Lawmakers are applauding a decision by Navy officials to reject the application of a secular humanist — called an atheist by many — to be a Navy chaplain.
It’s the second time the sea service has declined to accept Jason Heap, who calls himself a “humanist” and and a “non-theist,” into the chaplain corps.
A “humanist” is one who doesn’t believe in a god, but in the natural ability of humans to “lead meaningful, ethical lives capable of adding to the greater good of humanity,” according to the Humanist Society.
The latest denial of Heap’s application is at the center of a debate on whether or not one who doesn’t believe in a deity can serve as a military chaplain.
Despite the swirling debate around Heap’s beliefs, or lack thereof, no one is denying his qualifications. Heap holds a master’s degree in divinity from Texas Christian University as well as a theological history degree from Oxford.
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4 comments:
Try again in 2118.
Sounds like he wasted a lot of money on the wrong degree.
What a crazy friggin' world we are living in.
Women are men
Men are women
Dogs are cloned
Paper is money
War is peace
Sick is healthy
And now . . . they want to have Chaplains who don't believe in God.
Probably the very definition of a Chaplain . . .
The role of the Chaplain in the military, as explained in the article, is not necessarily a religious role... but a role as adviser and councilor.
As there are troops who are and identify as atheist and agnostic, it made sense, and the Navy was going to have a secular humanist chaplain... as stated in the article anyone bothered to read it.
What a radical idea to have a secular humanist councilor for atheist and agnostic troops. It would be like having a Muslim chaplain for Muslim troops... oh wait.. that is actually a thing. Just like the Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist military Chaplains.
PRO TIP! Buddhists technically DON'T believe in a deity the way other religions do, and can be described as agnostic or atheist.
These lawmakers, pandering to a voter base, got involved in an area that really is not their purview to stroke a religious voting base.
It's shameful really.
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