Navy Floats Idea of Atheist Chaplains

I had to do a double-take of this as I thought it was a Duffel Blog particle. Call them Philosophy Advisors, Counselors sure, whatever but the absurdity of the title as Chaplain for Atheists is just absurd.

The terms "atheist" and "chaplain" should be mutually exclusive. Chaplain denotes a person who administers a chapel and conducts religious services. Because an atheist does not believe in God by definition, it is impossible for them to have a religion. All religions I know of have one or more gods. Consequently, their group leader should not be given the title chaplain. I have no problem with atheist having a group leader and practicing their way of living under the First Amendment. There are some administrative issues with having a "Chaplain" not affiliated with a recognized religion. The religion normally certifies or ordains a person as qualified to represent their religion and perform the rites an duties associated therewith to the Service's Chief Chaplain before the person is accepted and commissioned. Since atheists don't have a religion, I don't know how such ordination would happen. Also, the mission statement of the Service's Chaplaincies may be incompatible with atheists; however, they have been bent to fit non-Judeo-Christian religions, so maybe. Also, military chaplains are expected to conduct services and rites meeting the needs of all service members. Protestant chaplains have to understand how to handle Roman Catholic rites when necessary for example. I don't see how a true atheist "chaplain" could conduct a Christian rite or ceremony with any degree of integrity and vice-a-versa. If the Services are intent on having atheist "faith leaders", then they should call the something other than "Chaplain."

If I am not mistaken, the requirements of an applicant to be a Chaplain:
_ Completed their basic theological education for their denomination or faith tradition.
_ Ordained and endorsed by their denomination or faith tradition
_ Served a minimum of two years in a full-time professional capacity as a member of a denomination or faith group, validated by an endorsing agency.

As far as I can tell
_ Atheism is the denial of theology, therefore there can be no theological education of the Atheist faith tradition.
_ There is no Atheist denomination or recognized structure to ordain and endorse in Atheist tradition, nor for that matter are there any Atheist traditions
_ While there are most certainly are professional Anti-theists, (Mikey Weinstein and the MRFF come to mind), I am unaware of people serving in a professional capacity as atheists. Anti-theists are not the same thing as Atheists. One is a sub-set of the other.

I see Atheist Chaplains as assuming the non-denominational counseling role of NCO's, SNCO's, and Officers. To my mind that is not only redundant, it is deleterious to the role and efficacy of the chain of command.