Why be good?

[Randy Carson]

As you may know, the aphorism "there are no atheists in foxholes" originated in World War II though the actual source of the quote is uncertain. Aphorisms express general truths spoken or written in memorable form, so while the universality of the experience it expresses may be questioned, I question whether "each and every one" of the marines and soldiers you spoke with would agree with your assertion. Here's why:

According to Wikipedia, 



We have two different sets of data, yours and Wansink's, that point in opposite directions. Since your anecdotal evidence seems at odds with the formal research performed by Wansink, I can't help wondering if there isn't some problem with your methodology or a bias in your reporting of the data you collected. 

Maybe not, but I do have a question for you, Mike:

Are you suggesting that I should believe your eye-witness testimony concerning what you observed and reported in your written account above?

How does that survey say anything about atheists? It says that most religious people rely on religion more when staring at death. If anything, the data corroborates my experience. I sat in groups over two years with thousands of Marines. The overwhelming majority of them were very religious. I'm sure that helped them in battle. I didn't say anything about them losing their religion on the battlefield. (Although some few did.) That survey says absolutely nothing about atheists in foxholes.

As my experience is anecdotal, you should take it at that. If you choose to not believe that there are Marines and Soldiers out there that are smart enough to not buy into your death cult, I know ignorance is bliss. Have at it.

Let me ask a different way.

If you were called before a congressional committee investigating problems in the Veterans Adminstration, would you be willing to testify under oath to what you wrote?