To atheists only, please and thank you. Do you give to outreach missions that help the poor and needy?

Question

Sponsor a child in a foreign country?
Volunteer somewhere?
Personally provide some kind of service to the underpriviledged, homeless, or people in a bad circumstance, such as victims of disaster?
Is there something you do to help that I haven't listed here? If so, what?

This is a sincere question. I really want to know. Please, be truthful.

Well, it really wasn't meant to imply that atheists don't do this. I just wondered what kinds of contributions made; mainly whether they gave to faith-based organizations or not.

BTW, Balt, Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty International are two I really love. I'm going to assume that you would support them helping out persecuted people of any religion.

Thank you for the answers. And yes, this question also includes agnostics.

St. Jude Children's Hospital...nice. All of these things you listed are wonderful.

Thank you for being honest, those who said they don't give. I'm sure this is the case with many Christians too.

Answer 1

Yes, I do give food and clothing to the poor and needy...I don't believe in god...but I also don't believe in letting people starve....I do object though to organizations that I have given money to--repeatedly mailing me and asking for more money( I feel as if the money I gave all went to paper and postage); and I feel insulted when they say that they will pray for me. I don't want that.

Answer 2

I'm sure some do but I have never hear of an organized group of Atheists building schools, hospitals, etc (missionary work) or even helping out as an organized group in a diaster such as Katrina....volunteering to shelyer the needy, opening a soup kitchen for the poor, or visiting the elderly in nursing homes, offering help for battered women... they leave that work for The Churches. Makes you wonder doesn't it? That is fact not opinon or emotion or idealogy. There is no great Atheist Organization, Association, or Atheist Backyard Ball Club that is reknown for their charity work. Not to be confrontational, but truth is truth.

Answer 3

Yes, I give to charities -- UNLESS they push religion. IE I give to the Salvation Army, I would not give to those child sponsorship charities that have religion classes in school.

I have volunteered in the past, but I have a baby so I don't anymore. Also I used to work for a charity.

Why would atheists be any different than anyone else. Actually probably atheists are more likely to help out. For one thing they don't have anyone (god, priest, book) whatever telling them to do it (nobody likes being bossed around). They don't believe god is punishing/testing people when bad things happen. But the big reason: They don't believe that there is some sort of afterlife where things will be made better. Where you can make up for horrible things you have done. Where people with miserable lives or circumstances will have the riches or whatever. This life is IT. If you mistreat someone, or if you do not help out there is no opportunity to fix it later in the afterlife, and god won't make it up to the person later in their life in some way.

Answer 4

I'm more of an agnost, but not a believer of a God from a structured religion so I'll stick my hand up.

I sponsor a little boy in Ecuador (through a Christian based org)
I'm an on call volunteer for the RSPCA
I donated as much as possible to the Tsunami victims
I financially support Medecins Sans Frontieres
I donate my time annually to the Soroptimist events fund raising for shelters for abused women
I used to be an active member of Interact (Junior Rotary)
I buy two toys for the KMart Xmas wishing tree every year for under priveliged kids
And I donate money to the Salvos when they come knocking

Through out my years I have donated my time and energy to other causes I feel worthwhile.

Answer 5

I have done such things. You must realize that there is not any Atheist Organization. It is just a designation given to those who don't believe in any God. It is not like calling up your local Unitarian congregation.
That favored Uncle of yours who just goes with his wife to church on some Sundays because it makes her feel good, that is your average atheist.
When you hear people speaking here they are just individuals voicing their opinions.
When they quote from famous people or from specific sites they are just using what somebody they respect has said.
If you can actually provide solid proof of your God they will likely listen. I would. But it had better be real and honest evidence or they will laugh you right off of the stage.

Answer 6

I own a company, and each year I automatically make a donation to St. Jude's Children's hospital. We also do pro-bono work for the regional breast cancer coalition.

For many years I donated to various Police sponsored youth organizations to help underprivileged children.

For many years I helped teach free rape-prevention programs to rape victims.

After 9-11 my company donated clothing to the rescue workers.

I've also co-sponsored and assisted in the running of a number of charity events to raise money for sick children.

Most recently my company is donating services to a group holding a charity benefit for juvenile diabetes.

God never enters into any of this. Humans help themselves and each other. It's never been otherwise.

Answer 7

I volunteer my time at my local Area Agency On Aging delivering food to the elderly year round and I participate in the Elf Program (buying Christmas gifts for people who would not receive gifts otherwise).

I will not give money to missions because a lot of them refuse to help people in other countries who do not convert to their religion or they indoctrinate the children they help. Help with a price (your beliefs) is not help, it is an extortion recruitment strategy.

Answer 8

I give to the following:

Doctors without Borders
Human Rights Campaign Fund
Planned Parenthood
Amnesty International
Red Cross
our local United Way

I also work for a non-profit, where my income is lower than if I were working for a for-profit business.

Answer 9

I volunteer at a Second Harvest Foodbank warehouse...sometimes more than 10 hours a week.

"I believe in the religion of reason -- the gospel of this world; in the development of the mind, in the accumulation of intellectual wealth, to the end that man may free himself from superstitious fear, to the end that he may take advantage of the forces of nature to feed and clothe the world." [Robert Ingersoll 1896]

"My creed is this:
Happiness is the only good.
The place to be happy is here.
The time to be happy is now.
The way to be happy is to help make others so."[Robert G. Ingersoll, Motto on the title page of Vol. xii, Works]

Answer 10

Was this an attempt to validate your religious beliefs through the mistaken belief that atheists, don't care for others.

I give my time and money to good causes because I see a need that should be filled. I'll not deny any one else the chance to help just because they don't believe in the same things I do. Nor do I think that their beliefs prevent them from caring.