Gideons International is an evangelical Christian organization whose mission is to distribute Bibles in order to "lead people to faith in Christ" (Gideons International). Since 1941, the Gideons have been providing copies of their Bible to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. While atheists and humanists remained marginalized, the Gideon presence grew into an unofficial but influential arm of the U.S. military. For decades, the Gideons have unabashedly proselytized at Military Entrance and Processing Stations (MEPS) where young men and women are first introduced to the military. After a long history of service in silence, atheists and humanists have begun to challenge the practice. As a physician examining new recruits in order to determine their fitness for service, I have had years of firsthand experience in many levels of the MEPS organization. This article draws on that experience and describes how the U.S. military has been forced to take the first steps towards neutrality respecting both secular and religious belief systems.
MORE: http://richarddawkins.net/articles/646040-military-proselytizing-by-the-gideons-and-how-we-stopped-it
