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That's right! THIS Pastor said what I've been saying from my Landover Baptist Pulpit for years: Any soldier in the U.S. Military who calls himself an atheist is a liar, a cheat and a coward! 
California pastor claims atheist soldiers are "big fat chickens"
California is famous as the home of a lot of outrageous New Age beliefs but that doesn't mean we're slouchers when it comes to some of the more traditional outrageous beliefs - like those of many religious fundamentalists. A case in point are the beliefs about atheist soldiers given voice recently by the Reverend Bryan Griem of the Montrose Community Church in Montrose, CA. They were published in an article in the Pasadena Sun about the US Army's mandatory spiritual fitness test. A number of religious leaders were interviewed and many questioned the fairness and constitutionality of the test. Reverend Griem though, used the opportunity to attack atheism and the atheist soldier, Sgt Justin Griffith of Fort Bragg, leading some of the opposition to the test. Here's some samples (his full remarks can be found in the Sun article):
"I know that religious people have security that atheists don’t. If you believe in life after life, you fight harder, risk more, and serve better than a guy who thinks, “this is it!” If you believe you’re nothing but worm-food at death, you aren’t going to jump on a grenade to save the platoon, or charge a machine-gun nest expecting to meet Jesus. You’re going to be reserved, second-guessing, and probably be a big fat chicken...
Atheists be damned. They will be. So I really don’t care what they think regarding these tests. I’m tired of having their constant nagging, their constant opposition against God — their evil. They contribute nothing positive in the long run.Their very name, “a” theist, means they are “against,” with a big “no” regarding America’s “creator” and “Nature’s God” (the one mentioned in our Declaration of Independence). I’m frankly sick of them...
"I wonder what the military puts on gravestones of atheists, a thumbs-down? Listen, all religions are protected by our laws, but atheists don’t countenance America’s documents that mention God. They don’t actually deserve rights that even bizarre religionists have. If it could be shown that people who deny God create military weakness, however small, what should commanders do when choosing a winning military? I agree with you.
In a press release dated March 16th, Sgt. Justin Griffith reports that he contacted Rev. Griem and told him, "I am willing to die for your right to say nasty things about atheist soldiers such as myself. There are foxhole atheists out there fighting for your rights. Are you not willing to return the favor?" So far, Sgt Griffith says he has yet to receive a reply.
Sgt Griffith has taken the mandatory spiritual fitness test and failed it. The response of the Army was to give him the telephone number of a suicide prevention hotline.
The test costs the military $125 million to administer. For perspective, the amount they spend on rape prevention and reaction is $113 million.
In Sgt. Griffith's opinion, "The spiritual fitness test is unconstitutional. That's why when lawyers and journalist are around they say the test is about 'human spirit' and 'team spirit.' Anybody doubting the religiosity can go to the Virtual Spiritual Fitness Center to check for themselves."
From his press release:
"Non-religious soldiers represent the second largest demographic in the military. Currently, atheist groups like the local Military Atheists and Secular Humanists of Fort Bragg are banned by chaplaincy regulations from meeting on post regularly. An upcoming atheist festival at Fort Bragg may provide a breakthrough. Griffith is also the lead organizer of the festival, dubbed Rock Beyond Belief, on March 31st.
Rock Beyond Belief bypasses the chaplaincy's ban because this event is sponsored by an independent private organization. The festival is an American Atheists event. It was made possible by a $50,000 donation from the Stiefel Freethought Foundation. For more information on the event, check the festival’s website."
California is famous as the home of a lot of outrageous New Age beliefs but that doesn't mean we're slouchers when it comes to some of the more traditional outrageous beliefs - like those of many religious fundamentalists. A case in point are the beliefs about atheist soldiers given voice recently by the Reverend Bryan Griem of the Montrose Community Church in Montrose, CA. They were published in an article in the Pasadena Sun about the US Army's mandatory spiritual fitness test. A number of religious leaders were interviewed and many questioned the fairness and constitutionality of the test. Reverend Griem though, used the opportunity to attack atheism and the atheist soldier, Sgt Justin Griffith of Fort Bragg, leading some of the opposition to the test. Here's some samples (his full remarks can be found in the Sun article):
"I know that religious people have security that atheists don’t. If you believe in life after life, you fight harder, risk more, and serve better than a guy who thinks, “this is it!” If you believe you’re nothing but worm-food at death, you aren’t going to jump on a grenade to save the platoon, or charge a machine-gun nest expecting to meet Jesus. You’re going to be reserved, second-guessing, and probably be a big fat chicken...
Atheists be damned. They will be. So I really don’t care what they think regarding these tests. I’m tired of having their constant nagging, their constant opposition against God — their evil. They contribute nothing positive in the long run.Their very name, “a” theist, means they are “against,” with a big “no” regarding America’s “creator” and “Nature’s God” (the one mentioned in our Declaration of Independence). I’m frankly sick of them...
"I wonder what the military puts on gravestones of atheists, a thumbs-down? Listen, all religions are protected by our laws, but atheists don’t countenance America’s documents that mention God. They don’t actually deserve rights that even bizarre religionists have. If it could be shown that people who deny God create military weakness, however small, what should commanders do when choosing a winning military? I agree with you.
In a press release dated March 16th, Sgt. Justin Griffith reports that he contacted Rev. Griem and told him, "I am willing to die for your right to say nasty things about atheist soldiers such as myself. There are foxhole atheists out there fighting for your rights. Are you not willing to return the favor?" So far, Sgt Griffith says he has yet to receive a reply.
Sgt Griffith has taken the mandatory spiritual fitness test and failed it. The response of the Army was to give him the telephone number of a suicide prevention hotline.
The test costs the military $125 million to administer. For perspective, the amount they spend on rape prevention and reaction is $113 million.
In Sgt. Griffith's opinion, "The spiritual fitness test is unconstitutional. That's why when lawyers and journalist are around they say the test is about 'human spirit' and 'team spirit.' Anybody doubting the religiosity can go to the Virtual Spiritual Fitness Center to check for themselves."
From his press release:
"Non-religious soldiers represent the second largest demographic in the military. Currently, atheist groups like the local Military Atheists and Secular Humanists of Fort Bragg are banned by chaplaincy regulations from meeting on post regularly. An upcoming atheist festival at Fort Bragg may provide a breakthrough. Griffith is also the lead organizer of the festival, dubbed Rock Beyond Belief, on March 31st.
Rock Beyond Belief bypasses the chaplaincy's ban because this event is sponsored by an independent private organization. The festival is an American Atheists event. It was made possible by a $50,000 donation from the Stiefel Freethought Foundation. For more information on the event, check the festival’s website."
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