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#1 Pat Tillman, hero and freethinker

Editor's Note: Everybody knows "There are no atheists in foxholes," right? Wrong! Here at HNN, we know that saying is not true. Our most popular story of the year sounded this note.

In the midst of the media attention surrounding Pat Tillman's death, HNN called attention to some oft buried or overlooked remarks about this soldier's nonreligious ethics. Tillman defined patriotism for this generation of Americans by walking away from a multimillion dollar NFL career to volunteer for service after 9/11. He was killed in Afghanistan this April. Though initial reports stated that he had been caught by enemy fire, recent reports reveal that he died during avoidable friendly fire. This does not diminish his sacrifice.

In praising him, many are quick to point out Tillman's selfless valor. But few mention that he was not a religious man.

On Dec. 22, the multi-faith Web site Belief.net selected Tillman for the Most Inspiring Person of the Year Award. Again, we saw no mention of Tillman's nonreligious lifestance.

Perhaps the following HNN story was so popular because it clearly shows that people do not require religion to possess ethics, valor and a selfless love for one's country. It also shows how many Americans are either unwilling or not ready to accept that fact. (P.S. We also noticed another nonreligious runner-up for the Belief.net award, Christopher Reeve!)

Pat Tillman, All-American hero and freethinker

Staff Reports
Humanist Network News
First published May 5, 2004

Just about everyone in America knows that Pat Tillman responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks by walking away from a multi-million dollar contract in professional football to enlist in the Army Rangers, and that on April 22 he was shot dead in Afghanistan trying to rescue his comrades caught in an ambush. But how many Americans have heard reports that Tillman was non-religious?

Writing in the San Francisco Chronicle Gwen Knapp reports Richard Tillman, Pat's brother, taking offense at remarks that Pat Tillman was now with God: "Pat isn't with God. He's fucking dead. He wasn't religious. So thank you for your thoughts, but he's fucking dead."

Lisa Olson, in an article in the 4 May 2004 New York Daily News, writes about the comments of Richard Tillman, "At one point, Richard burst forth with a stream-of-consciousness tribute, insisting Pat did not believe in religion, that he was not with God, that he was just dead. A war veteran standing not far from the stage bristled, while others cheered."

The Institute for Humanist Studies wonders if Tillman's public memory will be an honest reflection of his life. Matt Cherry, IHS Executive Director, observed, "It is ironic that in the very week atheists are revealed to be the nation's most despised belief group, America has lionised a non-religious man as the country's greatest hero.

"When Time magazine makes Pat Tillman its Man of the Year--sorry, President Kerry--will they dare mention his lack of faith in religion?"

Thanks to Warren Allen Smith for alerting HNN to this story.

Sources include:

True hero athlete, (story by San Francisco Chronicle, May 4, 2004).
Tillman ceremony: Remembering a Ranger, (story by New York Daily News, May 3, 2004). *requires one-time free registration

Larry Jones: In high hopes for a better 2005

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