Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Gila Guerilla on September 20, 2011 at 12:00am

Well it would be a good thing, so long as it can't be misinterpreted as a token acceptance that religion has the right answers to the bigger questions of life, such as "God", heaven, miracles and all that twaddle. Not only would it be a good thing, but in the long run, such enterprises are essential. Suppose, (as a thought experiment), all of religion fell away. Then we'd have an atheist world, and all of the good works would have to be done by atheists. I think that until atheists are seen to be an actively good influence in this world, theistic religion will look better, to many of the people who inhabit the earth.

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Permalink Reply by mojo5501 on September 26, 2011 at 9:52am

What I can't STAND is all the tax free donations to mega churches in the name of "God".

 

Yeah, who knows, he might blow it all in a gambling match with the other supernatural deities. 

 

Seriously, how much of that money is being spent for helping PEOPLE, not improving the sound systems of those mega churches or assisting the preacher with his car payment for his Lexus?

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Permalink Reply by Steph S. on September 20, 2011 at 8:32am

UU Atheists/Humanists usually provide for the needy and take up collections. I think having Atheists be more visible in charitable causes would be good for us.

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Permalink Reply by Johan Fruh on September 22, 2011 at 1:35pm

I'm kind of allergic at the idea of charity in the goal of promoting a group.

Though I agree that there can't be bad charity..

 

There are already a lot of charities that aren't linked to a religion... so in essence they're "atheist"...

However if a group starts promoting the fact that they're atheist while doing charity, won't it risk being seen as trying to "corrupt" people by first being nice, and then trying to "convert" them?

(that's how I see some religious charities :/ )

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Permalink Reply by Tara Benson on September 26, 2011 at 8:14am

I like to be charitable all year.   I make monthly donations to a few carefully selected secular charities and give elsewhere as the need/opportunity arises.   When the colder weather arrives I usually send off a box or two of knitted goods (hats and scarves mostly) to shelters.  

 

The Foundation Beyond Belief (there's a link in the right column) is a group that channels money to various non-religious charities.  It wouldn't be as visible as handing out things in your local neighborhood but you'll know your money is going to good (and non-religious) causes. 

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Permalink Reply by mojo5501 on September 26, 2011 at 9:46am

I agree with your sentiment: being charitable all year....donating what you can, volunteering when you can.  I'm not a member of any formal atheist organization but I don't really need to be seen as a 'good example' to know that humans can be good without god.   (I also like the idea of donating to causes for other 'earthlings' on this planet: Humane Society, Sierra Club, Audubon, etc.)

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Permalink Reply by Prog Rock Girl on September 26, 2011 at 10:01am

There's this idea that atheists don't do charity, when really there just aren't that many specifically atheist charities. One of my atheist friends feeds homeless people all year (I think most of the others involved are also atheist).

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Permalink Reply by Pat on September 26, 2011 at 10:10am

Belong to an organization that provides food baskets for the poor, elderly and shut ins.  We, the members, pay for the food, put the baskets (hams, potatoes, and other staples) together, and then use out own vehicles to deliver them.  Afterwards, we get together at a local watering hole and discuss the humorous, and touching moments.

And, throughout the year (not dependent on a "holiday" season) we raise and provide money to an organization that specializes in providing therapy, treatment, and prosthetic devices to disabled children.  The members include Xtians, and out and out atheists like myself.  No Jesus or magic spirits are involved.  We simply do it because we should.

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Permalink Reply by mojo5501 on September 26, 2011 at 7:53pm

My sister sent me a great quote from Stephen Colbert that seems suitable for this occasion:

 

"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it."

 

It seems that many Christian conservatives are so caught up in being the morality police that they overlook the definition of being 'christlike' in their daily behavior with others...and this little piece of scripture seems fitting too: "When you give to the needy do not announce it with trumpets, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing" (Matthew 6.2)

(Well, I have some problems with the lack-of-hand-knowledge part of the statement....but the sentiment about not 'tooting your own horn' too much seems fitting when it comes to charity).

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Permalink Reply by TNT666 on September 28, 2011 at 3:33am

Church charity is church marketing. It fills in where our corrupt system fails. Poverty bandaids are but enablers that encourage our corrupt system's status quo. I much prefer putting my time in changing the system, so that people aren't left out. Most of the holidays are religion based anyway, any charity that is worthwhile should be planned logically, not religiously.

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