Did you know there's a symbol for atheists' headstones at Arlington?

[barbaraann]

I was just wondering about that after looking at photos of Arlington West and found this webpage at the official Arlington National Cemetary website which lists 32 authorized faith emblems.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/funeral_information/authorized_emblems.html

The symbol for atheists is an atom and there is a symbol for Unitarians but not for Wiccans. I can't find numbers anywhere for the proportion of various symbols on the graves, but apparently there have indeed been some atheists in foxholes.

I find it interesting that the symbol for atheism is not simply an absence of a religious symbol but the presence of a symbol representing science.

[jeff30997]

1. Cool !

[Justin54B20L]

2. Pretty interesting, yet no symbol for Taoists?

I mean they have Buddhism symbols, interesting.

[On the Road]

3. Does the Mormon Symbol Represent the Utah Jazz?

:silly:

It looks like all kinds of fringe groups are represented there. My favorite is Eckankar ("the ancient science of sould travel"). I remember some of their material in college. Even knew someone who joined. Didn't know they were still around.

[kestrel91316]

5. They can include Eckankar, but they can't be bothered to put a

Pentagram on the Wiccans' headstones???

Once again, the Wiccans get short shrift. Why am I not surprised?

[bryant69]

12. Are their other symbols wiccans revere?

You probably know why the pentagram is a hard sell. But are there other symbols?

Bryant
Check it out--> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[northzax]

22. maybe no Wiccans have requested one?

I would bet that Eckankar is there because someone asked for it on their marker. As soon as someone self-identifies as Wiccan in the military and qualifies for Arlington, or anoother military cemetary, they'll finda wicca symbol to use.

[barbaraann]

8. LOL!

If they have Eckankar, I guess they might add Scientology. :o

[MojoXN]

4. Is it a lithium atom by any chance?

[barbaraann]

10. hmmm....

Sorry, I don't recognize that atom. :shrug:

[MojoXN]

18. It's the one with 3 electrons.

[barbaraann]

28. Oh, it is lithium.

http://www.ktf-split.hr/periodni/en/

I didn't know lithium had such a low number.

[Village Idiot]

31. Normally, but...

it has been frequently excited to 6 free orbits for use with Plutonium in old nukes...

[PurityOfEssence]

20. Care to explain that?

That isn't a crack about insanity, is it?

[barbaraann]

30. It's actually from the Periodic Table.

http://www.ktf-split.hr/periodni/en/

[oneighty]

6. Very interesting

When I was getting my first set of 'Dog Tags' I was asked "What is your religion?" Being young and religion ignorant I replied "I do not have a religion."

Guy say "Well now you are a protestant" and a 'P' was added to my dog tags.

And that is how I became a 'P'.

I am surprised one could be an 'A'.

180

[MindPilot]

14. Mine said "No Pref"

But i have heard tales of active duty people having commercial replica tags made that actually say "Atheist".

It's interesting they have all those symbols for the headstones, but when you're in you only get to pick from the big three or don't care.

[oneighty]

26. Friend in Japan

Tried to change his to 'B' Buddhist. He was refused. Strange there are/were such rules.

180

[BrotherBuzz]

36. Another "No Pref", here, too...

and it was taxing to get even that on my dogtags as Agnostic wasn't on the approved list at the time... I wonder what our "No Pref" chunk of concrete could look like...blank? I might like a blank marker...you know, a clean slate as I enter into new waters....

[oneighty]

38. New waters

gulp! And hee hee hee

My ashes are to be buried at sea from a ship of the line. There will be no stone no marker.

180

[BrotherBuzz]

39. You're still entitled to one...

Perhaps your survivors might take delivery of it and turn it into a curious coffee table, or something. :evilgrin:

[oneighty]

40. Cool

Hee hee hee. Front step maybe?

180

[Vickers]

19. When I first went in they asked me and I said none, he then asked

what my parents were and I said Methodist, so he put that on there.

At my first permanent duty assignment, I went to the CBPO and had a new set that had NRP (no religious preference), and later had a replacement set that had NONE.

[Modem Butterfly]

35. My partner served during the last gulf war

His say "No Preference". He wanted to specify atheist, but at the time he was married to a Xian.

[SteppingRazor]

7. Weird that Eckankar has its own symbol. Isn't it a cult? n/t

[bananas]

21. No, it's an ancient science.

Hmm, no symbols for Scientology or Subgenius.

[BlueJazz]

9. There is one for Freepers also....

[barbaraann]

13. Aren't they followers of Satan?

n/t

[Wickerman]

11. odd, no Quaker symbol

:wtf:

[Stuckinthebush]

15. Aren't Quaker's protestant Christians?

The cross would work for that, I assume.

[Wickerman]

17. I thought as pacifists they wouldn't be represented in

Arlington, but you are probably more accurate.

[Stuckinthebush]

42. You know, this brings up an entirely different question

How many Quakers are in the military, and how many are fighting in Iraq at this time?

Theoretically, that number should be 0, shouldn't it?

[Wickerman]

43. In this war in particular

one would think.

[barbaraann]

23. I did some Googling--some Quakers did serve in the Civil War.

http://courses.wcupa.edu/jones/his480/reports/civilwar.htm

According to this article the opposition to slavery was so strong that even Quakers joined in the fight!

[Wickerman]

29. Cool!

I've heard of a lot of fallout amongst Quakers during the Rev War, but never anything of the Civil, thanks!

[lynne]

48. Quakers in the military sometimes paid the price -

- of being removed from the church. I've seen reference to such during the Civil War. Don't know about other wars.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

51. During WWII & Vietnam, some Quakers served as unarmed medics

so I have no doubt that there were casualties.

They were all right with being in a helping role, but not with killing people.

[uppityperson]

16. UCC one is copywrited

[barbaraann]

24. That surprised me, too.

n/t

[Redstone]

25. So who is the copyright holder of the "Islam 5-pointed star?"

That seems odd as hell.

Redstone

[barbaraann]

32. It does seem odd.

:shrug:

[MindPilot]

27. That symbol is the logo for American Atheists

a particular organization. It is not a symbol for Atheism in general.

[barbaraann]

34. Ah, thank you for that information.

I didn't know that.

[Synnical]

44. Correct - but the "A" was intended to represent Americans

http://www.atheists.org/visitors.center/logo.html



THE AMERICAN ATHEISTS SYMBOL An international symbol for Atheism has long been needed. When American Atheists was formed in 1963, a contemporary scientific symbol was chosen; this acknowledges that only through the use of scientific analysis and free, open inquiry can humankind reach out for a better life.

Recognizing the new atomic era, but also emphasizing the truths of older scientific findings, the atomic whirl was chosen. The atom is still a distinguishing unit of all matter, the smallest particle of an element that can exist and still retain the properties of that element.

You may notice that one of the orbital in our symbol is broken, or open-ended. This demonstrates that while Atheists rely on the scientific method for learning about the cosmos and increasing our knowledge about nature, we know that "not all of the answers are in." We recognize that with new knowledge come new questions and areas for human inquiry and exploration.

That open orbital forms an "A" to represent Atheism. The small letter in the center represents of the first letter of the country in which an affiliated group is located. In our case, the "A" signifies American, and the symbol thus represents American Atheists.

[Modem Butterfly]

33. Some folks will tell you there are no atheists in foxholes

But apparently, there are atheists in the bivouac of the dead.

[democracyindanger]

45. "There are no athiests in foxholes"

isn't an argument against atheism--it's an argument against foxholes.

James Morrow. I love that quote.

[Synnical]

46. Atheists in Foxholes - Parade and Rally - Veterans Day

http://www.atheistfoxholes.org/

American Atheists is proud to announce…
The time has come!
Join us for an Historic Event
in American History
as we give Honor and Recognition
to America’s
ATHEISTS IN FOXHOLES

You’ve heard the unfair claim there are no Atheists in foxholes!

But we know that isn’t true … Hundreds of thousands, even millions of Atheists and other nonbelievers have served in our country’s military to protect our freedom and defend the principles of our Constitution. Isn’t it time that our leaders, media and policy-makers recognized the contributions of these Atheists in Foxholes?

Join us on Veterans Day, Friday Nov. 11, 2005
on the Mall in Washington, DC
as we salute and celebrate
ATHEISTS IN FOXHOLES

* Parade down the National Mall!
* Program/Rally of Speakers, entertainment, more!
* Welcome Banquet (Thursday night, Nov. 10)
* President, Congressional, and Military leaders
Invited to attend and send greetings to
this historic gathering!

[demnan]

37. My father, an atheist, is buryed at Arlington

But he just has a simple headstone with no religious affiliation.

[rasputin1952]

41. I have not been to Arlington in many a year, and have never seen

anything but the standard marker, Cross or Star of David....then again, it was many years ago, and memory dims with age...:)

Arlington is a beautiful place and the History there is remarkable. I would suppose the most visited site is the JFK grave, but what I remember most, were the row upon row of markers from the CW...so many slain, so many unknown....:(

I hope to get back East this winter, seems like a good time to go to Arlington and DC. I'll take my son, and we will do the DC Arlington, Gettysburg, Antietam Bull Run thing....so much history, so much we should be striving for....:)

[lynne]

50. Was in Arlington last year by accident -

- as I took a wrong turn and was suddenly at the cemetery. Decided to stay and tour. Ended up spending the ENTIRE day there. It is quite beautiful and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown is a ceremony that should not be missed.

[slackmaster]

47. WTF - They have one for Eckankar but not the Church of the SubGenius

[Ladyhawk]

49. The Buddhist symbol reminds me of a TIE fighter cockpit.

How stupid a comment is that? :P

P.S. Look at my South Park image's T-shirt. B-)