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Oooh. @atheists.org has filed a FOIA request to learn how Pete Hegseth decided to cull the list of religious labels in the military. atheists.org/news/federal...

atheists.orgAmerican Atheists Demands Answers from Pentagon Following Removal of Atheist, Humanist Faith & Belief Codes | American AtheistsPrior changes to faith codes were the result of recommendations from the Armed Forces Chaplains Board. It is unclear whether Hegseth relied on or even sought the input of the Board before making this ...

8/6/26, 9:51 pm32 reposts141 likes

Awakened Dragon

@awakeneddragon.bsky.social

9 June

Seems the Mormons didn't think they were on the list of those in the "First They Came" poem.

Paul Callahan (he/him)

@paulcallahanmv.bsky.social

9 June

I have never been in the military, but I have never been asked to declare a faith in any school or work context. Why do they ask? I get why they might ask a conscientious objecter, not someone who serves. They have chaplains but shouldn't the soldiers find one that matches their needs?

Nicholas Weaver

@ncweaver.skerry-tech.com

9 June

Its mostly so they do the right thing if a soldier dies.

Paul Callahan (he/him)

@paulcallahanmv.bsky.social

9 June

This could be accomplished in a variety of ways, such as a living will. Don't they send bodies back to determine funeral arrangements? Is "decline to state" an option? I reveal my religion voluntarily (lapsed Catholic and atheist) but I would be offended if anyone demanded to know.

Nicholas Weaver

@ncweaver.skerry-tech.com

9 June

If the worst happens, you want to have the right chaplain show up at the parents/spouse door, different religions have very different concepts of how to handle the body etc... I don't know what policy is on "decline to state", but there is a "No religion" option, which IMO is different than athiest