2007-10-20 18:56:21 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It's supposed to imply that, when faced with their own mortality, atheists turn to God and beg for mercy or protection or salvation, etc. It means that, when in a "foxhole" (i.e. life threatening situation), all atheists will turn into theists and pray.
It's not true, but people for some reason think it is. In fact, I'm proof that it's not true. I had one foot past death's doorway and I never "called out" for God or Quetzalcoatl or Zeus or Ra or Ninsun or Freya, etc.
2007-10-20 19:03:04 · answer #1 · answered by ZER0 C00L ••AM••VT•• 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Scared into Jesus.
I'm sure that this happens to some. Mankind has evolved in fear. It's a DNA thing. In the past we had no idea what was going on and we jumped to all kinds of outlandish conclusions.
I remember doing so as a child. If I got sick I would think about what I had done and, arriving at no logical answer, I would make illogical conclusions. This is how our minds work. I have grown to understand that, as a child, I had not the knowledge to reach a rational conclusion. As an adult I also understand that I can still jump to irrational conclusions except for the fact that I now, with knowledge, can correct this.
2007-10-21 02:06:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means that everyone turns to God in a life-threatening situation. It's completely ridiculous.
Considering the fact that Christians consider that God is on their side and they are supposedly guaranteed an eternity in paradise in the unlikely event of their death, they should be charging into the thick of battle.
Therefore, there should only be atheists in foxholes.
2007-10-21 02:08:55 · answer #3 · answered by Anthony Stark 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The foxhole is the hole that the soldier digs and enters into, in order to protect himself from the gunfire of the enemy. It means that when a person is in a life-threatening situation, he is likely to turn to God and ask for protection and help. It's not true of everyone, but if the person is going to turn to God, it is the place he is most likely to do so.
2007-10-21 02:09:25 · answer #4 · answered by Pat G 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is an imposition asserted by believers. It is also false.
See foxholeatheists.com and www.maaf.info
My atheist nephew served 12 years, is a combat veteran and laughs at the notion. He says in a sense, they are right, because the atheists would come out to fight while the believers staying in the foxholes wetting their pants.
It was first said by Douglas MacArthur in the 1940s.
2007-10-21 01:59:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 0⤋
We all know what it means but is it true?
I watched a DVD "Touching the Void", a fact-based story about two mountain climbers. One of them, I don't remember if it was Simpson or Yates, suffered a near-fatal accident on a mountain and went through incredible difficulty and suffering to make it back by himself to base camp. He stated something like:
"I always wondered if I were in a really bad situation, if I'd pray a Hail Mary (having been raised a Catholic) even though I'm an Atheist" His answer was - he didn't pray at all, he didn't change his beliefs.
2007-10-21 12:51:07 · answer #6 · answered by Renata 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The idea is that nonbelievers will turn to god in times of extreme stress and perhaps a way to reduce the notions of atheists in the military. Note the case of Tillman. His family was treated unfairly when the military learned that he was not a Christian:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Tillman
Also note Alan Turning. He cracked the German Enigma code and practically saved Britain during WWII, but the military charged him with "gross indecency" for being homosexual. He killed himself with an apple in doused in cyanide.
Never let their bigotry cloud the contributions of any group of people.
http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/02/06/060206crbo_books
2007-10-21 02:11:30 · answer #7 · answered by Dalarus 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, america is run by evangelists. The quote was a stab, stating that there are no atheists in the military... really what they are saying is that the military in Iraq and Afghanistan is the army of jesus... I found it both offensive and severely bigoted. The retarded bastard that said it needs to spend a good week on the front line.
2007-10-21 02:04:32 · answer #8 · answered by Judo Chop 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
there are no atheists in foxholes cause the foxes are already there
2007-10-21 02:00:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Wikipedia knows all... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atheists_in_foxholes
(quoted from wikipedia): The statement "There are no atheists in foxholes" is used to imply that atheists really do believe in 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.
and all i can say to this is LOL.
2007-10-21 02:01:20 · answer #10 · answered by SSejychan 4 · 8⤊ 3⤋