Why you don't see atheists feeding the poor

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Jono
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24 Oct 2013, 8:38 am

Vexcalibur wrote:

If anyone wants a serious answer for "why you don't see atheists being charitable". The answer is simply that atheists don't usually wear t-shirts to bring attention to them while doing charitable stuff. Also, since there are many closeted atheists out there doing charity, a chunk of the charity from the religious actually belongs to atheists ^^.

Kurgan wrote:

So by cherry picking one soup kitchen, you've proved a point? There are many secular charitable organizations (eg. Amnesty).

You missed the point of the thread but here is a consolation cookie: o .

Quote:

Despite this, people from the major religions actually give more to charity than most atheists do.

1. Citation needed.
2. Make sure not to include "donations to church and bigoted advocacy groups" as charity.

Atheists are likely to be more careful about who they donate to as well. Obviously, they will not donate to churches because they're not religious, but they will also not donate to charities advocating abstinence only sex education etc. If they make donations, they're more likely to donate to charities that they think make the greater impact.

crackedpleasures
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24 Oct 2013, 8:42 am

A lot of charity collections here in Europe are either in the medical field (raising money for research on for example cures for cancer), in the humanitary field (such as temporary caring for people who fled a war zone and cannot go back home ; political refugees) or in the "green" field (projects to protect the environment)

We also have people donating to animal shelters, people collecting second hand clothing for third world countries or sponsoring the studies of a child in one of those countries, we have people who cook and serve meal for the homeless, volunteers in retirement houses, ...

In other words, a wide variety of charities are operating. But indeed, atheists are more likely to pick one of those charities to sponsor rather than going through a group that is connected to a certain religion.

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24 Oct 2013, 9:30 am

To the OP, that's pretty bad, and clearly the soup kitchen runner needs to adjust priorities... In my experience, her attitude is not typical. Around here food pantries are dominated by church groups, and the bigger soup kitchens and shelters are administered by nonprofits staffed mostly by religious folks, BUT they don't turn any volunteers or help away.

I think it's great that civic-minded atheists are banding together to help the community and do public service. The more they do, the less they'll see reactions like the one in that blog post...

Atheists need to show people that they're GOOD without God in every sense.

A big reason atheists get a bad rep is because many of the most vocal ones are also nihilistic, Randian douchebags...

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Fnord
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24 Oct 2013, 10:23 am

Vexcalibur wrote:

Why you don't see atheists feeding the poor

Just because atheists don't pass out copies of "The Ascent of Man", sing songs about evolution, and give lectures on astrophysics in every soup kitchen on Skid Row does not mean that they aren't there.

It more likely means that they are more concerned with the service they give than with drawing attention to themselves - not like those Christians that seem to always do it the other way around.

Matthew, the Tax Collector, wrote:

*Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

(*Matthew 6:1-4, ESV)

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Geekonychus
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24 Oct 2013, 11:28 am

I sacrifice a religious person every thanksgiving and make them into a stew to feed the homeless. The piety makes the flesh extra succulent.

GoonSquad
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24 Oct 2013, 12:04 pm

^^^ Nice!

Personally, as a servant of Moloch, Lord of the flames, I think the fall and winter holidays are all about the poor little children...

Man are they good, fattened up on gingerbread and slow-roasted with just a hint of rosemary...

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Misslizard
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24 Oct 2013, 12:11 pm

^^^^Free range children are tastier,not as plump,but if you are watching your cholesterol....
Trick or treaters should be out soon.

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Geekonychus
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24 Oct 2013, 12:16 pm

Good thing I don't believe in God, otherwise I'd be burdoned by morals like "killing and eating people is wrong" and other arbitrary rules........

Misslizard
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24 Oct 2013, 12:32 pm

Southern Baptist are usually too fatty and have a bad aftertaste.
The varieties that go door to door are usually tastier.

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GoonSquad
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24 Oct 2013, 2:56 pm

Another reason you don't see atheists feeding the poor... They're too damn scrawny.

I bet they'd be stringy and taste like overpriced latte and pompousness.

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24 Oct 2013, 3:15 pm

GGPViper wrote:

I speculate that atheists (at least in the US) are more likely to advocate government programmes rather than NGO charities to help the poor/elderly etc. than religious individuals.

On what evidence do you base your speculations.

ruveyn

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24 Oct 2013, 4:49 pm

ruveyn wrote:

On what evidence do you base your speculations.

ruveyn

Are you being ironic?

Seriously?

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24 Oct 2013, 5:07 pm

adifferentname wrote:

ruveyn wrote:

On what evidence do you base your speculations. ruveyn

Are you being ironic? Seriously?

He is very likely serious.

GGPViper wrote:

I speculate that atheists (at least in the US) are more likely to advocate government programmes rather than NGO charities to help the poor/elderly etc. than religious individuals.

When someone begins a claim with the words "I speculate that...", you can safely make the assumption that the person is indeed speculating. Asking for evidence as to why the speculation is being put forth is standard and accepted practice in the PP&R forum, as a quick perusal of past PP&R threads will likely show.

I would also like to see GGPViper's reasoning. He may actually have a point (he often does). Then again, he may not. We shall see ...

Apple_in_my_Eye
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24 Oct 2013, 5:14 pm

Do those stats include voting to cut funds for WIC and SNAP ("food stamps"), and supporting efforts to undermine or eliminate social welfare programs in general?

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24 Oct 2013, 5:28 pm

adifferentname wrote:

Kurgan wrote:

So by cherry picking one soup kitchen, you've proved a point? There are many secular charitable organizations (eg. Amnesty). Despite this, people from the major religions actually give more to charity than most atheists do.

Collectively or individually?

Based on a percentage of earnings or irrespective of individual wealth?

I'd ask you to provide some 'evidence' but I'm quite certain you'll draw a blank.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/07 ... 30830.html

The more civilized arab nations also have welfare systems that are far superior to any system you'll find in the US. This also goes for Israel, Singapore and many other non-muslim countries that still have a high percentage of religious people.

Cash__
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24 Oct 2013, 7:46 pm

The biggest organization around where I live that feeds the poor is Harvester's. They are a secular organization.

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