Jesus' Army

[Evolved]

KANSAS CITY, Kansas (CNN) -- Army Spc. Jeremy Hall was raised Baptist.

Like many Christians, he said grace before dinner and read the Bible before bed. Four years ago when he was deployed to Iraq, he packed his Bible so he would feel closer to God.

He served two tours of duty in Iraq and has a near perfect record. But somewhere between the tours, something changed. Hall, now 23, said he no longer believes in God, fate, luck or anything supernatural.

Hall said he met some atheists who suggested he read the Bible again. After doing so, he said he had so many unanswered questions that he decided to become an atheist.

His sudden lack of faith, he said, cost him his military career and put his life at risk. Hall said his life was threatened by other troops and the military assigned a full-time bodyguard to protect him out of fear for his safety.

Full story:  http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/08/atheist.soldier/index.html

You have to admit that this guy has quite a pair.

[Will]

For what it's worth, I've got his back.

Maybe there should be job training and placement for atheists. Any company with two brain cells is going to want someone who's statistically a lot smarter and that doesn't need Easter off.

[EvolutionCalling]

I never had many problems when I was in.  I had a few Atheist friends while I was in Bahrain, we killed a lot of time by ganging up on Theists.  It was fun.  I did spend several days in the hospital once, and at one point had to ask the nurse to see the Chaplin to the door because he wouldn't accept Atheist as my answer.

[susangail]

Wow. Gotta to give props to this guy. It still amazes me how anti-atheist this country is...(still).

[MommaSquid]

I hope this story doesn't just disappear from the news...I'd like updates to see how his case progresses.   Is there a way we can invite him to join the forum?

[susangail]

I hope this story doesn't just disappear from the news...I'd like updates to see how his case progresses.   Is there a way we can invite him to join the forum?

Yeah, that'd be sweet.

[Will]

I hope this story doesn't just disappear from the news...I'd like updates to see how his case progresses.   Is there a way we can invite him to join the forum?

I'd love to coach him for media interviews.

[Tanker]

I never had too much trouble when I was in, despite who evers rank I made sure they understood I woulden't let them hide behind it if they had a problem with my "religious" choice, I would discuss it with them with it if thats what they wanted and besides a couple of fundies most people diden't care that much anyway. I think that may be what happened, he had a couple of fundies in his unit who rilled up others into a mob mentality. He's got a crappy situation I don't envy, but if I remember my barracks lawyering he can't sue the army as an organisation, but can sue individuals within the army. I hope it goes well for him.

[afreethinker30]

These people are risking their life to keep this a free country and to defend our values.Such a shame he was treated like this.He deserves so much more respect.

[afreethinker30]

The 31st annual national convention of the Freedom From Religion Foundation will take place on the weekend of Oct. 10-12, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on the Magnificent Mile

Jeremy Hall will receive the Foundation's second Atheist in Foxhole Award, as co-plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging military discrimination against freethinkers in Iraq. Jeremy, 23, is a Foundation member. He was removed from Iraq to protect his life after the lawsuit was launched, and harassment continues at Fort Riley, Kan.

http://ffrf.org/events/2008/

[Asmodean]

Maybe there should be job training and placement for atheists. Any company with two brain cells is going to want someone who's statistically a lot smarter and that doesn't need Easter off.

Personally, I don't need xmas off either. Just my two free days a week pluss five week vacation (I think it's 5 weeks... I think)

[Jolly Sapper]

You know.. now that I think back on it, after four years and about five countries in the active Army not much time was spent discussing religion.  

I had one room mate who got involved in a "service man's" church, which meant that I had to deal with the fundies who came to pick him up for church.  Eventually I made a deal with them to go sit in their church and if I suddenly poofed into a believer they could take credit.  I wound up spending most of the time listening to desperate pleas to convince me that I was guilty of some sin (sometime, somewhere) and needed to go to the front of the church and pray or something.  He gave up after while and to my surprise he kept his word, never bothered me about going to church ever again.  That's also the last time I had anything even remotely close to being a problem with religion/belief when I was enlisted.

[theseedoffaith]

You have to understand that America is a Christian nation. It's American history. This guy has led quite a life, and I think these people are sometimes the best to learn from. You don't have to accept their path, only apply their knowledge to your own.

[Asmodean]

You have to understand that America is a Christian nation.

Are not church and state separated in the USA? In which case, how is it a "Christian" nation? Just because the majority of people are christian?

[Jolly Sapper]

You have to understand that America is a Christian nation. It's American history. This guy has led quite a life, and I think these people are sometimes the best to learn from. You don't have to accept their path, only apply their knowledge to your own.

Technically its the history of the colonizers, before us crackers moved in there was the Natives who had different belief systems.

If its we're a Christian nation, then which version of Christianity?  'Cause there are LOTS of them.