I am an atheist, and everytime I tell someone this, they say, " You know something, there are no atheists in foxholes" Can you explain this to me because I don't get it.
2007-06-29 16:46:42 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
its a contrived notion that atheists recant and believe in god when they are facing death. it makes christians rationalize their beliefs in light of the fact that they fear death.
tell this to pat tillman
2007-06-29 16:49:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Originally, it meant that even an atheist, under extreme stress (e.g. in a foxhole), will start believing in a higher power.
I think the expression was first coined in World War II.
What it suggests is that atheists are not truly atheists, but that they are crypto-believers who, under the right conditions, will admit there is a God.
Recently it has been used by a couple TV idiots who thought it meant atheists are cowards (and therefore will not go to war and find themselves in a foxhole).
As author James Morrow put it: "This is not an argument against atheists, it is an argument against foxholes."
2007-06-29 16:53:56 · answer #2 · answered by stym 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
read "God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything" by author and journalist Christopher Hitchens. Mr Hitchens is an atheist who has worked as a war correspondent and became an even more confirmed atheist as a result of what he saw.
The statement "There are no atheists in foxholes" is used to imply that atheists really do believe in a god deep down, and that in times of extreme stress or fear, such as when participating in warfare, the belief will surface, overwhelming the less substantial affectation of atheism.
As a furry fan "in a fox hole" takes on a more erotic meaning and while in a fox hole even an atheist anthromorph might yell out "OMIGOD, OMIGOD, OMIGOD, this is like heaven!"
2007-06-29 16:59:20 · answer #3 · answered by hairypotto 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An Atheist that goes to war....and yes there are Atheists in foxholes.
2007-06-29 16:49:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ok good question.When I was in Vietnam one of my best buddies (still to this day) was walking on the edge of a rice paddy ,I was by a huge termite mound about 4 ft.high,when an ambush of NVA regulars ,only about 10 of them opened up. I yelled " O'Reilly get your @ss over here and I set up cover fire with my B.A.R. He comes running and stumbling..."Oh,God! Oh,Jesus!! " and dives behind me.Guess what ? He thought he was an atheist until then.We are taking Ak rounds and I'm laughing!The rest of the unit showed up and we took care of them ,but I'll never forget that "No atheist in a foxhole" saying.That was 1972.When I was a 19 year old maniac.
2007-06-29 16:57:26 · answer #5 · answered by AngelsFan 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Religious people honestly think that we Atheists really do believe in God. It helps their agenda tremendously. To prove their baseless assertion, they've created another baseless assertion (it's a hallmark of their's): That if confronted with death, an Atheist will not only acknowledge God, but prey for their lives.
What's strange is that there are very few examples of this happening. I'm an example of one Atheist who has never called out for God while facing death. Why call for someone who doesn't exist? "Goofy! Pluto! Mickey! Heeeellllpppp mmmeeeee!"
Pretty amazing, isn't it?
2007-06-29 16:54:48 · answer #6 · answered by writersblock73 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was a saying that originated in WWII. It's hard to explain because it's absurd but some people think that if you're being shot at that you will start believing in a god. I know better because I'm an Atheist and a veteran.
2007-06-29 16:53:29 · answer #7 · answered by thewolfskoll 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It simply means that when the chips are down, even non believers will call on God to save them. Yes, this does support the often used sentiment of atheists that some people believe in God out of fear of death and I'm sure in some cases that is a true statement. However, for those of us who have a personal and ongoing relationship with God, we know that God is much more than simply someone who offers eternal life in a good place. My personal feeling is that even if God did not offer life after the physical death of my body, I would still want him in my life today. What a difference it has made. He has blessed me greatly.
2007-06-29 16:54:45 · answer #8 · answered by Poohcat1 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It is because the atheists are out fighting and the Chrisitans are cowering in foxholes praying to their god.
2007-06-29 16:50:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
some christians think nobody is really an atheist - they claim if your life will be at risk (for example, if you'll be a soldier, during war, in a foxhole, perhaps about to get killed) you will pray to their particular god.
That's like saying if you get mugged in new york you will really call out to spider-man, of course.
2007-06-29 16:51:20 · answer #10 · answered by eldad9 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
if you were army infantry, in combat and all hell brakes lose and your in danger of being over run and maybe killed. that when you say GOD HELP ME ,FORGIVE ME. if you get me out of this I will do this.I will be good ,go to church and all them good thing's pleas help me dear god.that is what they mean no atheists in foxholes" when your *** in on the line you will change your mine.
2007-06-29 17:24:33 · answer #11 · answered by george 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋