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Supporting Civil Rights for Atheists and the Separation of Church and State
08
Sep
2011
Keep evangelism and politics out of US Military funerals
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the fabrication of a controversy surrounding military funerals for veterans in Texas (my home state). Three Congressmen from Texas are in the middle of a deceptive media blitz.
They are ‘standing up for’ a few private groups who like to officially incorporate their Christian prayer and ceremonies at the funerals of military veterans. The problem is, well… there is no problem!
There is no ban of mentioning 'God' or 'Jesus' at funerals for veterans. These outside organizations simply need to ensure that their religious message is actually wanted by the grieving family. But that's not good enough for them, they want to be entitled to religious ceremony at every funeral by default sans any form of permission.
They literally want to force Christian prayer over my dead body. But even that's not good enough, they are now going for the jugular.
These groups aren't being discriminated against in the slightest, they just need to get a form signed. When the Houston National Cemetery director Arleen Ocasio pointed to this fact, the Texas politicians and religious zealots made it their personal mission to get her fired.
The American Family Association (AFA) has issued a deceptive action alert to their members.
VA Bans Mention of God at Funerals for Vets
Send an email to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. Ask him to1) stop his department's religious discrimination and
2) relieve Director Ocasio of her duties.
Counter the AFA's publicity stunt before those dangerous TX politicians start drafting laws around this falsehood. Also, let's attempt to save this poor woman's job.
With just 1 minute of your time, you can help us debunk the propaganda and lies about "god" and "jesus" being banned from funerals. This is 100% false, and the zealots are winning the PR game. In my capacity as the Military Director for American Atheists, I'm going to fight this insanity. Here's an easy way that you can help.
Have 1 minute to help? Click here to send a message to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs
If you are unfamiliar with the statements being made by the Texas politicians, I'm re-posting the handy scorecard below the fold.
Justin Griffith - Military Director of American Atheists, Inc.
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Comments
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
I'm not sure you grasped the point, but perhaps I'm misreading your statements. There is no need to refer to Jesus under a different name, because there IS NO BAN and nobody is asking for one.
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
I Almost Agree, but this goes for LIBERALS as well.
However, I don't think it is wrong for close family members to speak about Jesus if they wish. If the couple was very religious and they want to speak about Jesus, then let them. But it seems as though you agree with me on this part.
But why say this?
"There is no ban of mentioning ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ at funerals for veterans"
Well as I stated before, one can still believe in a God and not be part of a religion. I know people who are agnostic, but refer to the Universe as God (which seems more like Pan-Theism). Einstein refered to God in a different way as well. So there are different meanings to the word "God".
The point is if you are going to ban the name "Jesus" then you have to ban many other names from other religions just to be fair. (Remember the "One God Further" fallacious argument I see atheists using, this is where it comes back to bite you). So to be fair we must ALSO remove Zeus, Allah, Apollo, Jupiter, Krishna...etc
And one can get around this as a Christian, by using a different name for Jesus. So if you guys want to ruin Christianity, you are going to have to work harder at this, and use those free-thinking skills this purposeless Universe gave you, because I've already found ways around this.
See I help everyone :)
Ummmm....Didn't mean to post that 13 times and Don't know why It did...
Well, here's what I have to say about that: I am in the military, and I would not want some private group of yahoos spreading the word of god over my funeral because I am an ATHEIST! Just because we are soldiers for our country does not mean that we have to be God abiding citizens. I know several others whom I work with who share this same view, one is Muslim and a U.S.A.soldier, and they would agree. The issue is that people refer to the phrase "For God and Country," but I say "For my Country and my People." It annoys me that American always have to interject god into everything, as if god (if he existed)really favors The U.S. over the other 200+ countries in the world. I feel that these gentlemen should keep out of others beliefs. If the family wants their word, they have every right to request them.
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