Sgt. Justin Griffith is trying to get the US Army to provide to atheists the same kinds of support and services that they provide to religious groups. He is organizing on March 31, 2012 Rock Beyond Belief, that is advertised as “a day-long event on the military base Fort Bragg, North Carolina, complete with children’s activities, rock concerts and a lecture by atheism’s most visible proponent, author and scientist Richard Dawkins”. He organized this in response to a similar event called Rock the Fort that was held two years ago by an evangelical organization.

You can read about and support his efforts on his blog Rock Beyond Belief which is part of Freethought Blogs.

Several obstacles have been placed in his way by authorities who are uncomfortable giving nonbelievers the kinds of services they routinely provide believers but Griffith is persevering. I am certain that as this movement gets greater visibility that he will eventually succeed and pretty soon open atheism in the military will be commonplace. The process will be just like the way that gays became accepted. No one other than Rick Santorum seems to really care about that latter issue anymore, and yet just a year ago it was a hot topic.