Why do people (LEVI) use christianity to ease the pangs of guilt over world poverty ?

Question

Levi you say

"I don't get the hopeless attitude of the athiest - if this is the only life and it has no meaning then what is your point of living? I hear you say "to enjoy myself or raise a family etc etc" but that doesn't always work for those living in abject poverty or war-torn nations. It may be good for you but what do you tell the kid whose family is slaughtered, is living in less than a mud hut and has no food or water? Survival of the fittest? Where's your heart there? "

This is why we must in this life do something to help these people. It is all to easy for a rich christian nation to say "ah but at least the starving people in Africa will have a nice afterlife to look forward to." ******** !!!!!!!!

This is just an all to easy way for rich christian countries to ease the pangs of guilt that it is their unfair economic policies that keep these countries poor.

Sure we throw them a few bits of charity now and then to ease our consciences.

This life is the only life these people have for sure. Let's make it good for them while they are alive.

Where is your heart ???????????

Answer 1

you took his answer and twisted into something totally wrong. he was making a point that athiest doctrine does not reach out to help his fellow man. that as long as your life is good you do not have to look outside yourself for life. and as Christians go there are more Christion missonaires in Africia then any group.his quote of Darwin just points out the heart of his point.

Answer 2

I am very sorry I have provoked or angered anyone to isolate me in a question!!

I refute the accusation that I use Christianity to ease the pangs of guilt over world poverty.

I believe you are missing my point. I believe that world poverty is unnecessary in our world. This is perpetuated not by true Christians though (do not confuse Christian nations with Christians!), but by the material, selfish and power hungry elements of our societies.
I am not saying Christians have the monopoly on goodwill. That is simply not true. What I was stating was that I (Levi) do not understand the attitude of the aethist. I cannot accept that this life has no eternal consequences. I am not denying you the right to your views or attitudes, just stating that I do not understand them. You have the same right as me and can state that you fail to understand my point of view. This is acceptable.

Before we lived in a world of such abundance, how would you have accused me then if I had stated the same point? When perhaps there were only a very few who lived outside of poverty?

My point is how would your aethist views help those that do not have the priveleges you have? Faith in God for them may be ALL they have. Unless we can eradicate world poverty then millions and millions of people will die in hardship and suffering. If this is all there is to life then what hope is there for these people?

Are you going to end poverty?

Look at the largest independent humanitarian aid agency in the world - founded by a Christian. Christians are doing their bit to help the here and now but they also provide hope where there is none through the power of the Gospel.

I guess it boils down to me not being able to comprehend the 'we came from nothing, we are going to nothing' hypothesis. But hey, if we were all the same then discussions like this wouldn't be possible and you wouldn't be able to accuse me of stuff!!!

And yes - I probably do spend too much time at my PC at the moment. However, I do a lot for others less fortunate than me and God knows my heart.

Peace be with you aethiests and please forgive me if you feel I am attacking any of you personally. It is not intended.

Answer 3

I agree. Despite the fact that their may be some grand afterlife we should try to assist these poverty stricken people with all we have.But I have never seen a Christian not care though,or simply say that "It's ok, they will be fine in the afterlife". There are multiple funds set up by Christian churches to help out people who are not privileged or are in poverty.

Answer 4

It's sad that the Christians just think all this suffering around the world is part of their god's plan. They do not live realisticlly looking for the solutions to the earth's problems.

Thanks for bringing this up. Levi's answer sickened me.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ah.O76WLjUEtsVV5bpWMdSLsy6IX?qid=20060711051344AAGDv7t

Answer 5

Suffering is not in "God's" plan.

He sent a solution. Us.

We can change things. Maybe Levi spends way too much time at his computer instead of seeing the riches around him.

Answer 6

Communism tends to succeed better in poverty stricken nations than it does in wealthier nations for that very reason.

Religion offers hope to the dead; communism offers hope to the living.

Answer 7

Yes, and I'm sure those charities take 80% of the profit for themselves.