What does there are no atheists in a foxhole mean?

Answer 1

The expression reflects the viewpoint of the religious that in times of extreme stress or danger atheists will drop their "pretend" position that there is no god and come crawling back to him seeking protection.
A counter position could be "Only atheists hide in foxholes" as believers know that the arm of the lord will protect them and there is no need to seek safety while they do their their "good" works on the battlefield..

Answer 2

Even dedicated non-believers will search for belief during a crisis, or so the expression translates.

There have been no studies to confirm the validity of the saying. many soldiers went to war as atheists and came back in the same frame of mind, many if the faithful came back as atheists too. Personal observation indicates that many turn to doctors, EMTs, firemen, and convenient heavy objects when confronted with dangerous situations rather than any deity.

Answer 3

This is an example of an aphorism - a pithy saying meant to express a general truth - like "It never rains but it pours". Everyone is supposed to hear it, nod sagely and admit it is so true. Like most aphorisms it falls apart on examination. The meaning is generally taken to be "When things get tough, everyone prays for God's protection." In reality it should be "There are only atheists in foxholes" because, after all, atheists, being rationalists know that you're going to get killed out there where the bullets are. The religious should feel protected by their god and be out there wandering around in the open.

Answer 4

It is an arrogant, silly and unmindful cliche created by Catholics during wartime to infer that even an atheist will turn toward a supernatural god in times of extreme life threatening situations when the only hope is divine intervention.

The thinking behind the phrase is actually flawed. Many soldiers came to embrace Atheism after witnessing the horrors of war where they saw bodies mutilated but still living with no hope of help, the worst miseries and atrocities a human could endure, physically and psychology maimed comrades and former thriving communities ravaged by bombs. They saw piles of innocent dead people who had no help from their god. They witnessed and experienced first hand all the horrors that humans can commit against one another and saw the futility of it all. They saw there was no divine intervention forthcoming and wondered how they could ever had thought such a thing. The most remarkable aspect of that old cliche may be that some diehards still think it to be a profound truth in spite of its obviously flawed premise.

Hitler killed millions of people who waited in vain for divine intervention.