--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are plenty of atheists in foxholes…" description: "\"“There are plenty of atheists in foxholes. What I don't see are Christians in foxholes. If a Christian soldier takes a bullet to the knee, he will undo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b3/sam-singleton-193161_atheism_there-are-plenty-of-atheists-in-foxholes_1152973.jpg" --- # There are plenty of atheists in foxholes. What I don't see… ![“There are plenty of atheists in foxholes. What I don't see are Christians in foxholes. If a Christian soldier takes a bullet to the knee, he will undoubtedly first call for a medic, not a priest. Reliance on god is typically only available when a problem can be ignored without discomfort or when…” quote by Sam Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b3/sam-singleton-193161_atheism_there-are-plenty-of-atheists-in-foxholes_1152973.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b3/sam-singleton-193161_atheism_there-are-plenty-of-atheists-in-foxholes_1152973.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b3/sam-singleton-193161_atheism_there-are-plenty-of-atheists-in-foxholes_1152973.jpg) > ““There are plenty of atheists in foxholes. What I don't see are Christians in foxholes. If a Christian soldier takes a bullet to the knee, he will undoubtedly first call for a medic, not a priest. Reliance on god is typically only available when a problem can be ignored without discomfort or when the problem belongs to others (where it can be ignored without discomfort). When the chips are down, like when you have a serious illness or you've been shot or you’re at war, even the most devout Christians rely on humans (doctors or other soldiers) even though they'll swear up and down that it’s god helping them.”” Sam Singleton ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that reliance on God emerges mainly when convenient, while real crises prompt dependence on human help. **In simple terms:** God is called upon when easy; humans are needed in crises. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of faith in emergencies. Themes faith war humanity reliance crisis Mood reflective critical Type observation analysis When to use this quote - combat - hospital emergencies - battlefield - personal illness - disaster response Key Concepts existentialism psychology religion military life Questions to Reflect On - When have you relied on faith versus human aid? - Do you think belief changes under pressure? A Different Perspective The view may oversimplify diverse personal experiences of faith. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Foxholes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foxholes/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Serious illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious-illness/) ## Related quotes > [There are no atheists in the foxholes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-thomas-cummings/there-are-no-atheists-in-the-foxholes/) William Thomas Cummings > [“There are no atheists in foxholes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-stennett/there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes/) Mary Stennett > [There may or may not be atheists in foxholes, but I'm certain there are none in the Ku Klux Klan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/there-may-or-may-not-be-atheists-in-foxholes-but-i-m-certain-there/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“There are Atheists in foxholes Atheists in hurricanes There are Atheists in all the roles Denied by your refrains Atheists are your fellow citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-kagin/there-are-atheists-in-foxholes-atheists-in-hurricanes-there-are/) Edwin Kagin > [“There’s a saying, “There are no atheists in foxholes,” but it should be amended to add “. . . or in penitentiaries.”\* If I am ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabelle-gurwitch/there-s-a-saying-there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes-but-it-should-be/) [Annabelle Gurwitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabelle-gurwitch/) > [There are no atheists in the foxholes of Bataan...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/there-are-no-atheists-in-the-foxholes-of-bataan/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [There are no atheists in foxholes and there are no libertarians in financial crises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-krugman/there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes-and-there-are-no-libertarians-in/) [Paul Krugman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-krugman/) > [Maybe there are only atheists in foxholes. If the faithful truly and fully believe in a protective deity, why would they dive into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anderson-thomson/maybe-there-are-only-atheists-in-foxholes-if-the-faithful-truly-and/) J. Anderson Thomson > [The sermon was based on what he claimed was a well-known fact, that there were no Atheists in foxholes. I asked Jack what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/the-sermon-was-based-on-what-he-claimed-was-a-well-known-fact-that/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [There are no atheists in foxholes" isn't an argument against atheism, it's an argument against foxholes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes-isn-t-an-argument-against-atheism/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There’s a saying— there are no atheists in foxholes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarina-bowen/there-s-a-saying-there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes/) [Sarina Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarina-bowen/) > [“Were there atheists in foxholes during World War II? Of course, as can be verified by my dogtags . . . A veteran of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-allen-smith/were-there-atheists-in-foxholes-during-world-war-ii-of-course-as-can/) Warren Allen Smith > [“There are no atheists in foxholes. Whoever had said that was right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-shay/there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes-whoever-had-said-that-was-right/) [Kathryn Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-shay/) > [People say there are no atheists in foxholes. A lot of people think this is a good argument against atheism. Personally, I think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/people-say-there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes-a-lot-of-people-think/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [It may be true that there are no atheists in foxholes. But you don't find many Christians there, either. Or, about as many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/it-may-be-true-that-there-are-no-atheists-in-foxholes-but-you-don-t/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? Do you think it was godlike? What would you think of a physician, if a woman came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-h-gardener/do-you-think-that-was-kind-do-you-think-it-was-godlike-what-would-you/) [Helen H. Gardener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-h-gardener/) > [Science can destroy religion by ignoring it as well as by disproving its tenets. No one ever demonstrated, so far as I am aware,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-c-clarke/science-can-destroy-religion-by-ignoring-it-as-well-as-by-disproving/) [Arthur C. Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There are plenty of atheists in foxholes. What I don't see are Christians in foxholes. If a Christian soldier takes a bullet to the knee, he will undoubtedly first call for a medic, not a priest. Reliance on god is typically only available when a problem can be ignored without discomfort or when the problem belongs to others (where it can be ignored without discomfort). 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