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My father was an XO in the Navy and I plan on going in as a doctor. It can be stressful being far from home, sometimes in hostile enviroments. The last thing you want is to feel like an outsider within your own crew. Chaplains help remind us why we are out there. If atheists would feel better represented having chaplains of their own, they should have that right. I would imagine an atheist chaplain would preform burials and offer support to struggling atheists on the ship.
I'm not trained in any of those skills, but I would have you talk about time you spent with who ever died, remind you of all the brave things he did and how he was, and will always be remembered as a hero. I would try to remind you that you are making an impact on the world by continuing service and that his death, and you effort aren't all in vain.
The point is that a grieving atheist ins't comforted when hearing their friend is up in heaven with Jesus, because we know that is no more true then saying he has been reincarnated as an eagle. I may not know what to say, but these people are trained to deal with these situations.
Well if they were to put atheist chaplains in, it would help balence out both groups so that the atheists would likely no longer feel the need to push the theist chaplains out.
You're confused like I am (or was before google) from what I have read so far I don't think Chaplains fight, I think they just console the dying, hence the reason everyone's saying they don't have faith so why should they be out there for faith purposes.
Yes yes yes!!! Chaplains is kind of an ironic name but the main purpose for the "chaplains" is mental support for the troops. Do you know what they go through over there? Its unspeakable. If these chaplains can help the atheists we ship overseas then im absolutely all for it.
The whole point of it is so atheists can get together with other atheists. Anyone can go to a councelor but sometimes people need help coming to grips with their mortality that comes with being an atheist. There is no next life. and thats hard to cope with especially when your one life is on the line. A regular concelor cant really help that much, but coming together with an atheist chaplain and other atheists who all share the same ideas can be really supporting for them. And ultimately it comes down to: our soldiers want it. Why not? They risk their lives and die for us and the religious cant put asside their prissy attitudes and sense of entitlement to hire a fucking atheist chaplain for them?
Since it comes down to what our soldiers wants, the religious are getting less and less rights in the military so yea I would agree to an atheist chaplian if the religious got their rights back.
And there you go with the prissy attitude! Who gives a fuck what the religious want? This has absolutely nothing to do with them! We want a seperate chaplain for atheists. End of story. And tell me exactly what RIGHTS the religious DONT have. Or more specifically, ones ATHEISTS have that religious dont?
I was reading these arguments wondering which side I should support. Originally I did not know the significance of this whole thing, asking myself "What is a chaplain?" "Why shouldn't they be allowed to fight for their country?" Then through more reading I learned what they were and what this whole thing was about.
The reason I'm addressing you over others, is your argument:
And ultimately it comes down to: our soldiers want it
Which I absolutely agree with. That is the ultimate question, do they want it, and as it seems like they do, I'm all for it. I mean if prisoners get a last meal, why can't atheist soldiers get an atheist last word?
I assume that the 'chaplian' will be rational, a humanist and be experienced in counseling. It will fulfill the needs of those that needs moral support in a secular context. I will support it.
Chaplains provide needed moral support. For the people out there in active duty in what is typically the most stressful time of their lives, that is an important thing to have. Atheists might not need bible readings, but they need someone to talk to, someone to bury the fallen in a manner that fits their own lifestyle, and most of all someone to remind them that they are not alone.
That is a bit of an oxymoron seeing as how Atheists don't attend any sort of religious ceremonies what would an Atheist chaplain even do. By the way these guys look like militant atheists (budum tish) sorry I couldn't resist.
What rule of being an atheist says we should 'not care at all'? Have you ever been dying? I don't think you have, because if you were I would think you would have more insight into the mindset of someone in that situation. I imagine it's frightful, and they (the atheists) want to die in peace, just like the Christians. So my question to you is, why shouldn't they be allowed that?
Yours is invalid considering it did not address my points. You said as atheists we shouldn't care, I'm saying that as dying soldiers they should be offered something if they want it whether they care or not.