The Rock Beyond Belief event at Fort Bragg, organized by soldiers here two years after an evangelical Christian event at the eastern North Carolina post, is the most visible sign so far of a growing desire by military personnel with atheist or other secular beliefs to get the same recognition as their religious counterparts.
The purpose was not to make the Army look bad, organizers said, but to show that atheists and other secular believers have a place in institutions like the military
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"I love the military," said Sgt. Justin Griffith, main organizer of the event and the military director of American Atheists. He added, "This is not meant to be a black eye."
Griffith said he and other non-religious soldiers are not permitted to hold atheist meetings at the post and have so far been rebuffed in their efforts to change that. They feel their beliefs marginalize them.
Organizers were hoping for a crowd of about 5,000. At least several hundred people gathered on the parade ground by midday Saturday.
If you're expecting 5,000 and 'several hundred' show up-
ReplyDeleteWouldn't you call that a bust?
If you don't believe in religion, why do you need a place to meet to talk about your non religion?
Do you have non-religious hymnals and listen to non-religious sermons?
Do you have non-religious hymnals and listen to non-religious sermons?
ReplyDeleteNow that's good!:)