Model Secular Policy Guide.pdf

MILITARYThe military presents a unique situation where the government is intricately involved in daily life for overa million active duty personnel. While providing service members with access to fulfill their own personalbeliefs, the government must ensure it displays neutrality toward religion and belief in the military.Nontheists in the armed forces deserve equal access to support and equal respect for their service.More self-identified atheists serve in the military than any other non-Christian denomination. 92 Themilitary shows its appreciation for Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Jews through special dietary anduniform accommodations and special chaplain accession policies. Yet even though nontheists serve inlarger numbers than any of these groups, they have no recognition or accommodation.Support for nontheists puts all service members on equal terms and legitimizes the religious facilities,events, and support programs provided for those who prefer religious affiliation.Religion and Christianity in particular are afforded special privileges within the U.S. military. This isobvious in the 98% Christian chaplaincy, the special accessions for Catholic chaplains, the use ofceremonial prayer, and the inculcation of God (and Christianity) into all aspects of military care programs.Our military should be neutral toward religion and avoid religious preferencing or proselytizing of any kind.Recognize Humanist IdentityOne of the very first in-processing activities for all military personnel is to receive their ID tags. Youngtroops are asked, “What is your religious preference?” There are over 100 different specific, general, andadministrative answers to that question, and military personnel enjoy the right to put their beliefs ontheir ID tags and official records. Humanists are denied even that basic right. They must choose “atheist”or “no religious preference” which are both terms that state what they don’t believe, not what they dobelieve. Adding an option would be neither administratively cumbersome nor intrusive on other beliefs,but that one additional option would add affirmation that all beliefs are accommodated equally.The Army chaplains have, for over a year, blocked an open request for a humanist option. 93 It wouldalso allow for collection of proper demographics by accommodating humanists in the military asseparate from “no religious preference” or “atheist.”POLICY RECOMMENDATION“Humanist” must be added to the list of religious preferences in all branches of service and theDefense Manpower Data Agency.35