Soldiers in the Bundeswehr have the right to pastoral support and make use of it. But what about those who do not feel they belong to a religious community? So far, only the religious military chaplaincy has been available for them. We want to change that!
Humanistic military chaplaincy would supplement the existing services and provide non-religious soldiers with contacts to whom they feel connected in existential questions and whose support they experience as helpful and in line with their own background beliefs. When life brings sorrow, loss, suffering and crises, soldiers and their families can find comfort, hope and new perspectives through pastoral care. Chaplains are independent of military hierarchies and bound by their duty of confidentiality.
The certainty of sharing a world view (or religion) gives such discussions a secure, non-negotiable framework. Humanists are oriented towards people, free from recourse to a god. They stand for enlightenment, self-determination and reason. They share this image of people who use scientific knowledge and live compassionately and independently with the majority of our society – and the Bundeswehr.
Against this background, the German Humanist Association would like to establish a pastoral care service that is open to all members of the Bundeswehr.
Please contact us if you would like to support us: militaerseelsorge@humanismus.de
One more word on life skills education (LKU): What is good and right always results from looking at other people, not from divine revelation. When humanistic chaplains are involved in ethical education – which is to be understood separately from pastoral care – in the Bundeswehr, they assume that morality is based on the capacity for compassion and the human striving for freedom. Contact us if you are interested in organizing LKU in accordance with A-2620/3 and A-2620/6 with qualified instructors from the Humanist Association of Germany: hvd@humanismus.de
As long as we do not yet have a military chaplaincy contract that would enable us to participate in the LKU on a broad basis, we will work together with disciplinary superiors and department heads on site to find individual offers.
Frequently asked questions
Here we answer the most frequently asked questions. Your question is not listed? Write to us: militaerseelsorge@humanismus.de
What is humanistic military chaplaincy?
Honesty, comfort and hope! Humanist pastoral care is open to all soldiers of all worldviews and religions as well as their families. Chaplains of the Humanist Association of Germany are rooted in the traditions of antiquity and the European Enlightenment: they value self-determination, adhere to insights that are accessible to reason, and they bring with them the conviction that life is unique – it ends with death and cannot be continued or repeated. This makes it all the more important to search for meaning in the here and now and to be given the chance to find it.
Why should the Humanist Association of Germany offer military chaplaincy?
The Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association bundles the extensive services of its regional associations. These include daycare centers, humanistic life skills classes (as an alternative to religious education, currently attended by 70,000 children in Berlin and Brandenburg), youth recreational facilities, pregnancy conflict counseling, educational institutions, a university, celebration culture, senior citizen facilities, hospices, funeral homes and much more. The Humanist Association of Germany therefore has the infrastructure and in-depth experience to provide good military chaplaincy. As a recognized worldview community, it can make reliable offers for all people who prefer an enlightened framework.
How are our chaplains trained?
The Humanist University of Applied Sciences Berlin already offers courses in “Applied Ethics” and “Social Work”. This provides a good basis for training humanistic life coaches or providing them with further training in world views if they already have good professional qualifications.
How can I contact the Humanist Association of Germany and, as a soldier, campaign for humanist military chaplaincy?
Send us an e-mail to: militaerseelsorge@humanismus.de
Or send us a letter to:
Humanistischer Verband Deutschlands – Bundesverband
Federal Office
Wallstraße 61-65
10179 Berlin
We are also there for you by phone: +49 179 4270 501
Can members of religions also make use of humanist pastoral care?
Of course! Humanist chaplains do not ask for membership or denominational affiliation. They are there for the concerns of soldiers, regardless of gender, origin, political views or religion.
Is there a humanist military chaplaincy in other European countries?
Humanistic military chaplaincy has existed in the Netherlands since the 1960s and in Belgium since the 1990s. These services are very popular and have been widely evaluated. The Humanist Association of Germany is in good contact with both associations. Cooperation in the development and expansion of content and structures is desired by both sides. Detailed information on Humanist military chaplaincy in the Netherlands can be found here. The first humanist chaplains are also already on duty in Norway and Great Britain.
On what legal basis does the Humanist Association of Germany base its demand for a humanist military chaplaincy?
Article 140 of the Basic Law is essential: In conjunction with Art. 137 Para. 7 and Art. 141 of the Weimar Constitution, the Humanist Association of Germany, as a worldview community, is on an equal footing with religious communities and can conclude a military chaplaincy contract with the Federal Republic of Germany in the interests of non-denominational soldiers. The sooner this contemporary project is supported by a political majority, the sooner it will come about.
What is the Humanist Association of Germany?
The Humanist Association of Germany stands for the interests and rights of non-denominational people in Germany in particular. Our self-image consists of a worldly humanist view of life. The principles that guide us are self-determination, freedom and responsibility, compassion and solidarity, reason and tolerance. Our humanism is linked to practical help and concrete offers of support for people, which is why we also see our world view as practical humanism.