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Humanist Group approved at Offutt

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A private organization called "Offutt Humanists" was recently approved to operate on Offutt Air Force base.

This is the first time that a group has formed specifically to provide for the spiritual needs of the non-religious on Offutt, home to the United States Strategic Command and the 55th Wing.

According to the American Humanist Association website, "Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good of humanity."

"I've been attending the base chaplain's Bible study for over a year," says Offutt Humanist founder, Tom Gray, "and he agreed with me that the needs of the non-religious would be better met outside of a religious context."

"I appreciated his support as I went through the process to create Offutt Humanists," Gray added.

Gray said the group will meet Tuesdays, noon to 1 p.m. at U.S. Strategic Command, room 1A2A and Wednesdays, noon to 1 p.m. in the Patriot Club's Offutt Room.

"Spiritual Fitness" is identified by the Air Force as one component that supports resiliency. The
Comprehensive Airman Fitness program states that Spiritual Fitness is "improved by strengthening a set of beliefs, principles or values that sustain and individual's sense of well-being and purpose".

"Many times during my military career, I was faced with moral and ethical challenges," Gray said. "Chaplains are there for the religious when times get rough but who is there for service members without supernatural beliefs? Our hope is that the Offutt Humanists will grow to provide that support."

Gray went on to say that "Offutt Humanists are a private organization which is not part of the DOD and has no governmental status."

The Offutt Humanists joins two other Humanist organizations in the area - the Omaha Metro Area Humanists Association and the UNO Council for Humanist Thought.

For more information on the Offutt Humanist, join them on Facebook.