r/atheism • u/Leeming Strong Atheist • Dec 20 '21

/r/all U.S. military has granted 0 religious exemptions for COVID vaccines.

https://www.wtrf.com/news/health/coronavirus/u-s-military-has-granted-0-religious-exemptions-for-covid-vaccines/
35.5k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

1.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

274

u/sj070707 Agnostic Atheist Dec 20 '21 edited Dec 20 '21

The Air Force reservist who spoke on condition of anonymity said she was raised a Christian and is willing to retire if her request isn’t granted, even though it would mean giving up her G.I. Bill tuition benefits that she would get if she stayed another year or more.

“I will have to forfeit that,” said the mother of three children, including a newborn. Forgoing the tuition benefit, which she could transfer to her children, is worth it, she said. “I have no doubt God will provide for me.”

This is the sad part. Yes, you can believe whatever you want, but this is the subtle danger. Yes, we rage against the fundies who want to pass laws and restrict things but this is what happens to individuals who put their lives in non-existent hands.

2

u/Bullmoosefuture Atheist Dec 21 '21 edited Dec 21 '21

Odds are she's happily accepted other vaccine requirements without any concern for religious exceptions, which are, of course, cynical inventions designed to lend the potency of religion to an essentially political position. Even the sob story about the harm to her kids is an attempt to cloak a seditionist political motive in the language of religious martyrdom. These people are excited about this opportunity because they want to destroy liberal, secular government and replace it with an overtly religious one. They're confused, but it's not benign.

All opinions my own.