Military Nearly Pulls Atheist from Graduation Ceremony After He Refuses to Bow Head and Clasp Hands

[SecularMotion]

Sometimes, people in leadership positions just assume everyone believes in God. It’s not that they’re trying to force their religion onto you; they just don’t know any better — like a teacher who tells every student to stand up and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, not understanding that it’s perfectly fine if a student doesn’t want to say that we’re living in a nation “Under God.”

It’s even worse in the military — when commanding officers tell you to pray along with everyone else, not realizing that some soldiers may not believe in god and don’t want to bow their heads. How do you tell your superiors that you’re not going to follow that particular order?

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2011/11/18/military-nearly-pulls-atheist-from-graduation-ceremony-after-he-refuses-to-bow-head-and-clasp-hands-in-prayer/

[Fumesucker]

1. Oh, they know...

That's what makes them such assholes about it..

[piratefish08]

2. .

:puke:

[Bandit]

3. No religious tests.....

I know the constitution and the Military are often at odds but in this particular case I don't think they have a foot to stand on..

[LWolf]

4. For the record,

in my 28 years in public ed, it is administrators who mandate the pledge.

They mandate the daily routine, the standing quietly. They aren't able to mandate that anyone, including teachers, actually SAY it.

I HAVE been guilty of making sure that they stand quietly and respectfully. Why? Because an administrator, my BOSS, ordered me to.

I hear the military is even stricter about following orders.

Which orders are members of the military allowed to ignore?

a disclaimer that sadly, shouldn't be necessary:

I am not suggesting that mandating pledges and prayers is acceptable. I don't say the pledge myself, and frequently have to explain that to students who ask. I don't pray on command. I don't think anyone should have to.

I am simply saying that there are situations in which people follow orders.

[brooklynite]

5. Did anyone notice the ad copy attached to the blogpost at FRIENDLY ATHEIST?

A web ad for the National Guard, showing someone in military fatigues holding a Bible, with the tagline: "You are Needed Here"?

[jeff47]

6. It's a google ad. Which one you get is based on the site and your browsing history

When I looked at it, there was an ad for soup.

[brooklynite]

7. I understand that; I'm responding to the form of the NG's advertising...

[jeff47]

8. Was it actually the NG, or someone else trying to get more evangelicals in the NG?

Efforts by outside groups are why the Air Force is so highly evangelical now.

[brooklynite]

10. Actual NG...more details about the ad campaign here:

http://rockbeyondbelief.com/2011/07/31/national-guards-new-religious-ads-only-some-of-you-are-needed-here/

[Rex]

9. Why would anyone that believed in God join the military?

Thou shall not kill. I mean, I can see why someone that wants to heal others joins, but how can someone that wants to go to heaven become an 11bangbang? Or do we get to ignore the 10 commandments?

[snooper2]

Last time I checked god(s) didn't help you with higher learning

:rofl:

[snooper2]

11. Last time I checked god(s) didn't help you with higher learning

:rofl:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Albert Einstein

"He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, senseless brutality, deplorable love-of-country stance, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action! It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder." Albert Einstein