Where Did God Go in Afghanistan? An Atheist Writes.

[cleanhippie]

On Nov. 5, 2010, I read an article titled “Where Did God Go in Afghanistan?” by Capt. Michael Cummings. Captain Cummings, who reported his thoughts concerning sparse attendance at religious services in Afghanistan, speculated as to why so few soldiers were willing to attend these services. He stated that he personally could not imagine anyone being in combat without a belief in God, but theorized that being openly religious wasn’t “cool” enough for modern troops and that’s why they failed to attend religious services that were arranged for them.

Throughout his heartfelt article, it was clear that he was distressed by the seeming lack of overt religious practice in combat theater and was bewildered by the cause.

I, however, as an atheist who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, viewed his experience as a reason to hope that the problem of religious coercion in the military has perhaps reached a peak and is starting to subside, at least in some places under some commanders.

--snip--

In both combat theaters, I recall endless and constant mandatory prayer circles being held by small units before military operations at which unit members who elected not to participate risked harassment, rebukes from their peers and supervisors, and even punishments. I recall dining halls decorated with bible verses, units adorned with bibles, and meetings started with Christian prayers. I recall the panic in a young soldier’s voice when he called me to tell me how his approved social meeting of military atheists was intentionally disrupted by an Army officer (a self-described “prayer warrior”) and that he was receiving threats against his life.

--snip--

Things change when commands change, and I have no doubt Captain Cummings will again experience an environment where service members are strongly “encouraged” to attend religious meetings through the implied threat of negative consequences should they fail to conform. I hope when that happens, Captain Cummings recognizes that religious coercion is a blight that destroys morale, creates conflict, and turns friends into foes. I truly hope we are starting to see the end of those days.


http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/16/where-did-god-go-in-afghanistan-an-atheist-writes/



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He's right. What more can I say?

[immoderate]

1. It's a she. Rec'd anyway.

:hi:

--imm

[cleanhippie]

4. Ahh, right. Thanks.

[riderinthestorm]

2. Yup, he's right. K & R.

There's a contingent of DUers however, both past and present military service personnel, who either don't "see" the coercion, or don't recognize it, or don't want believe it's a problem. Posts like this that provide a different perspective always drop. Religion in the military is a huge issue in my opinion. With that chaplain group complaining that repealing DADT will be impossible to reconcile with their beliefs and preachings against homosexuality, there are some questionable legal grounds for any religiously sanctioned activity within the US military.

[Citizen Worker]

3. But none dare call the three wars a crusade. Onward christian soldiers...

[DeSwiss]

5. K&R

I recall how my short quote in a small article in Newsweek magazine, wherein I pointed out the falsehood and absurdity that exists in the statement “there are no atheists in foxholes,” resulted in several military members seeking me out through the government e-mail system to threaten me with rape, abuse, and murder. While I worked in a multifaith, tolerant environment, I recall being afraid, for the first time, of being in physical danger from anyone outside my unit who knew of my atheism and past history as an atheist activist.

- Ah, rape, abuse and murder. Something that all good Christians can support when bringing new recruits into the fold......

:sarcasm:

[westerebus]

6. Abuse and murder.

The author spent twenty years in the Army and rose to the rank of first sargent having done tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. I would think she is familiar with both.

[cleanhippie]

7. kick