Hi all,
Just thought I'd ask what people think about humanists groups such as, humanists.org and Defence humanists being allowed for the first time to lay wreaths at the annual remembrance ceremony at the Cenotaph?
I always found it odd in the past that it always had a theistic undertone with no representation from any non religious groups.
Plenty of non religious people fought and died in the wars and currently as of 2018, 25% of the UK army is made up of those that have "No religion".
This is 9 times higher then any religion, other than Christian.
Is this progress of a kind?
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I’m not sure if it really is progress, it seems more a movement of apathy, at least among my friends. They don’t care about God existing or not, as opposed to not believing in God or spirituality. Maybe that is the first step towards wiping out religion, or maybe it is an undesirable epidemic among millennials. Of course I’m not talking about humanist organizations here, Mainly about the inflated numbers of “non-religious” people.
I think this is a positive step in the right direction. No one is exempt from the horrors and cost of war, it is not exclusively a conflict of theists. Instead, war embraces everyone, from old priests to newborns.
I am an atheist, but each year I get invited, and go down to a school and give a speech on Remembrance Day. And it matters a lot to me.
I agree, I think it behoves us all to remember the appalling cost of war. I think the fact it has been seen primarily as the domain of religions is anachronistic, in the UK anyway, like having chaplains in the armed forces. I think a qualified psychiatrist who fully understands things like PTSD would be far more pragmatic than someone who can pray before a battle. I always view army chaplains praying for victory to the same deity, but on opposite sides just before the appalling carnage of the battles of WWI, and it strikes me it was one of those opportunities for religion to practice the moral ascendancy they try to claim, and decry the immorality of war.
I don't really get the concept behind letting a representative of a religion or a philosophy play such a role. Why not have a Communist, homosexual, epileptic, compulsive masturbator, ....butcher...baker...candlestick maker, also?
This has my vote lol
And I kind of have to agree with Sheldon. Chaplains should booted out of the military. Put in qualified psychiatrists. Chaplains and their prayers do not do a damn thing. I shall always remember when I first reported to my ship in the Navy.
Captain: "Our ship's Chaplain likes to have a talk with all new sailors. After here, pay him a visit."
Me: "Sir. I do not need to see the Chaplain. I am an atheist."
Captain: "As said, he still likes to have an interview with all new sailor's."
Me: "With all due respect, Sir, I do not need to see the Chaplain. I have nothing to say to him. Unless you are making it an order, I shall not ever see the Chaplain for any reason. With all due respect. Sir."
Captain: "Then consider it an order."
Me: "Yes. Sir!" I said while saluting, then walking out.
Of course, this was back before they changed the rules. Seems I was born way too early. Should have waited at least 20 years...
When I reported to the Chaplain, as I told the Captain, I said only one thing to the Chaplain. Well two things. "Reporting as ordered, Sir." and later, "Sir, I was ordered to report to you. I already told the Captain I have nothing to say to you, Sir. With all Due respect, I have nothing to say to you, Sir."
And why does a person who happens to be a Chaplain get the privilege of being an officer? They should not have any rank or rate.
And I have to agree with Sapporo.
rmfr