Evasive Action: Is A Marine Base Discriminating Against Atheists?

[Adsos Letter]

Source:
Wall of Separation
Jan 11, 2013
by Simon Brown

There’s an old (and inaccurate) military saying that there are no atheists in foxholes. If the brass at Camp Pendleton in California gets its way, however, there may not be any atheists welcome at the base, period.

As reported by Sgt. Justin Griffith, military director for American Atheists, the U.S. Marine base outside San Diego recently denied a request to host the second-ever atheist festival on a military base even though religious groups have been given base access.

Griffith said in a blog post that Camp Pendleton rejected the festival on several grounds, citing: “too expensive,” “too little manpower,” “all-day rally” and “8,000 attendees.”

......

Curiously, those in charge of the base haven’t shown the same concerns about events put on at Camp Pendleton by Armor of Light, the military wing of the evangelical Christian Calvary Chapel. The California based group, which has been embroiled in child sex abuse scandals, has held events at the base for more than a decade, including a concert for 15,000 people in 2009.

https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/evasive-action-is-a-marine-base-discriminating-against-atheists

Curious whether any atheists in the group have any further insight on this particular case.

[Recursion]

1. Huh. Pendleton command was pretty tolerant when I was there

A lot can change in 10 years, though.

[cleanhippie]

4. Its not that they are being intolerant, it is that they are treating groups differently...

The Calvary Chapel group and Christians get money and Command support while no one else does.

http://freethoughtblogs.com/rockbeyondbelief/2013/01/11/americans-united-calls-marine-corps-out-for-discrimination/

[Decka]

2. Doesn't add up

Well, Athiesm isn't a religion, it's a group denying the existance of God. So comparing it to a religious group's access on base doesn't really add up.

A comparable analogy would be if thousands of marine base occupants wanted to put on a huge NFL superbowl party, thrown by the base, and costing tons of money. I'd expect the base to simply say "Go throw your own party".

[cleanhippie]

3. Here is some reading for you to help you understand this issue.

It is about equal treatment under the law.

http://freethoughtblogs.com/rockbeyondbelief/2013/01/11/americans-united-calls-marine-corps-out-for-discrimination/

[Goblinmonger]

6. Though I agree that atheism isn't a religion

you do know that the SCOTUS has ruled that atheists do get 1st Amendment religious protections. This would apply here.

[cbayer]

7. Welcome to DU and to the religion group, Decka.

Seems to me that it shouldn't make any difference whether one is a religion or not. If one group can do it with the support of the base, the other should be able to as well.

Or both should be prohibited, as you note in your sports comparison.

[cbayer]

5. This is wrong. They should not be able to allow one and not the other.

[Adsos Letter]

8. I agree.

It's my opinion that the military should avoid sponsorship of any of these types of gatherings. Just mho, of course.

[cbayer]

9. I agree about sponsorship for sure.

Providing space might be ok if it is available to any group, but sponsorship would seem to be a 1st amendment violation.

I tried to find another take on it and found only one article, which I couldn't get to open. I would like to read something from the base's perspective though.

[rug]

10. Apparently.

"Camp Pendleton Rejects Atheist Music Festival"

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/jan/14/camp-pendleton-rejects-atheist-festival/