"There are no atheists in foxholes!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheists_in_foxholes

What do you think? I think this would apply to most people....with the exception of extreme cases like Richard Dawkins. 😂

Maybe for some. I'd imagine these people would be people who once had a strong belief, became an atheist, then something happened in which they'd usually turn to God or something and felt alone maybe.

I've had tons of family die and I've nearly been killed a few times too, didn't look to a non existent God to help.

There is nothing really attractive about Atheism, you just look for the truth, and it is hard for some to grasp the fact that when you die there is nothing, there is no God who hears your prayers, people you hate will not go to hell, the Bible/Qur'an/Tanakh was wrote by men and is a bunch of fairy tales etc...

I think the majority of atheists are happy and content in their lives, and see the futility in praying or whatever in times of stress/fear.

Though I don't know about Atheistic Foxes.... hmmmm...

If that's the case when they're at war, their beliefs are probably more Agnostic than Atheist.

I'd probably be stressed or scared in such trying situations, but it wouldn't make me pray to a God I don't believe in, nor see any good reason to.

...and for the record, I have no problem with prayer. It's about making yourself mindful, aware, thankful, or whatever else...and it can be healthy to do those things for anyone. But you certainly don't have to be on your knees, with folded hands praying to God, to do so.

I think another problem is that many people who leave religion have a "falling out" that is more spiritual and/or emotional. They can't feel God in their lives. Others leave for purely intellectual reasons. I've met and known both kinds of atheists (I would fall primarily into the latter), and it's probably the first group that would be more inclined to find their faith again in times of duress.

When I tell people I'm atheist (my family is Christian) most assume that the falling out happened. They want to know "what happened?" Nothing "happened"...it was just an accumulation of information that eventually made it impossible for me to believe what I once did.

So I realize that my case study isn't a valid statistical analysis, but it seems like there are more errant religious people from the first category than the second, which would lead to the statement in the thread's title.

Originally posted by Quiero Mota
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheists_in_foxholes

What do you think? I think this would apply to most people....with the exception of extreme cases like Richard Dawkins. 😂

I think it is utter nonsense and extremely offensive.

Tell ya what, if I found myself in a situation, I'd be praying to everything and everybody. Maybe if I prayed to the wrong thing, the right thing might catch wind of it and help me. 😱 😂

Save my assssssssssssssssssssssss! I'll be a good girl, I promise. crybaby

A response from retired Master Sergeant Gid L. White. After Katie Couric declared that there were no atheists in foxholes on a TV newscast:

Dear Miss Couric,

While there is nothing wrong highlighting in the program the role that religion has played in the American Armed Forces, I find your mindless parading of that silly old aphorism, “there are no Atheists in foxholes,” to be thoughtless and downright offensive to the families of uncountable numbers of atheists, and I include Agnostics, who gave their lives wearing the uniform of the American Armed Forces. Yes, there are, and always have been Atheists, both draftees and volunteers on the battlefield, many of whom bare the scars of war or are ironically buried below white crosses in battlefields throughout the world.

I’m in a position to know. After initially being nominated to WestPoint, I enlisted in the United States Army as a Private in 1964, where I served 21 years on active duty retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1985. As one who is not shy about proclaiming my firm non-belief in any supernatural nonsense, religious or otherwise, I became aware of literally thousands of fellow Atheists in uniform all over the world. Some were overt and public about their beliefs. Some were not. But all were willing to lay down their lives if necessary. Many did.

The military is fully aware of the existence of Atheists in uniform, and in fact makes specific allowances for us in the oath enlistment. In the oath there is a clear choice. We can swear before God, the Great Pumpkin, or whatever, to serve our country. Or we can affirm the oath. There are no bibles or other sacred books used in this oath unlike for some political offices. The only item required to be present is the American Flag. All my reenlistments were affirmed as were hundreds of others I witnessed. Under affirmed oath I personally encountered dozens of soldiers wearing purple hearts bronze stars and at least five silver stars. Among them were Special Forces, Rangers, and Intelligence Officers, Artillerymen, Tank Crewmen, Cooks, Paratroopers, Combat Medics, Truck Drivers, and Infantrymen. There are no atheists in foxholes? I beg to differ.

Preachers may blather on about serving for “God and country,” but as any number of combat studies have proven, that is “pure crap,” to use a traditional military term. Soldiers certainly do enlist for patriotic motives and many of them no doubt have deeply held religious beliefs, but this is not why in the heat of combat they risk their lives. They risk their lives for their fellow soldiers, to not let their comrades down, and to secure the survival of their buddies and themselves by getting the job done as rapidly and brutally as possible.

Broadcasting a feel good puff-piece on religion is all well and good, but perpetuating the nonsense that only religious zealots defend their country is not only offensive but demonstrably wrong. Most Atheists and Agnostics in uniform get stuck with the Army’s famous euphemism of “no religious preference” on their dog tags. But mine simply said “Atheist,” after some initial arguments with my superiors. I am offended by your comments primarily in memory of the silent masses of non believers who did not make it back to object to your treatment of their deeply help beliefs. I believe you and NBC owe them an apology.

Gid L. White

Master Sergeant, United States Army (Ret)

http://freeforum.wordpress.com/2007/05/28/katie-couric-no-atheists-in-foxholes/

👆

I think that's the first time I've been in agreement with a military leader in months, if not years.

I always catch myself praying to God, "incase he exists" in the event where someone I love is in trouble, and there is nothing I can do to help them.

Or when I drop off a relative to an area I am unfamiliar with, and plan to pick them up later. Since I cannot be there, I hope if God does exist, he will protect them.

I have many reasons as to why I do not beleive God exist, and even more so I am definately 100% convinced that Heaven and Hell don't exist.

However, if there is some God, or whatever, I don't want this wrathful being to take out anything on my loved ones. If he/it wants to punish me for not beleiving, then punish me alone, but my family who DO beleive in God should still be protected and rewarded.

Point is, I see no harm in praying. If there is a God then he or she will hear me out and protect those I love. If there is no God, then I was simply talking to myself, and no harm will come from it.

I can't reference this because i can't remember the source, but i read that a number of vietnam vets loss their faith as a result of the atrocities they witnessed during war.
I was shelled in Iraq lots of times and i certainly did not find religion.

Originally posted by Jim Reaper
I can't reference this because i can't remember the source, but i read that a number of vietnam vets loss their faith as a result of the atrocities they witnessed during war.
I was shelled in Iraq lots of times and i certainly did not find religion.

None that would be

Originally posted by Quiero Mota
"There are no atheists in foxholes!"

What do you think? I think this would apply to most people....with the exception of extreme cases like Richard Dawkins. 😂

I think that it is less an argument against atheists, then it is an argument agains foxholes.

Originally posted by Quiero Mota
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheists_in_foxholes

What do you think? I think this would apply to most people....with the exception of extreme cases like Richard Dawkins. 😂

Why would some one start praying to a God they don't beleive exists though, it doesn't make sense to me. If you are one of those people who would start praying then clearly you are not an atheist, I would call such people cowards.

The idea is that all humans are born believing in god, usually whichever god the observer believes in, so that when put into a life threatening situation, their quarrel with god is put aside and they count on god to get them out of it.

its very simlpe. given that you ARE in a situation where you have NO1 and nuthing seperates/cares/protects you from an eternal death. FEAR would drive many people to try and grab a hold of the closest reality they know which according to its attributes WOULD help them.

i thought this was understood. fear is one of the major{if not THE major} founding and driving force of people's belief in dogmatic relegions. i wouldnt call them cowards at all. its only human. just like if a fundamentalist's kid's were about to be murdered according to the law of the old testament and the death punishment it perscribes for speaking against your parents{talmut}.

reguardless of the situation, before a kid is beheaded, a parent {most} would say **** THE LAW I DONT BELEIVE IN THIS SHIT and run and try to prtect their children.

it can not be used as a scornful/sarcastic opposition to atheistic inclinations any more than fear of death could be used as a test for TRUE faith of a beleiver.

Originally posted by Adam_PoE
I think that it is less an argument against atheists, then it is an argument agains foxholes.

- James Morrow

Completely ignorant.

People only start to believe in God when their lives are threatened, their friends are threatened, their family, they are skydiving, taking painful shits or what have you. At none of these times does anyone "feel" God, they hope.

Also, it completely ignores the opposite. Many faithful individuals, after going through high stress cease to believe in their previous beliefs. You can read all about it in "Night" by Ellie Weisel. A book everyone should read about the struggles of a boy who spent some time in Auschwitz.