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Atheist soldier claims harassment

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Like hundreds of young men joining the Army in recent years, Jeremy Hall professes a desire to serve his country while it fights terrorism.
But the short and soft-spoken specialist is at the center of a legal controversy. He has filed a lawsuit alleging he's been harassed and his constitutional rights have been violated because he doesn't believe in God. The suit names Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

"I'm not in it for cash," Hall said. "I want no one else to go what I went through."

Known as "the atheist guy," Hall has been called immoral, a devil worshipper and -- just as severe to some soldiers -- gay, none of which, he says, is true. Hall even drove fellow soldiers to church in Iraq and paused while they prayed before meals.

"I see a name and rank and United States flag on their shoulder. That's what I believe everyone else should see," he said.

Hall, 23, was raised in a Protestant family in North Carolina and dropped out of school. It wasn't until he joined the Army that he began questioning religion, eventually deciding he couldn't follow any faith.

But he feared how that would look to other soldiers.

"I was ashamed to say that I was an atheist," Hall said.

It eventually came out in Iraq in 2007, when he was in a firefight. Hall was a gunner on a Humvee, which took several bullets in its protective shield. Afterward, his commander asked whether he believed in God, Hall said.

"I said, 'No, but I believe in Plexiglas,"' Hall said. "I've never believed I was going to a happy place. You get one life. When I die, I'm worm food."

The issue came to a head when, according to Hall, a superior officer, Maj. Freddy J. Welborn, threatened to bring charges against him for trying to hold a meeting of atheists in Iraq. Welborn has denied Hall's allegations.

Hall said he had had enough but feared he wouldn't get support from Welborn's superiors. He turned to Mikey Weinstein and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
jcwelker

16 responses // Atheist soldier claims harassment

  • Persecution from the religious is one of the all-time great hypocrisies and any person who has the moral courage to fight prejudice, in any form, has my vote.
    mako2424
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here and here
    I, myself, am Polytheistic, so I believe in the male and female aspects of a Greater Deity... however... anyone being an Atheist- I think that belief in the self is the primary starting point and constant path for anybody.
    I used to be an Atheist. It drove my grandmother crazy (she's Roman Catholic). The only things I truly placed any faith in was myself and my environment around me. So yeah, "I believe in Plexiglas" is the perfect way to describe the basic understanding of being an Atheist and if people don't like it... tough!
    It isn't mandatory to have a religion of any kind. As one of many intelligent species on this planet, we have the ability- and the right- to follow, create, or become completely independent of any religious path.
    I am very appreciative of any fellow soldier who is willing to stand up for hirself (him/her) and others within the military ranks. Isn't that what they're fighting for?! Freedom of religion (or the freedom to choose NONE at all)- even within our own government- must be maintained.
    Keep it up, Specialist Hall!! You are most assuredly -Army Strong- to keep fighting for your own belief-standards as well as others in your path.
    I'm not trying to throw my own religion upon you, but you are in my prayers and may the greater forces of Nature place the wind upon your back and point the stars to guide you and your supporters safe.
    Blessings,
    ZenKat
    ZenKat
  • I couldn't agree more with what you said Zenkat. What you said about our soldiers fighting for their right to practice whatever religion they want is a large part of what the USA is supposed to be about. What really saddens me is the fact that our military doesn't really seem to get that. It seems to me that our military believes that it should only be made up of straight christian males. Very sad.
    Yoshi1
  • There is no god in Iraq for sure.... (or anywhere else)
    rigellianaire
  • as an animist , i know exactly where this guy is coming from - plexiglas indeed.
    malathion
  • Believe whatever you want, til that insurgents takes out ya battlebuddy......
    BruceBruce
  • Good point ZenKat.

    Also, surely "Freedom of Religion" also means "Freedom from Religion". I've never understood why people disliked or even hated atheists. They don't believe in what you believe in: big deal!
    csbrown203
  • Isn’t if funny how people who worship God, constantly decry those who express what is an undeniable instilled virtue/unalienable right in every person on earth.

    Free Will to choose.

    Did these decrier’s give humans Free Will? No.

    Did the decrier’s God give humans Free Will? Yes.

    Then who do these assholes think they are, God? Yes.

    Why do these mortals think they're God?
    Pwdrskir
  • personally , i'd respect someone more if they just said they were a "freethinker" as opposed to being an "atheist" - "freethinker" is a more intellectually evolved term - calling one's self an "atheist" just invites BS , which i'd say is partly deserved so long as someone chooses to further the whole BS dichotomy of "atheist vs theist" ( or however one likes to frame it ) by saying they're an "atheist" to begin with - this world needs more "freethinkers" , not "atheists" .
    malathion
  • You have to believe in SOMETHING to be an atheist...i think atheists deliberately go against what they used to believe in because they find it easier to live without rules to the soul. It's their choice though....they shouldn't be harassed. One Love
    Jouvon_Kingsby
  • regardless of religion, ideology, or belief, everyone has the right to religious, or as I like to say, intellectual freedom. I'm sure that there are other soldiers in Iraq who feel the same way as Jeremy. More solidiers should come forward with their stories about intellectual persecution.
    suepierre
  • well, you HAVE to be a freethinker, to be an atheist! remember kids, just cause the MAJORITY belives in something, don't make it RIGHT. remember lynching, and mccarthyism? and what about the reasons for going into iraq.

    funny, how in history, it's the MINORTY that's usually right, maybe because people are mostly easily programmed sheep, that should be slaughtered. fight on ATHEIST brother, i bet those religous infidels belive in santa clause and lucky charms too. F them. their bullshit should boune off of you like rain. i don't belive in santa clause, jesus/ala, or zeus, period!
    Wessagusset_Oracle
  • the Oracle has spoken upon thee
    Wessagusset_Oracle
  • you sign away your rights to the military when you join. get over it, get out, move on.
    diode
  • People who are fighting for the US Constitutional way of life don’t have any rights? That’s great…
    Pwdrskir
  • I AM SO SORRY THAT IGNORANT PEOPLE HAVE PERSECUTED YOU. I WENT THROUGH THIS IN COLLEGE AND IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FIGHT. STICK TO YOUR BELIEFS. EASTERN PHILOSOPHIES LIKE BUDDHISM ARE A WONDERFUL ALTERNATIVE. IT IS NOT A RELIGION IT IS A PERSONAL BELIEF SYSTEM. RELIGION IS A FAIRY TAIL AND AN EXCUSE TO START WARS AND KEEP US IN LINE BECAUSE HUMAN ARE SO INNATELY CORRUPT.
    iraqtheillegalwar

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