Atheist Soldier Claims Harassment

[C.F. Kane]

Link

JUNCTION CITY, Kansas (AP) -- Like hundreds of young men joining the Army in recent years, Jeremy Hall professes a desire to serve his country while it fights terrorism.
Soldier Jeremy Hall says the pressure to believe in God is so strong "I was ashamed to say that I was an atheist."

But the short and soft-spoken specialist is at the center of a legal controversy. He has filed a lawsuit alleging he's been harassed and his constitutional rights have been violated because he doesn't believe in God. The suit names Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
"I'm not in it for cash," Hall said. "I want no one else to go what I went through."
Known as "the atheist guy," Hall has been called immoral, a devil worshipper and -- just as severe to some soldiers -- gay, none of which, he says, is true. Hall even drove fellow soldiers to church in Iraq and paused while they prayed before meals.
"I see a name and rank and United States flag on their shoulder. That's what I believe everyone else should see," he said.
Hall, 23, was raised in a Protestant family in North Carolina and dropped out of school. It wasn't until he joined the Army that he began questioning religion, eventually deciding he couldn't follow any faith.
But he feared how that would look to other soldiers.
"I was ashamed to say that I was an atheist," Hall said.
It eventually came out in Iraq in 2007, when he was in a firefight. Hall was a gunner on a Humvee, which took several bullets in its protective shield. Afterward, his commander asked whether he believed in God, Hall said.
"I said, 'No, but I believe in Plexiglas,"' Hall said. "I've never believed I was going to a happy place. You get one life. When I die, I'm worm food."
The issue came to a head when, according to Hall, a superior officer, Maj. Freddy J. Welborn, threatened to bring charges against him for trying to hold a meeting of atheists in Iraq. Welborn has denied Hall's allegations.
Hall said he had had enough but feared he wouldn't get support from Welborn's superiors. He turned to Mikey Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
Weinstein is the foundation's president and a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate. He had previously sued the Air Force for acts he said illegally imposed Christianity on students at the academy, though that case was dismissed. He calls Hall a hero.
"The average American doesn't have enough intestinal fortitude to tell someone to shut up if they are talking in a movie theater," Weinstein said. "You know how hard it is to take on your chain of command? This isn't the shift manager at KFC."
Hall was in Qatar when the lawsuit was filed on September 18 in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas. Other soldiers learned of it and he feared for his own safety. Once, Hall said, a group of soldiers followed him, harassing him, but no one did anything to make it stop.
The Army told him it couldn't protect him and sent him back to Fort Riley. He resumed duties with a military police battalion. He believes his promotion to sergeant has been blocked because of his lawsuit, but he is a team leader responsible for two junior enlisted soldiers.
No one with Fort Riley, the Army or Defense Department would comment about Hall or the lawsuit. Each issued statements saying that discrimination will not be tolerated regardless of race, religion or gender.
"The department respects [and supports by its policy] the rights of others to their own religious beliefs, including the right to hold no beliefs," said Eileen Lainez, a spokeswoman for the Department of Defense.
All three organizations said existing systems help soldiers "address and resolve any perceived unfair treatment."
Lt. Col. David Shurtleff, a Fort Riley chaplain, declined to discuss Hall's case but said chaplains accommodate all faiths as best they can. In most cases, religious issues can be worked out without jeopardizing military operations.
"When you're in Afghanistan and an IED blows up a Humvee, they aren't asking about a wounded soldier's faith," Shurtleff said.
Hall said he enjoys being a team leader but has been told that having faith would make him a better leader.
"I will take care of my soldiers. Nowhere does it say I have to pray with my soldiers, but I do have to make sure my soldiers' religious needs are met," he said.
"Religion brings comfort to a lot of people," he said. "Personally, I don't want it or need it. But I'm not going to get down on anybody else for it."
Hall leaves the Army in April 2009. He would like to find work with the National Park Service or Environmental Protection Agency, anything outdoors.
"I hope this doesn't define me," Hall said of his lawsuit. "It's just about time somebody said something."

 

[The Geek Vault]

Wow, you don't hear about that everyday!

 

[ForestAflame]

You want JUSTICE?!? There is no justice. The earth is a meaningless piece of matter in the middle of the universe and we all live meaningless lives until we cease to exist! So don't come here askin' for justice!

 

[Addendum]

There were atheists in foxholes during WW1 and WW2, so I'm not surprised there's some during the Iraq war. I hope he wins this case

 

[Superhobo]

Known as "the atheist guy," Hall has been called immoral, a devil worshipper and -- just as severe to some soldiers -- gay, none of which, he says, is true.

Shades of my time being schooled in the boonies, ha.

 

[Metal Spidey]

I guess he finally found a way to leave the Army with some extra cash.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

*claps... i have alot of respect for this guy.. sure suing is dumb but just because your American does not mean you have to believe in god or any god. And the fact soldiers harassed him about it was horrible

 

[Manic]

You want JUSTICE?!? There is no justice. The earth is a meaningless piece of matter in the middle of the universe and we all live meaningless lives until we cease to exist! So don't come here askin' for justice!

Talk about nihilism...

 

[Metal Spidey]

*claps... i have alot of respect for this guy.. sure suing is dumb but just because your American does not mean you have to believe in god or any god. And the fact soldiers harassed him about it was horrible

He had to have said something to make people talk bad about him. I doubt he said "I'm an atheist" and a swarm of troops jumped on his case. Not only that but I believe he isn't the only atheist in the army. There's more to this case, much more.

 

[kainedamo]

He had to have said something to make people talk bad about him. I doubt he said "I'm an atheist" and a swarm of troops jumped on his case. Not only that but I believe he isn't the only atheist in the army. There's more to this case, much more.

Not necasserily.

 

[Poetic Chaos]

the internet has negatively skewed my views of 2 groups of people: athiests and batman fans. this story doesn't bother me.

 

[The Chairman]

Speaking from the perspective of a Christian, I think taking this to court is a stretch, but he didn't deserve to be persecuted. A person's religion (or in this case, lack thereof) has no effect on your skills as a soldier.

the internet has negatively skewed my views of 2 groups of people: athiests and batman fans. this story doesn't bother me.

You shouldn't let the internet affect your overall views on a particular group of people. While it is true that many atheists on the internet and especially here can be incredibly arrogant and disrespectful, I'm friends with several atheists and one of my closest relatives is one as well. They're great people, they just hold a widely held and widely unaccepted belief. Again, I strongly believe in God, but I don't judge someone if they don't, unless they impose their beliefs upon me.

Also, it sounds like Hall was very respectful of his fellow soldiers who were Christian. He should've been given the same respect.

 

[terry78]

This sounds like the setup to a joke.

"What did the atheist soldier say to the Iraqi soldier?"

 

[Arcturus]

Personally, I don't believe in God or religion in general. But I have nothing against people who do have beliefs. However, I do find this story to be sad. The soldiers are bickering/fighting amongst themselves rather then concentrating on the enemy. I hope he wins the case.

 

[huskerwebhead]

He had to have said something to make people talk bad about him. I doubt he said "I'm an atheist" and a swarm of troops jumped on his case. Not only that but I believe he isn't the only atheist in the army. There's more to this case, much more.

The swarm of troops came about after the lawsuit was filed.

 

[huskerwebhead]

Speaking from the perspective of a Christian, I think taking this to court is a stretch, but he didn't deserve to be persecuted. A person's religion (or in this case, lack thereof) has no effect on your skills as a soldier.

I don't think it's a stretch at all. Had this been a christian or muslim this not only would have been warranted but front page news and crowds of people supporting the guy.

You shouldn't let the internet affect your overall views on a particular group of people. While it is true that many atheists on the internet and especially here can be incredibly arrogant and disrespectful, I'm friends with several atheists and one of my closest relatives is one as well. They're great people, they just hold a widely held and widely unaccepted belief. Again, I strongly believe in God, but I don't judge someone if they don't, unless they impose their beliefs upon me.

Also, it sounds like Hall was very respectful of his fellow soldiers who were Christian. He should've been given the same respect.

The same could be said of many of the Christians on this site.

 

[Leto Atrides]

Personally, I don't believe in God or religion in general. But I have nothing against people who do have beliefs. However, I do find this story to be sad. The soldiers are bickering/fighting amongst themselves rather then concentrating on the enemy. I hope he wins the case.

It's bad what they specifically are doing, but they can't concentrate on the enemy all the time, they'd go insane.

 

[Why Are You Crouching Spock?]

the internet has negatively skewed my views of 2 groups of people: athiests and batman fans. this story doesn't bother me.

lol

 

[C.F. Kane]

Speaking from the perspective of a Christian, I think taking this to court is a stretch, but he didn't deserve to be persecuted. A person's religion (or in this case, lack thereof) has no effect on your skills as a soldier.



You shouldn't let the internet affect your overall views on a particular group of people. While it is true that many atheists on the internet and especially here can be incredibly arrogant and disrespectful, I'm friends with several atheists and one of my closest relatives is one as well. They're great people, they just hold a widely held and widely unaccepted belief. Again, I strongly believe in God, but I don't judge someone if they don't, unless they impose their beliefs upon me.

Also, it sounds like Hall was very respectful of his fellow soldiers who were Christian. He should've been given the same respect.

Well, in the defense of other internet atheists like myself, it's a lot easier to disregard people's feeling when you're simply leaving messages around for other people to read. When talking to friends who are religious I always try not to offend them.

Plus, we rarely get a chance to honestly vent about our religious beliefs in real life. So, for better or worse, a lot of what you hear from atheists online is unfiltered venting.

 

[sithgoblin]

Man, what a champ. I hope it turns out well for him.

 

[Backdrifter]

Makes me sad to hear this kind of stuff. You wonder if these people are skipping over Mark 12:29-31

29"The most important one (commandment)," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

I don't always agree with with my atheist friends, but I do love them and genuinely care for them. I respect any man's right to chose what they want to believe in. That is the real beauty of being human as opposed to an animal. Free will. God has given us choice.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

alot of "Christians" skip over alot of stuff *yawn*

 

[Aristotle]

29"The most important one (commandment)," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Please, credit where it's due: Jesus was quoting the great Rabbi Hillel, who said that those two commandments were the whole of the Torah; all the rest is commentary.

 

[Aristotle]

*claps... i have alot of respect for this guy.. sure suing is dumb but just because your American does not mean you have to believe in god or any god. And the fact soldiers harassed him about it was horrible

I'm sorry, could you clarify that for me? It appears to me that you just said suing is dumb. What, in any context? The law is what keeps this country anything close to honest, anything close to a democracy! Judicial review and the independent courts and the rule of law are the last chance we have.

 

[Backdrifter]

Please, credit where it's due: Jesus was quoting the great Rabbi Hillel, who said that those two commandments were the whole of the Torah; all the rest is commentary.

Hillel didn't convince that idea on his own. That is a biblical truth. He may have preached it, sure. But it was not his teaching. It is truth and truth comes from God. In addition, if you look at the story in context:

28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

Jesus was being tested by a teacher of the law, he often would answer their questions and use common phrases and sayings. This not only spoke to the audience at the time in a specific way, but it also speaks to audiences throughout the ages in another way. Christ's teachings are multi-layered which is why they continue to be relevant today.