Faith

Non-Theist Soldier Wants U.S. Army to Officially Recognize Humanism as a ‘Faith’ Group

Non Theists Push U.S. Military to Recognize Humanist Soldier | Maj. Ray Bradley

U.S Army Major Ray Bradley is shown at home in Fayetteville, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

RALEIGH, N.C. (The Blaze/AP) — Soldiers who don’t believe in God can go to war with “Atheist” stamped on their dog tags, but humanists and others with various secular beliefs are still officially invisible in the Army.

Maj. Ray Bradley is currently to be the first humanist recognized as a “distinctive faith group leader” by the Army. In the meantime, he can’t be designated as a humanist on his official records or dog tags, although he can be classified as an atheist.

The distinction may not seem like a large one to those unfamiliar with humanism, but the Fort Bragg-based officer says it’s the equivalent of being told that “Christian” is an acceptable designation, but not “Catholic.”

“Humanism is a philosophy that guides a person,” Bradley said. “It‘s more than just a stamp of what you’re not.”

Humanism’s core beliefs range from the assertion that knowledge of the world is derived from observation and rational analysis to the conviction that working to help others also promotes individual happiness.

The issue is another sign of the growing willingness of military personnel at Fort Bragg and other military bases to publicly identify themselves as atheists, agnostics, humanists or otherwise without belief in a supernatural higher power and seek the same recognition granted to Christians, Jews and other believers.

“There are a lot more people with these beliefs than just Major Ray Bradley, but he’s in a position where he can stand up and put in a request for this,” said Jason Torpy, president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers and an Army veteran.

Non Theists Push U.S. Military to Recognize Humanist Soldier | Maj. Ray Bradley

Bradley, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan who enlisted in 1986, is respectful and protective of the Army, and careful to say his views are his own. He said he has been a humanist since before he enlisted, when “No Religious Preference” was his only option. Now he feels getting his official records to match his convictions is an important symbolic point.

“There‘s no regulation that says I can’t go downtown and get a set of tags made that say `humanist,‘ but I won’t do that because it won’t be on my official record,” he said. “To me, this is an individual right.”

A petition campaign organized by Torpy’s group wants “humanist” and “spiritual but not religious” added to the currently available religious designations.

Bradley said he applied for the change to his record after learning that “atheist” was now an officially recognized choice for soldiers. His request was ultimately rejected by the Army Chaplain Corps, he said, which didn’t respond to a request for comment. Bradley believes some of the resistance comes from a lack of familiarity with humanism.

“I don’t think the chaplaincy really understands the difference between atheism and humanism,” he said.

Non Theists Push U.S. Military to Recognize Humanist Soldier | Maj. Ray Bradley

"The Good Book," A Humanist Bible, is shown at the home of U.S Army Major Ray Bradley in Fayetteville, N.C. When Bradley enlisted in the Army in 1986, no one much cared that he was an atheist. Ever since 9/11, though, the Fort Bragg-stationed officer says a climate of Christian fervor has been growing in the Army, leading atheists, agnostics and other nonbelievers to look for ways to make their presence known. Photo: Gerry Broome / AP

Humanism goes beyond a simple statement of disbelief in the existence of a deity or deities, said Howard Katz, president of the Humanist Society, which is sponsoring Bradley’s application to become a lay humanist leader at Bragg.

“Atheism means just that: you don’t believe in God,” Katz said. “You could have an axe murderer who’s an atheist. Humanists have ethics and a philosophy.”

They also have formal “life-cycle celebrations” for occasions like marriages, funerals, even what Katz calls “humanist bar mitzvahs.” Founded in 1939 and chartered as a religious organization, the Humanist Society also certifies celebrants to perform the ceremonies, who then have the same legal authority as members of the clergy.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that humanists and other non-theists in the military are becoming more vocal, because their civilian counterparts are doing the same thing, said Penny Edgell, a sociologist at the University of Minnesota who studies American religion.

“There are lots more organizations for atheists, agnostics and humanists now than there used to be,” she said. “This is an emerging identity.”

The organization of non-theists parallels the mobilization of conservative religious believers in American society, Edgell said. As one group asserts its identity, the other feels the need to respond.

Non Theists Push U.S. Military to Recognize Humanist Soldier | Maj. Ray Bradley

“People are aware that if you’re going to claim it, you have to claim it more strongly,” she said. “There’s kind of a cycle of mobilization.”

The Army currently has no humanist chaplains or laypersons authorized to perform limited chaplain duties, a position roughly equivalent to a deacon or elder in a Christian church. A soldier at Fort Meade, Md., has also filed the paperwork seeking the designation, which is a more formal process in the Army and Navy than in the Air Force, where a humanist lay leader is stationed at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., according to Torpy.

Bradley sees his role as essentially organizing the humanists at Fort Bragg and securing a regular meeting place, for listening to speakers or just gather to talk about their experiences.

“I don’t want to make it sound too religious,” he said with a laugh, after catching himself using the word “congregation.”

“A minority is always much bigger than what‘s visible on the surface until they’re accepted by society,” he said. “Once people realize that their neighbors are part of this minority, and they’re just regular people like anyone else, they become accepted.”

That’s important if non-theists continue to grow in the larger society, said David Segal, director of the Center for Research on Military Organization at the University of Maryland. Surveys vary, but between 15 and 20 percent of Americans now don’t identify with any particular religion, although not all of those people are non-theists.

“There is that trend in society, and we strive to have our military as representative of our society as possible,” he said. “That’s part of the reason the right to serve became so important for blacks, and then women, and then gays. You’ve got that added dimension of military service being a hallmark of citizenship.”

The Blaze has extensively covered non-theists and their quest for religious recognition. One non-believer is planning to build an atheist temple and some soldiers are pushing for atheist military chaplains. These, of course, are only two additional examples. As time progresses, there will surely be others.

Comments (167)

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  • Inlightofthings
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:29pm

    Just more prohibition of religion at work….

    Report Post »  
    • @leftfighter
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:19pm

      This isn’t prohibition of religion.

      What it is, is the blurring of the secular and the religious.

      “Humanism” is the simple name. The full term is “Secular Humanism.”

      Report Post » @leftfighter  
    • Inlightofthings
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 10:38pm

      I stand by my comment. It’s all part of the same initiative…pig on a lipstick thing. “Tactics” and “strategies” are two distinct ways of working toward one common, desired outcome.

      Report Post »  
    • rangerp
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 11:56pm

      humanism should be recognized as a religion, being it is a religious system with its very own saints and all.

      I think recognizing humanism would be a help to us Christians. Humanism is the state sponsored religion, and it instructed in our public schools., It has saints such as Darwin, Dewey, and a whole host of others. It has commandments, such as “if it feels good do it”

      If we can recognize it as a religion, then we can turn around and smack libs in the mouth with the whole “seperation of church and state” argument. Humanis is a religion, it takes faith (take a lot of faith to believe in darwins hogwash) to believe in it.

      It would be a real kick in the pants of libs/dems/progressives to have their own argument used against them.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • Bad_Ashe
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 1:56am

      We all knew that one of them was going to finally ask at some point in time, right? They’ve been leading up to it, while subsequently denying it, for years.

      I’m just glad that one of them was finally honest enough to cop to the fact that Humanism and other organized or militant forms of atheism are simply godless religions.

      Report Post » Bad_Ashe  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 8:58am

      To call them non theist is a lie they’re theist atheist to be correct. Humanist atheist two heads of the same snake. Becasue atheist have made themselves a despised group of vile relentless godless complainers “humanist” are trying to change the perception of atheism by changing the name. The KKK could change their name to the fuzzy bunny society it doesn’t change their message. Humanist atheist secular =GODLESSNESS=IMMORALITY,DEPRAVITY,AND FALL OF SOCIETY

      Report Post »  
    • jado1981
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 9:37am

      Well put Rangerp. I’ve never considered that to be a good option, but you do make a great argument for it.
      -
      On a side note, let them have it on the dog tag and let it say, “when you die, nothing happens” I’m sure that will be really consoling for those who need to have secular humanism written on their tags.

      Report Post »  
    • wvernon1981
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 9:49am

      @RangerP

      Evolution by natural selection only seems like hogwash if you’re completely uneducated about it. I recommend talkorigins for a primer. I’ll mention the few things that turned me to a better understanding of evolution. First, you have body hair like the other apes. Why do you have body hair? It’s not enough to keep you warm and different people have different amounts of it. Second, you have the remnant of an ancestral tail, your tailbone. Your appendix is barely functional relative to te other primates. If you’ve ever looked at the skeletal structure of other animals, it is remarkably similar to our own. When analyzing the genes that code certain proteins, those genes differ in proportion to the expected evolutionary distance between us and other organisms. We share the same ancestral changes to our DNA from viral insertions with chimpanzees.

      Report Post »  
    • SecularConservative
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 12:44pm

      @WVERNON1981

      I tried that whole “reasoning” thing before. It doesn‘t work haha Even if you spoon fed explanations of how science works outside of the bible they majority still wouldn’t be able to comprehend what you’re saying. On the bright side, the ignorance you see here on this website is a small minority that represents the scientific illiterate and does not represent the majority of Americans. Thank God! haha

      Report Post »  
    • rangerp
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 6:01pm

      @wvernon1981

      Wow, it is amazing how similar the creator made us, and then how radically different we are. And he did it in a six day period of time.

      Sure makes you humble when you know that you will one day stand in front of a creator so powerful and so perfect, and answer for every action and word in your life.

      Thanks for the note.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • rangerp
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 6:04pm

      @SecularConservative

      The God of the Bible created the rules and laws of the scienc you study. Read the book of Job and enlighten yourself with all the science in it.

      Report Post » rangerp  
    • esv
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 9:09pm

      @wvernon – Why do you assume that someone has to be completely uneducated in evolution to not believe it. There are those of us who have looked at the evidence and don’t believe in “vertical” evolution but do believe in the obvious “horizontal” evolution that takes place. If you have to be able to slam dunk a basketball by your 21st birthday or die, the human race will be made up of tall people… or people who can jump high. If after 100 years of that the law was changed to favor short people then the human race would start to become short. BUT if we had to grow wings to fly, spit fire, and grow claws to stay alive we would all die. We will never make a vertical step in evolution.

      I respect that you’ve done research and have come to the conclusion you have. But respect that none of us were there. We’re all looking at the same evidence. Some of us will come to a different conclusion. It’s not because of being uneducated. It’s actually pretty ignorant and arrogant on your part.

      Report Post »  
    • Carolina Infidel
      Posted on February 10, 2012 at 8:20am

      @wvernon1981

      I am a secular humanist and have an indepth understanding of evolution. You cannot tout scientific theory as absolute fact. Evolutionary theory has changed a lot just in the past five years and you seem to still be stuck on the 80s version. Before you go educating folks you should educate yourself first. And remember when you only educate yourself on theories you can always be wrong next week.

      The existance of God can neither be proved or disproved. The theory that there is an omnipotent creator carries as much weight as all other theories. Unless of course you are smarter than al the scientists you read. Atheism requires as much Faith as religion. Your faith is in science which by it’s own definition is uncertain and without absolutes. I suggest you try enlightening yourself on both sides of the issue. You may also find a new appreciation for how Christainity and other religions molded the human mind.

      The animal kingdom didn’t provide a moral structure or code of behavior. This is where I break with my own humanism. Without a belief in a higher power or afterlife with eternal reward or damnation humans had no need to be good and moral animals. This began around fires with cavemen and shamans looking to explain what could not be explained and became the religion we know today. We have evolved to believe that there is something out there we don’t know and understand. Sure, in hindsight we all know hwo to behave now, but where did out moral code come f

      Report Post »  
    • Tejada
      Posted on February 11, 2012 at 12:07pm

      Nope. secular humanism is not a religion, just as civil unions certainly are not marriages.

      True religion is the relationship between Jesus and man.
      True marriage is a sacred promise between a man to a woman, a woman to a man, a couple to God, and God to a couple. Believe this is true. It is written in the bible.
      The Religions of this world are beliefs focusing on gods or “god”.
      The Marriages of this world are unions between men and women under gods or “god”.

      While secular humanist have gods in their hearts, they have no explicitly stated god or gods. It cannot be considered a religion for this simple reason.
      For instance of a god in their hearts look to the alleged commitment to “good for goodness sake”. They will find functionality in “good for goodness sake” because it is derived from love and charity in the bible, but their god will fail. It will not deliver them in the end, and this is the truth.

      Report Post »  
    • BUDDY LITTLE
      Posted on February 11, 2012 at 2:36pm

      They should be recognized as a religion,The atheist/humanist are just another religion and it’s time they owned up to it! they say they have no faith?But yet they have faith in themselves and Man’s creations! Their faith and therefore their salvation is in the creations of Man, technology,intellect,medicine these become their christ and the means of their salvation ! When God is taken out of the equation ,then Man by default becomes god!This is also predicted in scripture in the last days “Men will become lovers of themselves” also “They will worship the creature more than the creator”!We are seeing the fulfillment of prophesy! I say let them have their god!

      Report Post »  
  • The Third Archon
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:23pm

    “NON-THEIST SOLDIER…”
    You mean, a-theist, soldier?

    Report Post » The Third Archon  
    • Texas.7
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 1:41am

      Or, in the order of original sin and the Tower of Babel, man would like to make himself a god. There is one who taunts man that he can be a god, but that author of rebellion knows how this ends already. He hates all of us, and wants us to join him in the lake of father- him the first rebel, the first to play god. Worshiping self or idols- they are the same lie.

      Isa 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I [am] the LORD; and [there is] none else. 19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. 20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye [that are] escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god [that] cannot save. 21 Tell ye, and bring [them] near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? [who] hath told it from that time? [have] not I the LORD? and [there is] no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; [there is] none beside me. 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else. 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow

      Report Post »  
    • Texas.7
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 2:00am

      “lake of fire” (I think I clicked on a spell-check suggestion)

      Report Post »  
    • KAdams
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 5:54am

      The ‘a’ in ‘atheist’ means opposite. An atheist is against the idea of ANY god, let alone the God of the universe. It is a refusal of belief, as opposed to a belief in nothing. An atheist says, ‘I don’t believe in God’, or ‘I don’t believe there is a god.’ The statement of faith, or lack thereof gives the baseline for ‘atheism’.

      Non-theism is the same thing, but not quite. Non-theism is closer to agnosticism (another ‘a’ word) than atheism. Gnosticism is the faith in the hidden knowledge, gnosos = hidden. An ‘agnostic’ is not caring either way about said hidden knowledge, including the truth of God. ‘To each is own’ is a good example of an agnostic cliche. Humanism sounds like agnosticism, but with more emphasis put on the good acts of the person, if the motto, (From Santa Clause is Coming to Town, no less…) “Be good for goodness‘ sake’ is any indication.

      Report Post »  
  • football lady
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:54pm

    Did he not get breast fed? More made up “religions.” Good grief.

    Report Post »  
  • Uechi
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:50pm

    Don’t you mean secular humanism? God doesn’t exist and Man is God and the purveyor of rights. I’d pay money to be a fly on the wall when this AH neets his maker!

    Report Post »  
    • justangry
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 8:27pm

      Lovely

      Report Post » justangry  
    • OklahomaBound
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 11:28pm

      They should just stamp “communist” on the tag, that would probably cover it.

      Report Post » OklahomaBound  
    • KAdams
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 5:59am

      Well, if their motto is ‘Be good for goodness sake’, then they have to acknowledge that ‘good’ has to come from somewhere. It’s not inherent in humans, obvioiusly.

      Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:43pm

    If he worried about what Humans THINK… Boy is he ever in the Wrong Profession!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • johnlear
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:28pm

    “marginal” ohio, you just made my point within minutes……thanks……….

    Report Post »  
    • Marengo Ohio Patriot
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:36pm

      no problem johnny! guess im a gift from ‘god’ mmmmhhhhaaaaaa!

      Report Post »  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:41pm

      If I put wheels on my Grandma, can I call her a wagon?…..pfft!

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • Marengo Ohio Patriot
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:54pm

      hmmmm.. TX brings up a most interesting point, indeed… i shall be comptemplating it for the rest of this evening!!!

      Report Post »  
    • LouTheGecko
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:58pm

      Love the grandma to wagon comment! Sums it up.

      Report Post »  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 10:49pm

      @LOUTHEGECKO…….thanks!……Grandma loved the comment as well….

      Report Post » TXPilot  
  • johnlear
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:09pm

    i say good for major bradley…..god, whatever god is, does not judge…………………the hypocrites who say they know what god is, do………………….

    Report Post »  
    • Marengo Ohio Patriot
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:18pm

      why….god is….god! thats who..god is…. don’t you understand, spock?????

      Report Post »  
    • Pontiac
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 12:57am

      Not enough periods in these post……..let me help ya’s out………. There, that should just about do it………….

      Report Post » Pontiac  
    • KAdams
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 6:11am

      God most certainly judges. “Vengeance is mine, saith the LORD”. Christians are supposed to judge righteous judgment, not hypocritical judgment. Don’t know the difference? Open your Bible and pray, God may give you the answer. If not, you can try again tomorrow.

      Report Post »  
    • Pontiac
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 11:28pm

      [If not, you can try again tomorrow.]
      Because god may have missed your question the first time………….

      …..

      Report Post » Pontiac  
  • RightThinking1
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:09pm

    Ahhhhh. A humanist. One who has a ‘personal morality’, which is to say, no morality at all.

    Report Post »  
    • vox_populi
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 10:00pm

      So you‘d murder and rape everyone around you if God wasn’t always threatening you with damnation, eh? Good to know.

      Report Post » vox_populi  
    • KAdams
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 6:01am

      No, he’s saying that without God, we‘d have no concept of ’good’.

      Report Post »  
  • momprayn
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:05pm

    Great! I’ve been saying that for a long time re “separtaion of church and state” in schools, etc. — atheism, humanism, liberalism, etc. are all “religions”…therefore we demand that all of those references, promotion of those beliefs be banned from public schools. Our schools have become indoctrination centers for liberal, atheistic teachings – having stories about how it’s fine to have same sex parents, evolution as fact, etc. They even have Islam being taught if you haven’t heard that yet. Re the Islamic agenda, a good video:
    http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid949801312001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAACEco_Vk~,9bOat4XcfB_88ri1a3UMdKnLpH9aM8Fv&bclid=0&bctid=1271237687001

    Anyway, this is just another example of people who don’t believe in the Bible/God/Jesus, such as the homosexual activists seeking to be “accepted” (& grow) b/c they are a “minority” – like the homosexuals demanding “marriage” & be accepted – feel better. Same ‘ol, same ‘ol.

    Report Post »  
    • KathleenElsie
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 12:35pm

      If all of these are declared a religion then their beliefs can not be “preached” to the children in the schools. They get the same treatment as any other faith community and not more. Win Win as far as I am concerned.

      Report Post »  
  • AngelAuthor
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:04pm

    He’s absolutely right. The sooner we get folks and the government to recognize secularism/atheism as a the religion it is, the sooner we can demand they stop SHOVING IT DOWN OUR KIDS THROATS in school!

    Report Post »  
    • Texas.7
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 1:58am

      nice response, but we know they will never give up the battle against Christ. Their alliance with Islam will eventually lead to their defeat. But Jesus has already brought victory to any who trust in Him.

      Sadly, I think that here on Earth, we will some day miss the secular humanists who want to make themselves gods of their own little worlds, as that foe is exchanged for much harsher master in this world. Celebration of self will give way to communitarian ideals of the “collective”, where variance from the prescribed norm will not be tolerated. Individual rights will give way to obedience and enforcement. No more rainbow flags, just green.

      Report Post »  
    • KAdams
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 6:05am

      Miss them? They are EVERYWHERE. Humanism is already in full swing, my friend. Funny thing is, humanism = satanism, because, didn‘t Aleister Crowley proclaim their creed is ’Do what thou wilt, is the whole of the law’? Yeah, I thought so. Just re-packaged satanism. Made more palatable to the ignant (misspell apurpose) among us.

      Report Post »  
    • Texas.7
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 1:19pm

      I totally agree. I just think that these humanists aren’t the worst enemy we will see, because in theory, humanism celebrates differences- or should. That is the theory of diversity, though just like Communism, it always goes amiss because power corrupts and leading the masses down a specific path will by necessity crush individual freedom (the humanist’s mantra) along with diversity of though. I find it so strange that the anti-God humanist crowd has made alliances with dictatorial extremists who hate them more than the humanists dislike/hate us. Strange bedfellows…

      Report Post »  
  • Theodwulf
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:01pm

    It’s funny how people make a religion out of …wait for it…NOT having a religion…does that mean the Government can’t talk about it, not having a religion, as it is now a religion. Do you want a building that represents not having a reliogion and a book that tells you and others HOW not to have a religion,? YOU can NOT make this stuff up..That is how absurd it all is… Secular Humanism is a religion, Atheism is a Religion…so lets all bust their cranks over how they are FORCING their RELIGION down our throats…

    Report Post » Theodwulf  
  • spirited
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:01pm

    ” some soldiers are pushing for atheist military chaplains’
    ——————————————————

    >And the chaplains would do and say what?

    Report Post » spirited  
  • ModerationIsBest
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:56pm

    I know that. But I also don’t know of many religions besides Islam that have certain “burial” rights. That’s my ignorance I admit, but….

    If you’re a Christian, there isn’t a “proper” burial or not right? If you accept Jesus as your lord and savior and believe he died on the cross for your sins, it is irrelevant how you are buried.

    If you’re an Atheist, you think that when you die, you’re dead, so how you’re buried is irrelevant.

    I know Muslims have some sort of “burial” procedure, but I can guess that later on down the line, they will abandon that teaching as well.

    Report Post »  
    • KAdams
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 6:32am

      Well, the bible states that when Christ comes back, all those who are dead in Christ shall rise. Now, if you’ve been cremated, that might make things interesting.

      Report Post »  
    • KathleenElsie
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 12:44pm

      Catholics, observant Jews, Orthodox Christians and others all have burial rituals and observations. As to cremation their ashes must be buried in one place and treated the same as any dead body.

      Report Post »  
  • geonj
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:54pm

    these fools are replacing a belief in God with a belief in trees. makes no sense.

    Report Post » geonj  
  • semihardrock
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:51pm

    “Being Good for Goodness Sake” …..thats …..Santa Claus is Coming to Town, fictitious character is already made up! Sorry kids!

    Report Post » semihardrock  
  • TheObamanation
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:51pm

    Sounds like Santa Claus is coming to town … Be good for goodness sakes

    Report Post » TheObamanation  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:50pm

    .
    If it floats his boat, why the hell not……Everything else is allowed baa baa baa……….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • RLTW
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:45pm

    Actually as I remember you can have No Preference stamped on your tags, that should cover all th non-isms

    Report Post »  
    • Mateytwo Barreett
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:58pm

      But, buit- he’s SPECIAL!!!!

      Report Post » Mateytwo Barreett  
    • Marengo Ohio Patriot
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:15pm

      no RLTW it does not. i joined in ‘81. my tags had to read “No Religious Preference!”
      i wanted, and should have been allowed, it to read “Agnostic!”
      BIG DIFFERENCE!

      Report Post »  
    • football lady
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:58pm

      Oh, why that makes too much sense. Why would these fools want to do that? Just another person after attention.

      Report Post »  
    • PeachyinGA
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:04pm

      Apparently from the article, he can have the Bluebird of Happiness stamped on his dogtags ifhewants , but that’s not good enough. Bet you every Army Chaplin between here and Afg. knows all about the Major.

      Report Post » PeachyinGA  
    • RLTW
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 10:05pm

      @MARENGO, I joined in 81 US Army and had No pref for years, I can mail them to you for proof since I just retired 6 years ago.

      Report Post »  
    • KAdams
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 6:48am

      @Matey

      You mean, ‘speshul’.

      Report Post »  
  • Marsh626
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:44pm

    The military is one of the few major institutions in this nation that the Left hasn’t totally taken over yet. They‘ve obviously made massive inroads into infiltrating the military but it’s still not as bas as the major institutions of our nation. This is nothing more than the cultural, subversive Left trying to further takeover the military.

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  • 21 Years and Counting
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:44pm

    The “dog” tags are used for identifiation of a military person who is killed. They come in a set of 2 with each being on a different size chain. One goes around the neck, the other around the big toe. The religious designation or lack thereof is to ensure the body is treated according to that person’s beliefs.

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    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:12pm

      Hmm, but, isn‘t having something engraved on metal pointing out you are ’christian’, any different than carrying a bible or having bible verses engraved on your gun?

      I thought the left didn’t like those actions? Cause it makes soldiers look like they are ‘crusaders’

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    • KAdams
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 6:50am

      Having a dog tag on your big toe must be uncomfortable… unless you only wear it there when you’re dead?

      Report Post »  
  • ConfederateExile
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:41pm

    What’s next? Navel-gazin?

    Report Post » ConfederateExile  
  • jonhova
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:37pm

    The Liberal Progressives need to take the military; the evil plans of the left can’t come to fruition without corrupting the only true defenders of the Constitution. This whole attack on faith, demands for gays in the military, turning our troops into nothing but “meals on wheels”…etc. Never mind if Obama wins re-election; if we loose the military, eventually the thought police will round up all of us Conservatives and shoot us. Why do you think they want our guns so bad…cowards only attack the indefensible.

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    • mr molotov cocktail
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:05pm

      our founders were socialist “we the people”= the government
      gopculters believe in idol worship crapitalism and yes capitalism is a religion too

      Report Post » mr molotov cocktail  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:10pm

      Nah, they were mercantilests…. Which was a proto-capitalism…

      “We the People” had nothing to do with ‘socialism’….

      Report Post »  
    • mr molotov cocktail
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:22pm

      we the people are the goverment = socialism government by the people =socialism
      capitalism post modern…..early 1800s….
      prior to that it was agrarian society
      want to know what made america great TOBACCO it was the first standard the longest standard-even longer then the gold standard~
      now what you can take your capitalistic crapalism religion and get-bent

      Report Post » mr molotov cocktail  
    • jonhova
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:41pm

      Libidiot say what?

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    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:45pm

      MR MOLOTOV COCKTAIL, I‘ll have to repeat somebody else’s question to you a few nights ago, since I don’t recall an answer. “Do your ears pop when you pull your head out?”
      Do you just transmogrify words in your mind in your mind in an attempt to make them fit your meanings and simply mix them with other words? Calvin and Hobbes had better language skills.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 9:53pm

      Speaking of language skills. Pardon the doubling of three words. The wife just had to interrupt me to look up something on the computer’s music files.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • mycomet123
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:35pm

    As long as you don’t believe in a Creator, I wouldn’t think the government would have a problem with it. Hell, next week will have another “New Religion” the Animalists–lions & tigers & bears– Oh My!!! Beam me up Scotty & get me the hell out of Oz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • ModerationIsBest
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:34pm

    Lol, I just don’t understand why anybody would want “Christian” or “Atheist” or “Humanist” stamped on their dog tags.

    Report Post »  
    • COFemale
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:53pm

      It comes down to when you may die in battle, they know how to conduct your last rights. Since you are asking this question it is obvious that you know nothing about anything like most Liberals.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:54pm

      You obviously didn’t understand MY point. Nice one.

      Report Post »  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:00pm

      And you obviously show your ignorance over and over again by calling me a “liberal” when I haven’t voted Democrat ONCE in my entire life. Please stop being an abject moron.

      You seem so eager to place me in the “liberal” side of things. Is that so you can justify your hate for me? I thought Christ was love?

      It’s amazing to me how much hatred Christians have for anything that is not Christian, which is a religion founded on “turn the other cheek” “love thy your neighbor as yourself” and many more. It’s really starting to become a sick joke the way some of you Christians act and talk.

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    • Mateytwo Barreett
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:02pm

      @Moddy
      You do have SUCH a keen sense of understanding faith-doncha?

      Report Post » Mateytwo Barreett  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:09pm

      I know that. But I also don’t know of many religions besides Islam that have certain “burial” rights. That’s my ignorance I admit, but….

      If you’re a Christian, there isn’t a “proper” burial or not right? If you accept Jesus as your lord and savior and believe he died on the cross for your sins, it is irrelevant how you are buried.

      If you’re an Atheist, you think that when you die, you’re dead, so how you’re buried is irrelevant.

      I know Muslims have some sort of “burial” procedure, but I can guess that later on down the line, they will abandon that teaching as well as the majority of more sane religions have done.

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    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:09pm

      But but, isn‘t having something engraved on metal pointing out you are ’christian’, any different than carrying a bible or having bible verses engraved on your gun?

      I thought the left didn’t like those actions? Cause it makes soldiers look like they are ‘crusaders’…

      Report Post »  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 7:14pm

      Hey MOD,

      Well since you never vote democrat, you must vote Republican, third party, or not at all. You have actually posted already that you might not vote at all. How does that help?

      Which of the current Republican candidates do you favor, and will you vote for him in November?
      You make it known who you don’t like, but you never say who you do like?

      Since none of my actual favs are in the race, I would rate the batch in this order:

      1. Rick
      2. Newt or Ron
      3. Ron or Newt
      4. Mitt

      And I will be first in line to vote for which ever one comes out on top.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 11:04pm

      For all you know he could be posting from another country, and therefore cannot vote in US elections, but wants to influence US elections…

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 11:12pm

      Hey MOD, voting Democrat isn’t the only sign of a liberal. Peace.

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 11:19pm

      Very classy to see you throw Christians in with atheists or humanists on their dog tags. Your insults really know no bounds, do they? Perhaps you should discuss with your friends the significance of their Christianity when they die. Nice to see you laugh about it though. The net provides you quite the forum for your anonymous hatred of Christianity.

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 11:36pm

      Even better…..why don’t you post your comment on your FB update? I am quite sure your friends would love to see your continual Christian bashing.

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 11:45pm

      I can almost imagine your next “respectful” Christmas with your friends after you tell them what you really feel about them and their religion. Ah…but that’s right…..you love them in your atheistic way.

      Report Post »  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on February 8, 2012 at 11:57pm

      @SACREDHONOR1776

      That is a very good point you bring up.

      And one that I never really gave any consideration to.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 12:12am

      @COPATRIOTS

      Yes, he loves them in the athesitic “two faced” way.

      Call them your friends to their faces, and then completely mock and ridicule their beliefs on the Blaze.

      Hope you are having a good night Copatriots.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • copatriots
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 12:16am

      Hey Billy, having a good night, thanks! Hope you are too.

      Um, I‘m rather sure MOD’s not a him. : )

      Out for tonight. Hold the fort. :-)

      Report Post »  
    • copatriots
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 12:26am

      Hey MOD, remember when you said Christians won’t allow you to not speak of your atheism. I feel the same way. I won’t let your hypocrisy go unchallenged.

      By the way, your proof of “love” because you experienced emotion speaks to your hypocrisy. You proved nothing with evidence. Since you can’t prove you love, I refuse to believe you love anyone. I guess I could allow that you love and am open to the possibility that you love but since you can’t prove it, I don’t believe you. When you can absolutely prove it with evidence, then I’ll believe you love. (See how that works.)

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    • KAdams
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 7:00am

      @Mod. I don’t see anywhere on your post that mentions anything about voting Dem or Republican, so calling Molo an abject moron is a bit unfounded. He didn’t call you a liberal, he said that what you know is on the scale of what most liberals know. Which is close to nothing, in regards to faith. I can relate, because only a few short years ago, I was as ignorant as most liberals also. I even identified myself as such. I know better now, though, after having done extensive research(more extensive than the average layperson, anyway) on the world systems and religions. “Do unto others as you would have done unto you”. When you parrot the tenet of the Christian faith, ‘Love they neighbor as thyself’ you mock it when degrading others and it is hypocritical of you.

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    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 3:09pm

      Ooh, they’re all out in full force, I like it. Power in numbers.

      I live in the United States, born and raised, and have said that numerous times.

      @COPATRIOTS
      No, the fact that people so freely throw the label “Liberal” around proves how eager you are to put someone who doesn’t think exactly like you, in an opposing class to your own. I have talked numerous times about my fiscal conservative, and more about personal responsibility then anything liberal. If you’re going to try to hold onto a long term discussion, please stop throwing around baseless accusations that are directly counter to what I say. How does “throwing in” Christianity classless? Are you saying that you deem yourself more important then an Atheist, or Humanist, and that a Christian acknowledgement is worth more? How arrogant

      If you want to profess your faith, go right ahead, I don‘t say you can’t. Just don’t be surprised when some atheists try to fight back legally and remove your symbols from public places. The fact is, Christianity and religion in this country has been shoving their beliefs into every nook and cranny of this country for far too long, and people are starting to “fight” back. I can’t turn on a Presidential debate and not hear God being talked about by these guys. You have to profess your faith in a God to even have a chance to become President. Oh but definitely not a Muslim God, because those guys have CRAZY beliefs Honestly, it’s ridiculous.

      Report Post »  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 3:18pm

      @COPATRIOTS

      I have given you evidence for the love of my friends NUMEROUS times, go back at the long discussion we were having a few days ago where you asked/commented on this very same subject. The fact that I keep making arguments and making points to you people, and then you either are unable to comprehend those points, refuse to accept them because of how your perceive me, or forget them is YOUR problem, not mine.

      @KADAMS
      Read my statement, to him and to the other people above. The fact is, I have said numerous times on other posts, which all of these people have responded to, that I have never voted Democrat in an election. They either can’t comprehend this, refuse to accept it or forget that I said it. That doesn’t keep them from continually saying the same things over and over again which are completely unfounded. Then again, I”m not surprised that Christians have no problem knowingly spreading lies, because hey….they can just ask Jesus for forgiveness……..and then go back to knowingly spreading lies. Win Win! Forget about personal improvement or anything, Jesus forgives me for everything! You are using semantics to defend COFE, his full intent in comparing me to a liberal is to say I am a liberal.

      “Do unto others as you would have done unto you” is a HORRIBLE system for morality. That leaves morality up to each individual person. If a person doesn‘t care whether or not I’ll kill them, they have no problem killing me.

      Report Post »  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 3:28pm

      The reason you people get so offended when I talk about your faith is because you don’t like hearing the truth.

      Why do you have to keep saying, “God is good?” Shouldn’t his actions prove his goodness? I have seen much more evil then goodness out of the way you people represent your God, and how your supposed God represents himself in the Bible.

      All I get when talking to Christians about their faith is Bible verses, generic rationalizations and specific beliefs that aren’t representative of all of Christianity. It’s why some Christians believe in free will, but others don’t. It’s why Catholics have confessions, but others don’t. Others have different beliefs about the order of things in the end times. It’s why Christians call Mormons crazy for their beliefs….when they still do accept Jesus as their lord and savior and that he died on the cross for their sins.

      Ironically, this is no different then Islam, or Judaism or anything other religion of the world, even back to the days of Zeus. Crazy beliefs, irrational actions, irrational justifications, generic rationalizations and we all suffer because of how sure you are of those crazy beliefs, irrational actions, irrational justifications, and generic rationalizations.

      Yes COPATRIOTS, I am comparing your God to Allah, Zeus, Thor, Buddha, Krishna and any other God that people have worshiped.

      Report Post »  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 3:57pm

      When talking to you people about this stuff, all I hear is “Oh you’re so sure of your self” etc and then they go on to assert their belief is fact.

      The only thing I am saying is, while you may have evidence for a God, specifically your God, that doesn’t mean that a God, specifically your God….does exist.

      I have evidence that a God, specifically your God doesn’t exist, but that doesn‘t mean he doesn’t. Got it?

      I constantly say that, yet I still get told how sure of myself I am. So then I offer up a logical medium.

      I say
      While I think a God doesn’t exist, ultimately I can’t prove it and could be wrong.
      Can you say?
      While I believe a God exists, specifically my God, ultimately I can’t prove it and could be wrong?

      I have issued that challenge on here many times, and so far BAD_ASHE is the only one that is logical enough to be able to say that. It’s no surprise that out of all of you, he is the one that I hold in the highest esteem(I‘m sure he’d hate to hear that, lol).

      I then have to deal with idiots like Rush_Is_Right who calls evolution a “fairy tale”….while believing Eve talked to a snake(let that sink in) when even the Pope said evolution is compatible to Christianity(oops, another rationalization). Then again, this is just another one of those things that despite all of you “believing in just about the same thing” that you guys can’t get right. I mean, this is your God’s creation, his design….and you can’t agree? Absolut

      Report Post »  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on February 9, 2012 at 3:57pm

      Absolutely ridiculous*

      Report Post »  
  • TEXASGRANNY73
    Posted on February 8, 2012 at 6:31pm

    What to say to this? Oh Brother!

    Report Post »  
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