ANALYSIS/OPINION:
Atheism is a non-belief in a god, while humanism is an ethical view (“Navy rejects ‘non-theist’ for chaplain corps; lawmakers warn against changing core mission,” Web, March 27). Being a humanist chaplain would not mean, as some seem to believe, jumping at the chance to tell soldiers who believe in a deity that one does not exist.
Just as a Jewish chaplain can help counsel a Catholic soldier, a humanist chaplain can perform the same basic functions of other chaplains, all while treating those they counsel with respect. Unfortunately on some military bases there are evangelical chaplains who find it their mission not to necessarily counsel someone seeking help, but to try to indoctrinate the lower-ranking person. That isn’t why a chaplain is hired and paid for by the military (and us taxpayers).
A humanist chaplain can also help counsel the one-sixth or so of the U.S. military who have no religious beliefs.
The reason a humanist chaplain was vetoed was simple hostility and intolerance of those who don’t believe in a god. The fact is that every one of these politicians represents men and women who are serving in our military and are humanists — and yes, some are atheists, too. This disdain by politicians for non-believing men and women in the military must end.
JEROME MCCOLLOM
Milwaukee
The Washington Times Comment Policy
The Washington Times is switching its third-party commenting system from Disqus to Spot.IM. You will need to either create an account with Spot.im or if you wish to use your Disqus account look under the Conversation for the link "Have a Disqus Account?". Please read our
Comment Policy before commenting.