Where are the atheistic missions to the poor?

Question

I was watching a show on TV that talked about all the Christian missions and food pantries and such; the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Star of Hope missions for the poor, etc.

So I started wondering if perhaps the show was being one-sided in not mentioning all the other non-religious missions-type places. And that just wouldn't be fair, after all, anyone who helps the poor and destitute deserves a mention!

I looked in the phone book, looked online for local places, nothing! I went through the dozens of places just here in my city, and all of them were religiously affiliated.

IF I were an atheist who was on the down-and-out and needed help, where would I turn for help? Is there some major organization I'm not aware of?

The UN? LMAO, tell me exactly how a bum on the street gets help from the UN. Really, be serious, I'm talking about missions run and staffed by atheists. Of course I know that the Red Cross will help anyone, as will any mission, I'm wanting to know about those who RUN the mission, where are the atheistic ones?

I'm disappointed in the answers given, I was seriously looking for a non-religious mission type of place and only one person provided a name and a link.

BTW, I wasn't saying that the religious ones wouldn't help someone of a different faith, nor was I saying that a non-religious person wouldn't be welcome at a religious place. That just makes no sense. I was asking where an atheist who needed shelter would go if accepting help from a religious shelter was unacceptable to them because of their beliefs. Sorry, thought ya'll understood that part.

Answer 1

Here is a website of 6,000,000+ worldwide members who are either humanists, atheists, or agnostics. As a member I receive solicitations from the organization on the average of 6 a week. You can examine this website if you wish and see the various concerns of the community. Child welfare is very high on the list as is education, and health care. As an atheist, I have donated my time efforts and resources to many organizations that are
.church affiliated. I have spent years teaching and counseling inner city kids through them. Where would an atheist turn for help? Friends, family and church related charities. There isn't anything else that I know of. Have a great day!

Answer 2

You truly are ignorant. The Red Cross, which both my retired parents (atheist and secular christian, respectively) do volunteer work for, is not a religious organization, it is an international organization of help workers, which is affiliated with, among others, the Red Crescent in the Middle East (where they don't see a cross as a first aid symbol).

My chosen charity which I donate money to, monthly thank you very much, is Doctors Without Borders / Medecins Sans Frontieres. They impressed me with their work after the Tsunami disaster in Asia. I don't care what religion the victims are, if they need help they should have it. If I needed help, I'd take help where it was given. To start a charity that would require its staff to be Atheist would be stupid and completely opposed to the Humanistic ideals in which I believe. I believe in the freedom of (or from) religion. I will gladly work side by side with Christians.

Are you suggesting that a Muslim requesting help from a Christian charity should be turned away? Then you truly are despicable.

Answer 3

We are a relatively small group and not exactly organized. I am not really aware of any either. I personally donate to the Red Cross. They really do help in disasters and don't push an agenda.

I think that dealing with the poor in America you must be very careful that you are not enabling bad behavior, or keeping the mentally ill from seeking real help. There really is too much help for them here in my opinion, so I am not in a huge hurry to start something that would do more.

Answer 4

Logic problem in some of your answers: Being "not faith based" and "atheist" are NOT the same thing.

The UN may not be a religion, but that doesn't mean it's atheist... ditto the Red Cross, the United Way, etc.

Secular and atheist are not the same thing. And for what ever reason religion-based charities are doing the good work, the winning point is, they are DOING IT. Stepping up to the plate and taking care of what needs it.

That's worth a thousand atheist apologist's coulda shoulda wouldas and accusatory questioning of motives.

Answer 5

It would be difficult to start an Atheist mission because there would be no leader as none would subject themselves to the authority of another. Not having a moral charter that is agreed on would make the task logistically impossible. How would you decide who to help? Business would be reluctant to donate goods to an Atheist organisation. It could be done but I believe Atheism is not well organised enough or motivated enough to commit to such an endeavour as the start up would be an uphill battle. Some atheists do sponsor children so their personal contribution to society is valued in that regard but the Christians are doing all the heavy lifting in this one and always will. This world will feel it when we are gone.

Answer 6

I gave five dollars to the red cross last week, and I'm an atheist. How does a charity have a religion?
There are plenty of charitable organisations that are atheistic, in the sense that they have no connection to any religious organisation. UNICEF, for example. The difference is, these organisations don't give out copies of Dawkins' or Darwin's books to people who would much rather food and clean water. And these organisations don't threaten to abandon a city if it legalises gay marriage. Atheists work in all sorts of charities, they just don't make rules to stop others being involved. And why the hell would you if you honestly cared about the people you're helping?
Don't criticise atheists just because we're willing to give for the sake of giving, with no strings attached. I understand this is the sort of thing your god sends people to hell for.

Answer 7

Are you suggesting that the Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. wouldn't help the down-and-out atheist? I'm pretty sure that you're wrong about that. Now, I wouldn't blame them if they did restrict their aid to believers, though I think they'd recognize the value to their religions to giving aid to people outside of those religions (hence "missions").

As far as the question of why there aren't groups of atheists doing this kind of thing, it seems unnecessary, it'd be an extra uphill battle (can you imagine the outraged believers' reactions?), and probably most importantly, atheists' strength in this area is far more strategic. We help the poor by reminding people that life is precious, and that there is no "eternal reward" that justifies mistreating people in this life.

Answer 8

what a fascinating question! could it be that the religious groups have cornered the local market so to speak? however, here is one website at least that lists a few local activities of the alliance of secular humanist societies. it is interesting to note that "The Atheists of Colorado in Colorado Springs had their sign vandalized and were told by the Colorado Department of Transportation that the sign would be replaced once but after that, you'll just have to change the name of your organization!"
what a wonderful world we live in to be sure!

Answer 9

Atheism isn't a religion; it isn't a group.

As an atheist, I work quite a bit with a local charity group that is, actually, faith-based (though not Christian). I've also gone on several trips to the Katrina-affected area to build houses with Christian groups.

All that said, if you went somewhere for help and they turned you away *because* you were an atheist, there is something seriously, seriously wrong with that group.

Answer 10

The Red Cross and the Salvation Army will help anyone regardless of religion. I'm sure that there are many non-religious or religiously neutral organizations the will help and accept help from atheists or people of any religion.