Military Atheist Group Unhappy With Christian Majority Chaplaincy in VA Care

[trotsky]

The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers say it is seeking an alternative to the services provided by Christian and other faith-based chaplains in VA hospitals and hospices. The group is campaigning for more secular humanist representatives for veterans – the equivalent of chaplains for non-believers.

As part of the atheist group's campaign, its president released a letter written by Vietnam veteran Phil Heycock before he succumbed to cancer during an extended stay at a VA hospice.

"Currently, religious, theistic oriented Chaplains are on staff and visit patients including secular humanist atheists like myself. While the Chaplains have been friendly, according to their Christian beliefs I will be burning in hell after my demise. While I respect their right to believe as they wish, I don't find their perspective on death comforting," wrote Heycock.

MAAF President Jason Torpy said that Heycock expressed that he received good quality care but felt that the Christian chaplains generally available were not comforting to him as a secular humanist. "He also requested the letter be held until after his death to avoid alienating his caregivers, whom he knew to be religious," stated Torpy.


More at the Christian Post

At least one DUer here has gone on record to state that he doesn't believe non-religious chaplains could have anything comforting to say to a dying person. This group thinks otherwise.

Sad, too, that Mr. Heycock had to send his letter posthumously in order to avoid offending others.

[qb]

1. The title of the article is misleading and inflammatory. Atheists are unhappy with the lack

of secular alternatives.

[trotsky]

2. Correct, but to be expected given the prevalence of anti-atheist attitudes.

If one were to substitute any other religious minority in the place of atheists for this topic, I suspect it would handled much more respectfully.

[cbayer]

3. Agree, very unfortunate title. It makes them look petulant, while, in fact, they are making a very

reasonable request.

[DonCoquixote]

4. I do not see why

You cannot have Humanist or UU chaplains,
consider that the Church of Satan is led by a marine Col that got Satanic chaplains approved. They are popular in California

http://www.angelfire.com/electronic2/kc_jones/007.HTM
http://www.mail-archive.com/[e-mail]/msg46077.html.

[DonCoquixote]

5. and NO

I am NOT comparing Atheists to Satanists, I am saying that if the Military could allow the Satanists on board, they can certainly allows for less exotic Atheists.