Atheists in Foxholes News 13 July 2011
MAAF has selected 37 recent articles of interest in the areas of atheism & humanism in the media and military, and in the area of church-state separation. This month includes a special international section. An Austrian gained approval to wear a Pastafarian collander as religious headgear in his driver’s license photo. The Bangladeshi Prime Minister is touting secular humanism as a way her country can thrive among larger, more sectarian neighbors. UK authorities are having to rush through laws to try to prevent sectarian violence in soccer/football events.
American Atheists was in the news for its national 4th of July airplane-towed banner ads. Although many states had no pilots willing to fly the ads, AA shows resolve to increase the visibility of atheism nationwide. Charles Darwin descendant Matthew Chapman put out his new movie “The Ledge” which specifically promotes the atheist philosophy with big budget actors.
MAAF has posted several positive stories of success around the world with local groups, positive advances at the military academies, and measurable policy changes in support of atheists and humanists. Nonetheless issues continue. Army Chaplain Ken Bolen of the 25th Infantry Division in Alaska writes, “for lifelong joy and peace, a relationship with God is the only anchor that’s been found over the thousands of years of human existence.” In an otherwise positive article, nontheistic soldiers in his unit would be left wondering how such a chaplain could truly represent their joyous and peaceful humanist philosophy. Army Reserve Chaplain Michael Milton tells of consistent proselytism in his military ministry and at the Army War College (denied vigorously by War College officials).
Links below to these stories and more.
Atheists in the military
- Helping Out a Foxhole Atheist, Friendly Atheist
- The Humanist in the Foxhole, NY Times
- Group Claims Military Needs Atheist Chaplains, Christian Broadcasting Network
- Atheist UK Navy medic denied conscientious objection, U TV
- Bradley Manning’s Army of One, New York Magazine
- Story of WWI Draft-dodging atheist conversion
Atheists in Foxholes disparaged
Separation of Church and State
- LDS advises leadership against politics, CNN
- Christian writer promotes church politics, CBN
- Issaquah, WA school recognizes World Humanist Day
- Iowa State football hires Baptist Chaplain, Pharyngula
Church-State Issues in the Military
- New Legal Challenge for Ft Bragg Rock Beyond Belief, Fayetteville Observer
- Houston Veterans Affairs defends separation of church and state
Atheism and Humanism in the Media
- American Atheists run national air banner campaign, Detroit Free Press
- NBC Right to use original, secular Pledge, Opposing Views
- Maher on Apatheism, video, CNN
- The Ledge Responses, video, CNN
- Andy Thomson speaks at the American Atheists Convention, video
- Libertarians vs Liberals, Freethought Arizona
- Ledge Movie director Matt Chapman about the atheists closet, HuffPo
- The right to live equals a right to die, Kevorkian was right
Atheism and Humanism International News
- UK pushes through religious hate crime law in advance of football season
- Bangladeshi Prime Minister touts Secular Humanism, Sydney Morning Herald
- Australian atheist PM opposes gay marriage, Boston Herald
- Science in the Islamic world, Chronicle of Higher Education
- Austrian Pastafarian wears ‘religious’ colander in license; seeks faith recognition
- BBC Trust denies humanist thoughts for the day
Atheists In Foxholes Blog Recap
- National Chaplains Organization Reflects on Atheists
- Local military humanists continue to thrive
- Humanists reach out to injured hero
- Open Letter: Chaplain Support of Atheists
- Air Force Academy Makes Strides in Religious Respect
- Military academy chaplain services extended to atheists
- Religious Groups Criticize Houston VA for Respecting Families’ Wishes
- Chaplain Reports on Proselytism at Army War College