K9ner:

Why does wanting time off during the holidays have anything to do with being atheist? Now if he said he wanted time off to go to church I guess that would raise some flags.

And the Oath thing is pretty common, I hear "swear or affirm" often doing reenlistment ceremonies... it allows both the one giving and taking the oath to be happy.

Again, my concern is will I be at a disadvantage as an acknowledged Atheist when it comes to promotions and opportunities to lead? I know that there significant portions of the Army that believe in these things so deeply that they can't look past it.

When it all said and done if that atheists is in the heat of battle in Iraq, he's gonna pray to the Atheist God to get him the heck to safety.

I have yet to meet an atheist in the foxhole.

So you are saying that an atheist will be praying to something they don't believe in to help them leave a battle? Well, olschoolz you are obviously seriously confused about atheism! Atheism, as an explicit position, either affirms the nonexistence of gods, or rejects theism. There is no Atheism God, as it is the belief that there are no gods! Simply put, being in a fire fight would not change the person's mind about the existance of a God!

quote:

Originally posted by olschoolz:
When it all said and done if that atheists is in the heat of battle in Iraq, he's gonna pray to the Atheist God to get him the heck to safety.

I have yet to meet an atheist in the foxhole.

I can't stand people like you that make these comments. I have been in plenty of situations in both Iraq and Afghanistan and NEVER once said "God, please...(insert whatever)"

You know what I say? "Jamie, I love you." That's how I get through things.

Better yet I would hope I thought about my loved ones and then used my head to get myself out of that situation.

I have more "faith" that battle buddies and my M16 will answer my "prayers" than any deity.

Yes that's what he wanted time to go to church and remember what the holiday is really for. So of course flags go up since he is an Atheist, which was not always the case, he used to say what religion he practiced but it has been a while so I can't remember. This soldier honestly had several issues while I was in that unit with him. I hardly believe he did not get promoted because he is Atheist, I know his Chain of Command, and other Soldiers that he was deployed with. Now I was not there but having worked with this unit, and really knowing what this Soldier is like I find it hard to believe that he is not being promoted because he will not pray before a mission.

Oh and as for his being tracked down while deployed to be harrassed, please that unit had more worries then that, try the Soldiers sent to Walter Reed, the one that was KIA, again I know a lot of them and that was the least of their worries.