. It is a fact that the number of non-religious people - and soldiers - including those that are not attached to any church or unsure about their believes, is increasing, and there should be chaplains available to serve them.

As some of you may know, I have been an Army wife. Back when we were engaged and Richard needed the leave pass from his commander, he sent him to see a chaplain for pre-marital councelling. I was confused that this councelling would not include me, but found out shortly after why. Obviously, the chaplain briefed my husband that he should be assured that he did not have to marry me, even if I was pregnant (which I was not), that it was ok to just "have a little" fun without having to get married right away. And when Richard insisted that he had his heart set on marrying me, he gave him this book. Well, it was in the trash before the weekend was over.I wonder how this Protestant chaplain served my Atheist husband. Thinking about it, I wonder how this particular chaplain would have served any soldier. Maybe this person was just a total failure in his job, but it was a somewhat memorable experience with a Christian chaplain. He did not take the time to listen to Richard, to get to know him and learn about his motivations; he did not include me at all, even though I was a major part of this impending marriage. And when he had the impression that he couldn't change Richard's mind - and heart - he just gave him a book, which could only serve as to light the grill.

What is your opinion of non-religious chaplains in the military? I'd love to hear your opinion!

10 comments:

  1. There is a fine line that can't be crossed when it comes to Chaplains. We were lucky that we had a Chaplain that did not push his religious beliefs on anyone but he was there as a friend and mentor to listen. It was much more beneficial that way.

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    1. Thanks for your input, Jen! Maybe this particular guy was just completely incompetent, but to call our (or better his) experience weird would not do it justice. I just wanted to say that it does not necessarily depend on the religious believes of a chaplain but the people skills, compassion, the desire and calling to help and support in the most extreme situation, endurance, etc.

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  2. Can I just say that I am religious, but I still believe when we die we become worm food. As a fundamentalist I do not believe in heaven or the fire and brimstone of hell, nor do I believe in the everlasting soul. If a chaplain came to me talking about heaven I would have to politely tell him that I do not believe a word he is saying, and it is no comfort to me even on my deathbed. I do not see why a chaplain cannot be atheist. Just because they don't believe in God doesn't mean they cannot be sensitive to an individual's needs (even more so than your husband's chaplain apparently.) Most atheists I have met are quite happy to live and let live when it comes to others' religious beliefs, I cannot believe you still get pigeonholed as heretics.

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    1. Thank you so much for your comment. Could you explain to me what "fundamentalist" means? In the U.S., this would be an ultra-religious person, threatening hell left and right to everyone who doesn't agree with their opinion to the point on the "i", which is obviously not you! That is exactly my opinion, that a chaplain has to come with a certain set of people skills, religion should not be the key to this position. But obviously, the majority of congressmen and -women do not know yet, that Atheists or other non-believers can be just as compassionate, empathic, and sensitive to other's feelings as a religious people can, and that a religious person does not necessarily have those skills. Sad, sad!

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    2. Well that explains why people look at me with such horror when I say I'm a fundamentalist. Basically it means we take the translations of the bible literally. Where catholics say hell and mean fire and brimstone, fundamentalists say hell and mean underground. By that logic everyone who is buried when they die goes to hell, because hell is everything underneath the surface of the earth. We follow similar beliefs to Jehovas Witnesses, but there are some major differences between the two religions. (We dont go door to door like JW's) The actual name of the religion I was brought up following is Christadelphian. They aren't that big here in Australia but they have their followers all over the world. I hope this clears some things up for you :)

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    3. Thanks for the explanation. I guessed that "fundamentalist" means something totally different than in the U.S. from what you've written, so I was just interested. I'll probably google for some more details, but thank you for sharing!!

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  3. Hmm seems a touchy subject. I'm pretty unfamiliar, except I can't see why it wouldn't be allowed as long as they functioned as they should. I don't feel anyone should push any religion/agenda. Unless that is their purpose? I'm pretty clueless there.

    Very sad to hear about what the one told your husband. Pretty lame :-(

    "Something that has been lacking for a long time and must be engrained in society again is tolerance and acceptance. This is a country made of people from many countries, with different traditions, different skin colors, different customs, and also different faiths."

    I full heartedly agree with this!

    Also, the mention about the type of people that are atheist - there are naturally "good" and "bad" apples in all various walks of life/beliefs/cultures. People seem to focus on the bad and then condemn everyone associated. This is seen over and over again.

    Jak at The Cryton Chronicles & Dreams in the Shade of Ink

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    1. The chaplains' job is mainly tending to soldiers' spiritual and mental needs. Especially during the wars, their role has become important since there's a big stigma for soldiers seeking help from therapists or psychologists for traumata. For a mental health professional, you need a referral, so your commander and all the other soldiers will find out. If you go see a chaplain, it's fine. Si it is important, in my opinion, to have also non-theist chaplains that are able to better serve the growing number of non-theist or agnostic soldiers.

      It is really narrow-sighted to judge people by groups they associate with. I tend to take people the way they are, every person has the potential to be a friend.

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  4. I, too, an unfamiliar with the chaplain process in the Army, so I fear to say too much because I don't want to come across as having an opinion on a topic I know nothing about. However, I will say this: true Christians offer the same solace to everyone. The Jesus that I know walked among prostitutes, thieves and beggars and treated them as equals, offering only faith, hope and love, not judgment and arrogance.

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    1. Chaplains are basically soldier ministers. But with an increasing number of non-theist soldiers, it would make more than sense to have non-theist "ministers" that can tend to the soldiers in good and bad times. I don't want to say that there aren't good Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, etc. chaplains in the Army, but there are definitely worthless ones as well. What amazes me once again is that people reject the notion that non-theists can be just as suitable offering these services as religious people. We're not insensitive bastards as portrayed!

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