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Quote:Strange as it sounds, groups representing atheists and secular humanists are pushing for the appointment of one of their own to the chaplaincy, hoping to give voice to what they say is a large — and largely underground — population of nonbelievers in the military.
Joining the chaplain corps is part of a broader campaign by atheists to win official acceptance in the military. Such recognition would make it easier for them to raise money and meet on military bases. It would help ensure that chaplains, religious or atheist, would distribute their literature, advertise their events and advocate for them with commanders.
But winning the appointment of an atheist chaplain will require support from senior chaplains, a tall order. Many chaplains are skeptical: Do atheists belong to a “faith group,” a requirement for a chaplain candidate? Can they provide support to religious troops of all faiths, a fundamental responsibility for chaplains?
Jason Torpy, a former Army captain who is president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, said humanist chaplains would do everything religious chaplains do, including counsel troops and help them follow their faiths. But just as a Protestant chaplain would not preside over a Catholic service, a humanist might not lead a religious ceremony, though he might help organize it.
“Humanism fills the same role for atheists that Christianity does for Christians and Judaism does for Jews,” Mr. Torpy said in an interview. “It answers questions of ultimate concern; it directs our values.”
Looks like one of the aims is to give atheists the same status and privileges as religious military personnel. The other is to give atheists counselling and support without bringing God into it.
So the article's conflating secular humanism with atheism, wrongly. Certainly, a good proportion of secular humanists are atheists but the article's wrong to automatically assign the label 'atheist' to humanists, even if one of the main proponents is an 'atheist' association.
I'll echo what Cato said. There should be no barrier to freedom of religious expression in the military but that shouldn't be paid for out of taxes. Instead, what soldiers need is support & (sometimes) therapy. Maybe then we'd see fewer veterans with PTSD. It's clear that the current chaplaincy is failing its charge in that regard.
