Atheism under Fire

Summary:

Soldier is openly discriminated against for not being Christian while on tour in Iraq. He sues the DoD and Secretary of Defense - but he's not suing for money, he's suing them to change their policies on faith in the service.

While I applaud him, I really do, I can't help but think this will prove ultimately ineffective. The DoD does not condone what was done to him. The Secretary of Defense does not condone it either. However, because each individual command has a near autonomous control over it's personnel, commands separately develop "climates." This means that while one base appears to be full of bitter, system-bucking, party-animals another command might literally be polar opposite. This culture takes years to build and does not change quickly. Policies and directives are a start, but they only go as far as they are enforced. And when it comes to Faith, some Commanding Officers follow the policies and directives differently then others. It isn't right - but it happens. 

It happens a lot because the normal tight-lipped soldier will say nothing. He isn't stupid. His supervisor, his supervisor's supervisor, and so forth all answer to a Commanding Officer who has decided to enforce Christianity at his command. If he raises the issue on this, he knows he will be contending with - literally - his entire command against him while the very slow wheels of military bureaucracy roll into action possibly years later. While those wheels are starting to roll, his career is over, he's getting the absolute worst assignments, and he has his entire chain of command actively searching for a reason to take disciplinary action against him. It's a courageous fight to raise an issue like this - but have no doubt, this soldier is a pariah at his command now.

I don't know how to fix it. As an atheist, I saw some of the same things he brings up in this article, but not to the extent he advertises in his case. I had to swear on a bible. I had to listen to prayers over our announcing circuits. I had to stand watch on Sunday morning (not forced, just sorely encouraged) so that Christians could go to church.

I only hope something good - something effective - comes out of this. Because this soldier has already given up his career to start the ball rolling.

The Real 'What Would Jesus Do?' List

Jesus Christ, by all means, was a pretty interesting guy.

A Jew who rose up against the conventional elders of the Church and completely re-wrote the book on the requirements for salvation.

He said, above all else, to love your neighbor. Now, meaning this figuratively, he meant that every human being deserved as much love as any member of your family. All humans were equal, according to Christ, even the Gentiles. And, "What you do for the least of my brothers, you do for me."

Oh, how I wish more American Christians actually did this, or even attempted to. The irony is adopting the mantle 'Christ-Like' in America comes commiserate with lots and lots of Hate. Otherwise all of these people wouldn't be Christians, they'd be regular people... agnostics.

Pat Robertson, in June 2005, called for the Assassination of Hugo Chavez after Chavez criticized American policies.

Rep. Vitter of Louisiana admits to calling an escort service and it is alleged that he solicited prostitutes from it.

George W. Bush invaded Iraq and Afghanistan with the full support of God (ask him, he said so!).

The list goes on and on and on really...

But from the list I have surmised a brief list of 'What would Jesus do?' replies.

When faced with someone who doesn't like him, Jesus would ask his friends or followers to kill him.

When faced with nothing to do for the weekend, Jesus would get a hooker.... one named Mary maybe.

When Jesus's neighbor's son came over killed Jesus's son, he'd go over and kill that boy - and his father for raising him that way.

If Jesus's neighbor was Gay, Jesus would hate him and excomunicate him.

If someone came along and asked Jesus for a dollar, Jesus would flip him the bird and tell him to get a job.

If someone offered to pay Jesus to 'bless his company with more money,' Jesus would ask for a huge donation to his 'Salvation Fund' first.

If Jesus was married, he'd have sex with every woman except his wife - but he wouldn't wear a condom, because Jesus doesn't believe in condoms.

Cheers!

(Sorry for no big brother post... this came up and I had to put it in.... feel free to add your own 'What would Jesus Do?' hypocricies)