Soldier Sues Army, Says His Atheism Led to Threats

Soldier Sues Army, Says His Atheism Led to Threats

www.nytimes.com

But minutes into the talk, the officer, Maj. Freddy J. Welborn, began to berate Specialist Hall and another soldier about atheism, Specialist Hall wrote in a sworn statement. “People like you are not holding up the Constitution and are going against what the founding fathers, who were Christians, wanted for America!” Major Welborn said, according to the statement.

Major Welborn told the soldiers he might bar them from re-enlistment and bring charges against them, according to the statement.

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Hmmm, this seems to be something that keeps popping up. I posted a thread a ways back about soldiers being discriminated and harassed due to religious beliefs. This really needs to be rectified IMO. A person's religious belief (or disbelief) should have no bearing on their ability to fight on the front lines IMO. I wonder just how wide spread something like this is?

Last month, Specialist Hall and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an advocacy group, filed suit in federal court in Kansas, alleging that Specialist Hall’s right to be free from state endorsement of religion under the First Amendment had been violated and that he had faced retaliation for his views. In November, he was sent home early from Iraq because of threats from fellow soldiers.

www.nytimes.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

My first response was 'why is he suing the army and not those who made the threats?' but on further reading, this could indeed be a military-wide problem.

In any case, we do not religious requirements to serve. Another reason to eye Heir Bush with suspicion.

TheRedneck

The only people I have ever seen to have real issues with religious tolerance in the army are Jews, Mormons and Wiccans. I caught alot of flak for apparently killing Jesus but it was always from fellow soldiers. I only remember having problems once from someone senior. At other times though I had alot of help, like during Passover in Afghanistan. I also was invited to speak before a number of prayer breakfasts and read a Battle Prayer before my Battlion at NTC.

Wiccans on the other hand catch hell. Accused of all kinds of crazy stuff and insulted regularly even by their chain of command. I have never heard of anyone being threatened though. Mormons catch almost as much hell.

I never once heard of an atheist having a problem though and the Army is full of them.

Atheist don't have a religion, if my understanding of the noun is correct. Therefore, his or her right to religious expression couldn't have been denied.

But all of that nonsense aside, I say let them serve. Just put them up front and let them be the first out of the troop carrier during oprations.

I don't care if you pray or not, but if the lights go out and things get nasty you better do your job and do it right, cuz my butt may be riding on your ability to get your shots off quick and clean. I do have a bit of a problem with being able to "trust" someone with my life , who has nothing to trust and believe in themselves. Makes me think you might be a bit unreliable in a tough spot.



[edit on 26-4-2008 by sharkman]