What do atheists think of the statement "there are no atheists in foxholes"?

Answer 1

My unit and I were on a routine patrol in Kuwait when we came under fire. A bullet pinged off the building near my head. I ducked and returned fire as best I could. As for what was going through my head...it was pretty unprintable. No prayers, no pleas for God's protection, just the drive to stay alive and get the bastard who had tried to grease me.

So the staement is BS.

Answer 2

As a Navy veteran who spoke at last year's Atheists in Foxholes rally in Washington, DC, this atheist thinks that the statement is an out-and-out lie. If you'd like to see pics of me speaking at the National Press Club for that event, click on the link and look at the photos taken by Timothy *****.

http://www.atheistfoxholes.org/

Answer 3

It is misguided propaganda mean to make your sheep feel all tingly

"There are no atheists in foxholes." This one is acutely annoying for me because I was in Uncle Sam's Misguided Children (USMC) in the infantry and now I'm a cop. I've had my share of close calls and "Level 10 Pucker Factor" incidents and calling on a god just never came to mind. My partner was in The Corps in Vietnam in the infantry and according to him, he never saw any gods or called on any. He managed to live through the ordeal and come away with a Bronze Star and two Enemy Marksmanship medals (Purple Hearts). Not only was he an atheist in a foxhole, but he was a bona fide hero to boot. I know seven other heathens at the dept. I work at and they've never "called His name" either. Isn't it funny that every damn Fundy will spout this **** off but will never bother to consider if it is even slightly based in fact. I have also discussed this with countless heathens online and I have yet to meet one who went through rough times or a near death experience and called on any god.

Answer 4

I'll let you know if I ever find myself in a foxhole - until you're there, there's no way to guess how desperate you might become for a small bit of hope

Answer 5

This is one of the most ridiculous claims made by theists.

Show a reasonable, thinking person a length of simple, cotton sewing thread and tell them it will support their weight. They will laugh at you.

Toss that same length of thread to someone who fell off the roof of a 50 story building and is 25 stories from becoming a stain on the sidewalk and that person will desperately grab for it, knowing logically that it won't save them. This is a reaction born of blind fear and in no way proves that cotton sewing thread is a valid solution to the situation any more than a soldier, in a state of panic, validates a god by calling upon it.

Answer 6

It's insulting and very untrue.

Basically, it's "sure you deny god, but when you face death, you'll believe THEN!." I've faced death and didn't change. I've known atheists who died and they didn't reconsider either.

By the time you come to atheism, you're thought about these things pretty thoroughly. I know I have. I didn't just "ahh what the hell? I'm going to say god doesn't exist." It's a pretty important idea and one that deserved a lot of thought. Most atheists have studied the bible more than most christians - so we aren't going to suddenly "reconsider" the minute our own deaths loom up.

Answer 7

They will all deny it's true...every one of them. Until it comes down to that moment when they know their life IS going to end and then I guarantee you something will speak to them and it will say.........what if?? Ninety nine out of a hundred will say I ain't takin' that chance and they will say a little prayer. And it's not just about a foxhole in a combat zone either. It can be a car wreck, in a hospital bed, a shooting victim,a drowning, being in a burning building with no way out or any way you can think of that people depart this old world to move on to the next world. I don't know how these people can be so stupid to think this statement is limited to war and actual "foxholes" or how someone reacts when in a firefight with the enemy. This is not about when you're in the thick of the fight and you're reacting. This saying is about when you're face to face with death and you know you're about to, very possibly, loose the battle. Like I said it can be any where any time and any situation where you find yourself right on the edge of dying and you have to consider whether your "convictions" are right after all. Sure every one has a story about an atheist that died staying true to his convictions. Fact of the matter is,whether you want to admit or not, you don't know what went through his mind those last few seconds. All I'm saying is if you're an atheist and you do call out to God to save you're soul and he doesn't exist(yeah right)and you die so what and no one will know that you bailed on your convictions in the final seconds. And if you hold to your convictions and you're right...oh well. But if you're wrong.........OH HELL!!! What are the odds that a person would take that chance? Not likely!

Answer 8

I think that people who make such a statement should be ashamed of themselves. They are, in effect, saying that an atheist does not have the courage of his or her convictions. They are dishonoring the memory of the atheists who have fought and died for them and for this country.

Answer 9

there are atheists in foxholes. research it on the internet

Answer 10

They think that it's another attempt by believers to lull themselves into a false belief that there really is a God. They like to think that in tough times, everyone will believe as they do.

I don't think that there have been any studies supporting this claim. It's simply believer's urban myth.

I'm a Pagan. When it gets tough, I pray to deity and do the best I can..
Christians pray to their god and do the best they can.
Atheists simply do the best they can.