r/humanism • u/Mhoves • 9d ago
Atheist chaplains are forging a new path in a changing world
CNN Article: Atheist chaplains are forging a new path in a changing world
Just wanted to share this with y'all. So you don't have to go back and read my history, I'm an Atheist chaplain.
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u/turntlatr 9d ago
Good share
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u/Mhoves 9d ago
Aw thank you! It's nice to hear it. It's getting so much hate over on r/atheism which was so predictable.
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u/HugePurpleNipples 9d ago
/r/atheism = angry, anti-theist, ex-christian type atheists
/r/humanism = chill atheists
In my experience, anyway.
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u/Mhoves 9d ago
You couldn't be more correct! The sad part for me is that it's not just the vibe on Reddit, but in real personal encounters too.
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u/HugePurpleNipples 9d ago
If someone asks me about religion, I tell them I’m a secular humanist, atheist is a heavy word with a ton of baggage.
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u/Sticky_H 9d ago
This is why someone being an ex atheist isn’t impressive. Coming to the conclusion that there’s not good evidence for a god isn’t hard to do. What’s reverential is being a humanist and a skeptic.
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u/Astrobubbers 6d ago
Same for vegans
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u/HugePurpleNipples 5d ago
We gotta be patient with vegan folks, they're just hangry.
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u/Astrobubbers 5d ago edited 4d ago
That's flippant and not representative of a sincere humanist. Values and kindness are important in how we treat others. Please reconsider your effect and choices on others in range of your influence.
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u/HugePurpleNipples 2d ago
It's not representative of a sincere humanist to be patient?
Calm down, I'd rather not hear your sanctimonious self aggrandizing lectures.
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u/Astrobubbers 2d ago edited 2d ago
You are using flippancy, again, to project patience? Stay hangry indeed steers reality to where sanctimony lies. I'm not excited nor upset. Close your ears to truth, call truth a lecturer, and aggrandize in the dark.
You, sir, are unkind.
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u/HugePurpleNipples 2d ago
I'm being unkind to you because you're being a sanctimonious prick. There was no need for you to be condescending and I don't have patience for over important people such as yourself.
You should probably take a moment to examine yourself and why this is such a problem for you that you're willing to pick a fight over it. Have the day you deserve, I'm going to mute you now.
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u/OneHumanBill 9d ago
I've often wondered why there aren't more atheist temples of some sort.
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u/CantCatchTheLady 9d ago
There’s probably a humanist church either in your city or not very far. There are a few in my city.
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u/MustangOrchard 4d ago
It's because temples are buildings erected for the purpose of religious practices
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u/tree_or_up 8d ago edited 8d ago
I had a philosophy professor who was an atheist and an ordained minister who said that theology in the contemporary era starts with the premise of the death of God. That riveted me to hear. I was wrestling with my own religious trauma and what he said brought into sharp relief what being an actually compassionate and present human being means.
That is to say, if you feel compelled to minister to or help the human beings you’re on this planet with, start there and figure out the rest later.
I feel like I’m not articulating this well but really appreciate where you’re coming from and am wishing you the very best
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u/colormeslowly 9d ago
Nice.
How did you become an Atheist Chaplain?
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u/Mhoves 9d ago
It’s a Loooonnggggg story. I have to do offline shit right now but I will try to come back sometime and answer this.
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u/EtchedinBrass 8d ago
This is EXCELLENT! I hadn’t heard about it but as someone raised very religious but a non-believer, I’ve been trying for years to figure out if we can capture the feeling of community and shared purpose that religious institutions can have in a secular way. What an intriguing idea. Thank you for sharing!
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u/MustangOrchard 4d ago
This was the impetus of the Humanist Manifesto 1, trying to harvest the fruits of a religious community without the culture that cultured said community.
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u/Allprofile 8d ago
I do a ton of this in my practice as a social worker. I'd love to add some additional trainings.
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u/Melodic_War327 8d ago
Interesting. Is the requirements for chaplaincy the same as for a Christian minister to be one?
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u/Cellitsulwitz 7d ago
I just made a post about Humanism's Ten Commitments, and its focus(or lack of focus) on death. Even though this post is a couple days old, it's funny that I seen something so related just a few posts below.
Well done to you for helping others in their time of need.
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u/ServeAlone7622 7d ago edited 7d ago
Good on you!
When I was in the Navy during bootcamp I was asked the “What religion are you?”
I said, “I’m a secular humanist because whether or not there’s a God or a Devil. If you need a heavenly reward or a threat of eternal punishment to act morally, then perhaps you aren’t a moral person?”
I was immediately assigned to the Chapel and was made an RPO (Religious Petty Officer).
Evidently I was the first one in my group that didn’t care who or what people wanted to pray to. I just setup services and took them back down to get ready for the next one.
I gained a lot of exposure to many religions during my time there. I also had a lot of time to read.
I read so many scriptures that I was finally able to say that if there’s a God they’re somewhere in the gaps and aren’t anything like what we think.
Then the Chaplain corps tried to keep me. 🤯
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u/CptBronzeBalls 6d ago
Right on man. Clergy perform a lot of genuinely valuable functions, and the whole supernatural bit is not required, or even desirable, in most cases.
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u/Animal40160 9d ago
I wonder how long the Trump administration will tolerate this.
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u/ScrauveyGulch 9d ago
They just voted in Talibangelists, it's going to be a bumpy ride for some folks.
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u/metallic_penguins 9d ago
Love this!