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Atheists in foxholes

08/11/07

Dear editor:

Mary Sauceman said (in her article “America’s relationship with alcohol, drugs” on Aug. 1): “You might say that these were not men of faith, yet it has been said there has never been a declared atheist in a foxhole during the heat of battle. I do not believe there have been any aboard a spaceship as it speeds into the unknown, behind a flame of fire that could engulf them in an instant, that would not want the help of God.”

There have been plenty of declared atheists in foxholes during the heat of battle, including one in the recent news, Pat Tillman. Others can be found in the membership of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers. A 2004 report reveals that one out of 5 U.S. military members are atheists. Why are you calling them all liars?

If you were in a foxhole, would you consider calling out to characters you consider fictional? Would you ask for Harry Potter’s help? I doubt it.

Your last sentence, about wanting the help of God, also makes no sense. What does it mean to want Harry Potter’s help? If I have trouble, am I going to all of a sudden think Harry Potter might be real? Why would it be any different for an atheist, who thinks God is a fictional character? It isn’t any different.

To say there are no atheists in foxholes is to call military atheists either cowards or liars, an underserved and unacceptable slur.

Ben Dreidel, Member, Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers, Clifton Park, N.Y.