Are there no Atheists in the Foxholes?

 The average Jane is usually not in hand to hand combat with the enemy anymore, so there will probably not be any atheists in your fictitious foxhole. You are much more likely to communicate with an atheist in formation, at the barracks, on duty, performing PMCS on your vehicle, at training events or at your regular place of 9-5 duty. 

Two better questions when considering who you will be vulnerable with about your faith and beliefs with other battle buddies should be:

  1.        What is this soldier’s attitude towards Christianity? 
You will be spending a significant chunk of time with other soldiers so you need to make sure as much as it is in your power to keep good relationships with your baddle buddies, since you usually do not have a choice if you want to be around that other person or not.

  2.     Are they an actually an active atheist?

Firstly, 

you need to know the Soldier’s emotions about Christianity before you can begin to determine if their temperament towards your beliefs is something you want to give your time engaging or explaining. If the Soldier that inquires seems manipulative or aggressive or untrustworthy, use discernment and determine if actually going into religious beliefs and details is the best idea for a healthy long-term relationship with your battle buddy. Many Soldiers in the Army have experienced past hurts with Christians that have not been resolved and want to attack or take out their problems on you, since you affiliate with the overall arching Christian Community. You can be a source for hurt people to try and resolve past hurts.

Furthermore, you do not want to cause enmity with your battle buddies whom you work with constantly, so sometimes it is best for the unit and yourself if you avoid engaging with angry hurt people who have no intention of listening to you or caring about what you have to say. God does not call you to be a punching bag for someone else’s past bad hurts or poor experiences.

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Secondly,

Webster’s dictionary defines an atheist as: one who believes that God does not exist.

In my opinion, I don’t think most people do not think or believe that a God of some kind does not exist. Hence Webster’s dictionary definition of an agnostic: a person who does who does not have a definite belief about whether God exists or not.

I think most soldiers in your formation or unit could be more accurately defined as an agnostic. They’re not quite searching, but they are not quite ruling out the idea that a God could exist. I think most of them are waiting for someone to tell them or hoping they’ll figure it out on their own.

Most people are in search of a God. One who will be real and honest with them. God is not always this way. He works mysteriously and not based on our agenda for him. And we have to remember everyone is suffering. From the happiest E-9 to lowest and recently punished E-1. We are all looking for hope and sometimes you just have to let people get so far down low or high to realize they need God. God doesn’t need you to explain him to others. He’s got everything under control.

Besides most soldiers not having any preference or definitive answer on their religious beliefs, there are few and far between who practice ACTIVE Atheism. One reason is probably because it is hard to be active about something that does not exist. It would be like saying, “I’m going to actively worship my non-existent God.” Another reason is most soldiers have not researched Christianity and they just want to label themselves as an atheist so overbearing and overwhelming Christians will leave them alone.

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Like Christians, Atheists are looking for the same things, love, respect, support, and acceptance, etc.