Nontheist religions and beliefs

Consideration of Others

Agenda

Purpose

Army Policy

Terms

Selected Beliefs

Myths/Truths

Handouts/Examples

Army Policy

DOD 1300.17 Accommodation of Religious Practices “The Department of Defense places a high value on the rights of members of the Armed Forces to observe the tenets of their respective religions.”

AR 600-20 Army Command Policy “The EO program formulates, directs, and sustains a comprehensive effort to maximize human potential and to ensure fair treatment.”

Terms

Theist: relating to a belief in a god or gods

Nontheist: without belief in gods or the supernatural; secular

Atheist: without or opposed to a belief in gods

Agnostic: lit. without knowledge; colloq. uncertain of the existence of gods.

Religion: consists of a world view and a way of life

ReligionBelief system consisting of

World ViewGod exists or does notThere are or are not supernatural forces in the worldMan is naturally evil, good, or neitherLife repeats itself, death is a final end, life after death is possible

Way of Lifepacifism vs militarismrituals for worship or benefitsdress, eating, and social habitsenlightenment/piety through scripture or through internal reason

Nontheist Religions and Religious Organizations

Atheism: Atheist Alliance

Secular Humanism: International Humanist and Ethical Union

Positive Atheism

Freethought: Church of Freethought

Ethical Culture: American Ethical Union

MythsNontheists hate religion

Nontheists recognize, as anyone should, that hate, especially for a group, is prejudice, and the object of that prejudice is generally independent of the hate. Nontheists may disagree with religion, but that does not prevent study of religion or interaction with religious people.

Atheists are amoralAtheism itself means disbelief in a god or gods, and has nothing specifically to do with morality. However, secular morality teaches that doing good is good in itself and independent of the desires of any Higher Power, natural or supernatural.

Myths (cont)Nontheists worship Darwin

Nontheism does not translate to religious terms, it has no object of worship of worship, scripture, hierarchical clergy, or rituals to define itself. Reason and experience help provide understanding.

Secular Documents

Secular Humanism: Humanist Manifesto

Ethical Culture: Eight Commitments of Ethical Society

Church of Freethought: “Our Church Services”

IHEU Minimum Statement on Humanism

Conclusion

Nontheistic and atheistic religions exist

Many people, including soldiers are atheist

It is important to respect atheistic belief systems as much as theistic belief systems