Does the US Military have atheist Chaplains? I know it sounds oxymoronic, but I was just wondering

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Ancient Hippy Profile
Ancient Hippy answered

Nope, no such thing as an atheist chaplain, minister, priest, Agga, Lama, preacher, pastor, Imam, Rabbi...

Didge Doo Profile
Didge Doo answered

Of course not but that's never been a problem to the military. When i did my basic training (Australian army) we were given two choices: Volunteers for church parade form up on the right, volunteers to carry rocks form up on the left. We all went left. Instant conversion.

Donating blood was done the same way. Volunteers to donate blood form up on the right.... (as I recall, only one man offered to carry rocks, and they worked him all day.)

Walt O'Reagun Profile
Walt O'Reagun answered

No ... Because it IS oxymoronic.

Military chaplains can perform services for many faiths ... But atheists are not a faith. 

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Walt O'Reagun
Walt O'Reagun commented
"services" meaning rituals of the faith ... and since atheists don't have any such rituals, there is no way for a chaplain to perform them.

Atheists do not need to be absolved from sin, or seek an intercession / forgiveness of a priest, or any of the other religious rituals chaplains perform.
Walt O'Reagun
Walt O'Reagun commented
Military chaplains are ordained in SOME religion ... which is why there are not atheist chaplains.
Rooster Cogburn
Rooster Cogburn commented
They're REMF's !
Darik Majoren Profile
Darik Majoren answered

They SHOULD employ "Counselors" for that particular position . . Not Chaplains.

Someone you can talk to, to help in guidance mental stability.

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