All for it.
I think a lot of theists erroneously presume that, as atheists, 'we' don't have any thoughts about death or what (if indeed anything) occurs afterwards, and thus by reduction we don't have any needs or requirements when it comes to dealing with situations that involve death.
My interaction with chaplains has been mostly in hospital settings, and even then the majority actually don't bring much religion into it at all. An ear to hear one's thoughts and fears is often all they are, and I'm sure lots of people are thankful for that regardless of whether they agree with the religion they are part of or not.
An atheist chaplain, as I see it, would simply be that ear. Offering words of comfort or showing avenues that can be explored with things like counselling and therapy that any religious chaplain would also do, albeit without the dog collar.
I think a lot of theists erroneously presume that, as atheists, 'we' don't have any thoughts about death or what (if indeed anything) occurs afterwards, and thus by reduction we don't have any needs or requirements when it comes to dealing with situations that involve death.
My interaction with chaplains has been mostly in hospital settings, and even then the majority actually don't bring much religion into it at all. An ear to hear one's thoughts and fears is often all they are, and I'm sure lots of people are thankful for that regardless of whether they agree with the religion they are part of or not.
An atheist chaplain, as I see it, would simply be that ear. Offering words of comfort or showing avenues that can be explored with things like counselling and therapy that any religious chaplain would also do, albeit without the dog collar.
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