Difference between revisions of "There Are No Atheists In Foxholes"

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[[File:Foxhole.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring ''There are no atheists in foxholes''.<ref name="listserv">http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696</ref>]]
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[[File:Foxhole.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring ''There are no atheists in foxholes''.<ref name="listserv">http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696</ref>]]
 
Reverend William T. Cummings, who served at Bataan, is famous for declaring "'''There are no atheists in foxholes'''."<ref name="listserv">http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696</ref>  In addition, Lieutenant Colonel Warren J. Clear, who also served at Bataan, used the expression in an
 
Reverend William T. Cummings, who served at Bataan, is famous for declaring "'''There are no atheists in foxholes'''."<ref name="listserv">http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696</ref>  In addition, Lieutenant Colonel Warren J. Clear, who also served at Bataan, used the expression in an
 
interview printed in U.S. newspapers in the middle of April.<ref name="listserv">http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696</ref>   
 
interview printed in U.S. newspapers in the middle of April.<ref name="listserv">http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696</ref>   
  
 
Chaplain F.W. Lawson of the 302d Machine Gun Battalion, who was wounded twice in wartime, declared "I doubt if there is such a thing as an [[Atheism|atheist]]. At least there isn't in a front line trench."<ref name="listserv" /> Hannah More wrote: "In agony or danger, no nature is atheist. The mind that knows not what to fly to, flies to God."<ref>[http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/Hannah-More-Quotes/ Hannah More quotes]</ref>
 
Chaplain F.W. Lawson of the 302d Machine Gun Battalion, who was wounded twice in wartime, declared "I doubt if there is such a thing as an [[Atheism|atheist]]. At least there isn't in a front line trench."<ref name="listserv" /> Hannah More wrote: "In agony or danger, no nature is atheist. The mind that knows not what to fly to, flies to God."<ref>[http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/Hannah-More-Quotes/ Hannah More quotes]</ref>
 
In recent years the organization Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers has taken up use of the slogan "Atheists in Foxholes" as a list of those men and women who serve the country while lacking a belief in a god.<ref>http://www.militaryatheists.org/expaif.html Atheists in Foxholes</ref>
 
  
 
President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] declared in remarks broadcast from the [[White House]] as part of a February 7, 1954 American Legion Program:
 
President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] declared in remarks broadcast from the [[White House]] as part of a February 7, 1954 American Legion Program:
 
{{cquote|As a former soldier, I am delighted that our veterans are sponsoring a movement to increase our awareness of God in our daily lives. In battle, they learned a great truth-that there are no atheists in the foxholes. They know that in time of test and trial, we instinctively turn to [[God]] for new courage…Whatever our individual church, whatever our personal creed, our common faith in God is a common bond among us.<ref>[http://yesteeyear.com/news/dwight-eisenhower-there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes/ Dwight Eisenhower: There are No Atheists in Foxholes]</ref>}}
 
{{cquote|As a former soldier, I am delighted that our veterans are sponsoring a movement to increase our awareness of God in our daily lives. In battle, they learned a great truth-that there are no atheists in the foxholes. They know that in time of test and trial, we instinctively turn to [[God]] for new courage…Whatever our individual church, whatever our personal creed, our common faith in God is a common bond among us.<ref>[http://yesteeyear.com/news/dwight-eisenhower-there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes/ Dwight Eisenhower: There are No Atheists in Foxholes]</ref>}}
  
 +
In recent years the organization Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers has taken up use of the slogan "Atheists in Foxholes" as a list of those men and women who serve the country while lacking a belief in a god.<ref>http://www.militaryatheists.org/expaif.html Atheists in Foxholes</ref>
 
== Research study: Combat Intensity and Religious Behavior ==
 
== Research study: Combat Intensity and Religious Behavior ==
  
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== Atheism and death anxiety ==
 
== Atheism and death anxiety ==
[[File:Gravestone.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.<ref>[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm Fear of death: worst if you’re a little religious?], World of Science]
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[[File:Arlington National Cemetery.jpg|thumbnail|200px|right|According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.<ref>[http://www.world-science.net/exclusives/050628_deathfearfrm.htm Fear of death: worst if you’re a little religious?], World of Science]
 
*J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005, Jul;60(4):P207-14. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study]. Wink P1, Scott J.</ref> See: [[Atheism and death]] ]]
 
*J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2005, Jul;60(4):P207-14. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15980288 Does religiousness buffer against the fear of death and dying in late adulthood? Findings from a longitudinal study]. Wink P1, Scott J.</ref> See: [[Atheism and death]] ]]
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and death]] and [[Atheism and cryonics]]
 
''See also:'' [[Atheism and death]] and [[Atheism and cryonics]]
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*[[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]]
 
*[[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]]
  
*[[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and interpersonal intelligence]]
+
*[[Atheism and social/interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]]
  
 
== Combat readiness, physical fitness, military drilling and death anxiety ==
 
== Combat readiness, physical fitness, military drilling and death anxiety ==
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*[[Atheism and health]]
 
*[[Atheism and health]]
 
== Atheist community is lacking in confidence ==
 
[[File:Richard Dawkins pic.jpg|alt=Richard Dawkins|thumbnail|260px|right|The [[Oxford University]] Professor [[Daniel Came]] wrote to [[Richard Dawkins]]:: "The absence of a debate with the foremost [[Christian apologetics|apologist]] for [[Christianity|Christian]] [[theism]] is a glaring omission on your [[Curriculum vitae|CV]] and is of course apt to be interpreted as cowardice on your part."<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8511931/Richard-Dawkins-accused-of-cowardice-for-refusing-to-debate-existence-of-God.html Richard Dawkins accused of cowardice for refusing to debate existence of God], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', May 14, 2011</ref>  ]]
 
''See also:'' [[Atheist movement]] and [[Atheism and interpersonal intelligence|Atheism and social intelligence]] and [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence|Atheism and emotional intelligence]] and [[Atheism and cowardice]]
 
 
In 2010, Professor [[Eric Kaufmann]], who specializes in religion/irreligion/demographics/politics, wrote:
 
{{cquote|Worldwide, the [[Desecularization|march of religion]] can probably only be reversed by a renewed, self-aware secularism. Today, it appears exhausted and lacking in confidence... Secularism's greatest triumphs owe less to science than to popular social movements like nationalism, socialism and 1960s anarchist-liberalism. Ironically, secularism's [[Global atheism|demographic deficit]] means that it will probably only succeed in the twenty-first century if it can create a secular form of 'religious' enthusiasm."<ref>[http://www.sneps.net/uploadsepk/JQR%20Demography.pdf Shall the religious inherit the earth? - Eric Kaufmann]</ref>}}
 
 
In addition, in recent times there has been a number of notable examples where leading agnostics/atheists have backed down from debate offers (see: [[Atheism and cowardice]]).
 
 
See also: [[Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates]] and [[Instances of Richard Dawkins ducking debates]] and [[Atheism and debate]]
 
  
 
== Soviet Union vs. Germany/Finland/United States ==
 
== Soviet Union vs. Germany/Finland/United States ==
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The Soviet Union also lost the [[Cold War]] to the [[United States]].
 
The Soviet Union also lost the [[Cold War]] to the [[United States]].
  
== Atheists/agnostics have frequently seen the world as designed ==
+
== Study: Nonreligious soldiers are less able to cope with traumatic combat experiences ==
 +
 
 +
''See also:'' [[Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence]]
 +
 
 +
The abstract for the ''Journal of Religion and Health'' article entitled ''Religiosity as a Moderator of Self-Efficacy and Social Support in Predicting Traumatic Stress Among Combat Soldiers'' declares:
 +
{{Cquote|Based on a sample of 54 Israeli soldiers (51 % non-religious, 49 % religious) surveyed upon their return from combat, this study investigates the moderating role of religiosity as a factor that may strengthen cognitive processing tied to the belief in oneself to persevere (i.e., self-efficacy) after trauma and/or as a factor tied to enhanced external social support that religious individuals in particular may benefit from by their involvement in a religious community. Findings revealed (1) social support was tied to greater resilience within the general sample; (2) religious soldiers were less susceptible to traumatic stress than non-religious soldiers; and (3) religiosity moderated the relationship between self-efficacy and traumatic stress but not the relationship between social support and traumatic stress. Implications of findings are discussed.<ref>[http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10943-016-0187-x ''Religiosity as a Moderator of Self-Efficacy and Social Support in Predicting Traumatic Stress Among Combat Soldiers''],  ''Journal of Religion and Health''</ref>}}
 +
 
 +
== Recommended book ==
  
Research and historical data indicate that atheists/agnostics often see the world and their lives as being the product of design (see: [[Atheism and beliefs that the world is designed]]).
+
*''No Atheists In Foxholes: Reflections and Prayers From the Front'' by Patrick McLaughlin. Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 12, 2010), ISBN-10: 0785297820
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
  
 +
*[[Atheism and death quotes]]
 
*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
 
*[[Atheists doubting the validity of atheism]]
 
*[[Denials that atheists exist]]
 
*[[Denials that atheists exist]]
 +
*[[Atheists and church attendance]]
 +
*[[Atheism and purpose]]
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 +
*[https://quoteinvestigator.com/2016/11/02/foxhole/ There Are No Atheists in Foxholes], Quote Investigator
 
*[http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696 American Dialect Society Regarding the Origin of the the Phrase "There are no atheists in foxholes"]
 
*[http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696 American Dialect Society Regarding the Origin of the the Phrase "There are no atheists in foxholes"]
*[http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/10/16/larry-gatlin-miners-chile-god-great-thou-art-atheists-fox-holes-coal-jesus LARRY GATLIN: There Are No Atheists In Foxholes -- Or In Coal Mines]  
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*[http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/secular-philosophies/atheists-in-foxholes.aspx Atheists in Foxholes], Beliefnet
 +
*[http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/10/16/larry-gatlin-miners-chile-god-great-thou-art-atheists-fox-holes-coal-jesus LARRY GATLIN: There Are No Atheists In Foxholes -- Or In Coal Mines], ''Fox News''
  
 
{{Nb Atheism}}
 
{{Nb Atheism}}

Revision as of 08:56, May 26, 2019

Reverend William T. Cummings is famous for declaring There are no atheists in foxholes.[1]

Reverend William T. Cummings, who served at Bataan, is famous for declaring "There are no atheists in foxholes."[1] In addition, Lieutenant Colonel Warren J. Clear, who also served at Bataan, used the expression in an interview printed in U.S. newspapers in the middle of April.[1]

Chaplain F.W. Lawson of the 302d Machine Gun Battalion, who was wounded twice in wartime, declared "I doubt if there is such a thing as an atheist. At least there isn't in a front line trench."[1] Hannah More wrote: "In agony or danger, no nature is atheist. The mind that knows not what to fly to, flies to God."[2]

President Dwight D. Eisenhower declared in remarks broadcast from the White House as part of a February 7, 1954 American Legion Program:

As a former soldier, I am delighted that our veterans are sponsoring a movement to increase our awareness of God in our daily lives. In battle, they learned a great truth-that there are no atheists in the foxholes. They know that in time of test and trial, we instinctively turn to God for new courage…Whatever our individual church, whatever our personal creed, our common faith in God is a common bond among us.[3]

In recent years the organization Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers has taken up use of the slogan "Atheists in Foxholes" as a list of those men and women who serve the country while lacking a belief in a god.[4]

Research study: Combat Intensity and Religious Behavior

In September of 2013, in the Journal of Religion and Health Brian Wansink and Craig S. Wansink published a study entitled Are There Atheists in Foxholes? Combat Intensity and Religious Behavior and the journal article abstract declares:

Abstract:

After battle, the moral and mortality stresses influence different soldiers in different ways. Using two large-scale surveys of World War II veterans, this research investigates the impact of combat on religiosity. Study 1 shows that as combat became more frightening, the percentage of soldiers who reported praying rose from 42 to 72 %. Study 2 shows that 50 years later, many soldiers still exhibited religious behavior, but it varied by their war experience. Soldiers who faced heavy combat (vs. no combat) attended church 21 % more often if they claimed their war experience was negative, but those who claimed their experience was positive attended 26 % less often. The more a combat veteran disliked the war, the more religious they were 50 years later. While implications for counselors, clergy, support groups, and health practitioners are outlined, saying there are no atheists in foxholes may be less of an argument against atheism than it is against foxholes."[5]

Atheism and death anxiety

According to a study performed in the United States by researchers Wink and Scott, very religious people fear death the least.[6] See: Atheism and death

See also: Atheism and death and Atheism and cryonics

On April 2, 2012, Science Daily reported that Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God.[7] In a 2012 Psychology Today article, Dr. Nathan A. Heflick reported similar results in other studies.[8] For more information on death anxiety in atheists and other types of individuals based on brain research studies (including studies that examined the effects of stress), please see the article: Atheism and death

(Under stress, the brain's processing works in a way that prefers unconscious thinking.[9])

A United States study and a Taiwanese study indicated that the irreligious fear death more than the very religious (Please see the article: Atheism and death).

Relevance to atheistic/theistic thinking in foxholes

Due to research showing that death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God, Dr. Nathan Heflick declared in a Psychology Today article, "But, at a less conscious (or pre-conscious) level, this research suggests that there might be less atheism in foxholes than atheists in foxholes report."[10] For more information, please see: Atheism and death

Atheism and hell

See also: Atheism and Hell

The journalist and ex-atheist Peter Hitchens, who is the brother of the late atheist Christopher Hitchens, said upon seeing an art exhibit of Michelangelo's painting The Last Judgment he came to the realization that he might be judged which startled him.[11] This started a train of thought within Peter Hichens that eventually led him to become a Christian.[12]

Atheism and cryonics

See: Atheism and cryonics

Cryonics is a pseudoscience that tries to extend life or achieve immortality in a non-theistic way after a person is legally dead (Cryonic procedures are performed shortly after a person's death).[13][14] Atheists Robert Ettinger and Isaac Asimov, played a notable role in the founding of the cryonics movement.[15] According to The Cryonics Society, Asimov said of cryonics, "Though no one can quantify the probability of cryonics working, I estimate it is at least 90%..."[16] For more information, please see: Atheism and cryonics

Moral courage, emotional intelligence and troop/unit morale

In combat conditions, the bravery/cowardice of soldiers is partially dependent on moral courage, emotional resilience, and troop/unit morale/cohesion.

Please see:

Combat readiness, physical fitness, military drilling and death anxiety

In addition, combat readiness in military personnel is enhanced through vigorous physical training and military drilling. The more combat ability military personnel have, the less their anxiety.

Please see:

Soviet Union vs. Germany/Finland/United States

Stalingrad

The Battle of Stalingrad, one of the harshest battles in history, amongst many other battles in the Eastern Front of WWII, was successfully defended by the Soviet Union's army against Nazi Germany aggression. The Soviet Union had state atheism. Although Soviet state atheism was largely unsuccessful in making converts as a whole, there were likely atheists who participated in the Battle of Stalingrad as state atheism had more success in urban regions than rural regions.[17]

The Soviet Union atheistic communists and Nazis both advocated evolution and neither were Bible believers (see: Social effects of the theory of evolution).[18]

Soviet Union vs. Finnish

The quality of the Soviet Union's army was poor in WWII and they were unable to conquer Finland even when they had a much larger numerical superiority of troops.[19][20]

Soviet Union vs. United States: The Cold War

The Soviet Union also lost the Cold War to the United States.

Study: Nonreligious soldiers are less able to cope with traumatic combat experiences

See also: Atheism and emotional/intrapersonal intelligence

The abstract for the Journal of Religion and Health article entitled Religiosity as a Moderator of Self-Efficacy and Social Support in Predicting Traumatic Stress Among Combat Soldiers declares:

Based on a sample of 54 Israeli soldiers (51 % non-religious, 49 % religious) surveyed upon their return from combat, this study investigates the moderating role of religiosity as a factor that may strengthen cognitive processing tied to the belief in oneself to persevere (i.e., self-efficacy) after trauma and/or as a factor tied to enhanced external social support that religious individuals in particular may benefit from by their involvement in a religious community. Findings revealed (1) social support was tied to greater resilience within the general sample; (2) religious soldiers were less susceptible to traumatic stress than non-religious soldiers; and (3) religiosity moderated the relationship between self-efficacy and traumatic stress but not the relationship between social support and traumatic stress. Implications of findings are discussed.[21]

Recommended book

  • No Atheists In Foxholes: Reflections and Prayers From the Front by Patrick McLaughlin. Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 12, 2010), ISBN-10: 0785297820

See also

External Links

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0609D&L=ads-l&P=15696
  2. Hannah More quotes
  3. Dwight Eisenhower: There are No Atheists in Foxholes
  4. http://www.militaryatheists.org/expaif.html Atheists in Foxholes
  5. [1]
  6. Fear of death: worst if you’re a little religious?, World of Science]
  7. Death anxiety increases atheists' unconscious belief in God, Science Daily], Date: April 2, 2012
  8. Atheists, Death and Belief in God The Effects of Death Reminders on Atheists' Supernatural Beliefs, Psychology Today, Published on May 25, 2012 by Nathan A. Heflick, Ph.D. in The Big Questions
  9. Atheists, Death and Belief in God The Effects of Death Reminders on Atheists' Supernatural Beliefs, Psychology Today, Published on May 25, 2012 by Nathan A. Heflick, Ph.D. in The Big Questions
  10. Interview of Peter Hitchens - Video at Vimeo
  11. Interview of Peter Hitchens - Video at Vimeo
  12. Cryogenesis: A Review, Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science, In Winter 2012/ March 11, 2012
  13. Heaven for atheists - TheHumanist.com
  14. Cryonics and critics, The Cryonics Society
  15. [http://www.thedivineconspiracy.org/Z3211C.pdf Forced Secularization in Soviet Russia: Why an Atheistic Monopoly Failed]
  16. Did Hitler rewrite the Bible?
  17. The Incredible Story of Finnish Sniper Simo Hayha
  18. A Brief History of Finland in WWII
  19. Religiosity as a Moderator of Self-Efficacy and Social Support in Predicting Traumatic Stress Among Combat Soldiers, Journal of Religion and Health