The more Atheists, the less compassion?

Question

I'm afraid that when many people become Atheists...
the less compassion we will have.

And will ignore homeless people and won't help
the disabilities. Salvation Army and Goodwill will shut down.
And no shelters provide and no food donations.

We will have people saying, "I don't feel sorry for you."

Agree?

Answer 1

Compassion that depends on orders from above is less an exhibition of an innate trait than the performance of what it is assumed would be an otherwise onerous duty.

Compassion is part of our emotional makeup, and should be encouraged as self-fulfilling rather than as self-sacrificing.

Atheists are clearly more concerned with developing such a sense of morality and ethics than the religious are. The latter merely obey (or more often disobey) rules of their dogmatic masters, while the former actually believe such rules should come from a real understanding of their value to themselves and to all other humans.

Answer 2

I couldn't DISagree more.

Lack of compassion is not an inherent characteristic of atheism or atheists. Nor is compassion a natural trait of theism or theists. Quite the contrary.

One may be able to show a correlation between compassion and belief in god, but I'd argue that the correlation is only theoretical. What I'm saying is that theists may SAY they are compassionate. What they actually DO, I'd hope to show in order to refute your (obnoxious) argument, is that their words are often empty, their actions self-centered.

I once heard a clergyman say about Upton Sinclair's bid(s) for the US Senate & Congress, "I'd rather vote for an atheist who acts like a Christian than a Christian who acts like an atheist."

A person can call him- or herself whatever s/he would like, but at the end of the day, the action(s) that person takes in this world speak greater volumes about that person than any label ever could.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

P.S. The last thing people experiencing homelessness or disabilities want is for others to "feel sorry" for them. Pity does them no good. It is condescending, patronizing, and, thus, extremely insulting. There are much more useful things to do.

Answer 3

I dont agree. I am an atheist, and i am very compassionate. I donate to charities, and help those around me. I have always been like that and i will always be like that with or without religion. Just because someone is not religious in any way doesnt mean that they dont have any moral values. Jesus himself was a great philosopher and taught people to be kind and treat others the way you want to be treated and to give out a helping hand and be there for one another. I agree with that, i dont agree with religion however. It's ridiculous to think that with no religion that one may become corrupt and not care for other people. Most of the people i know are not religious and are the most kind open minded people i know.

Answer 4

No, I don't agree. Here are some examples of theistic un-compassionate behavior:

(1) Beatings of homosexuals by religious people who say that the bible/Torah/Qu'ran forbids it.
(2) Capital punishment, strongly supported by many theists.
(3) Holy wars in the name of God/Allah.
(4) Racism, which occurs in both theists and atheists.

The above are just a few examples. Being an atheist doesn't make a person un-compassionate, uncaring, or unloving, it only means that their reasons for being compassionate, caring, and loving are different from a theist's reasons. Also, theists are just as often uncaring. In fact, theists are often more uncaring because they use their religions as an excuse or justification for hostile behavior, even if their religion teaches tolerance and kindness, even toward evil doers. Good, caring people are going to behave in caring ways, and uncaring people will be hostile regardless of whether or not they believe in God. How a person explains their behavior is the only variable.

Answer 5

We atheists are nothing like what the church leaders are fond of charicaturing us as. We are freethinking individuals who are able to see the Big Picture without the blinders of religion. We do not live in despair, quite the contrary; freethought is incredibly refreshing, liberating, and empowering. We are not nihilists, but lovers of life who see it as all the more precious because there's no eternal afterlife. We do not need the bribe of heaven or the threat of hell to be good people, we believe in being good for its own sake. Through science and reason, we know more about the true nature of the world we live in than your religion could ever hope to offer.

The fear of death is a natural thing, which is why you need to think hard about living your life for the moment. We are not the enemy of christians and other theists.

Our quarrel is with irrationality, wishful thinking, superstitions, intellectual dishonesty, and all other forms of thinking that keep mankind mired in darkness, ignorance and hate. Sometimes i do get depressed over our utter death and annihilation, but it just renews my zest to make the most of this life.

Answer 6

Does being an Athiest mean you have no morals?? Does it mean that you have no compassion for anyone but yourself? Being Athiest is simply a statement that there is no God, that we live, and when we die our bodies rot in the ground. The reason places like the Salvation Army and Goodwill shut down is more an overall cultural phenomenon than a religious one. I have seen Athiests, Christians, Muslims and many others who are selfish and petty, and it is a product of a capitalist system, not the brand of religious dogma you buy into.


....And for the record, being an Athiest does not mean you have a hatefull or callous heart. That idea is as stupid and close-minded as saying anyone who is religious is weak and helpless

Answer 7

You obviously do not know any Atheists. Every Atheist I know, including me, shows compassion. It is just no belief in a god or gods. Our parents taught us right from wrong. Just because religious based organizations help the homeless does not mean Atheists do not. I always give clothes, in good condition, to a local church thrift store. It is for a good cause. I do not NOT give because they believe. I attend Special Olympic events when I can, and I donate to them ONLY. You are sadly mistaken.

Answer 8

Hold on sweetie, there are many people saying "I don't feel sorry for you right now," and they're not atheists. It's not about atheism or another religion,but about an individual helping another in the name of humanity-the one thing we all have in common. Problems are not created by ppl's faiths and athesim is a faith...to which I BELONG. I don't know why ppl think athesists are uncompassionate and cruel that's not true.

Answer 9

There have been enough atrocities on both sides that neither can point a finger at the other without blood dripping off the end. See: the crusades, jihads, the killing fields of Pol Pot, Stalin, etc.

A lot less attention to dogma on either side and a lot more attention to humanity would do us all a world of good.

Answer 10

no i do not agree at all

im not completely sure of my beliefs, im sort of agnostic, but i still believe in compassion and that people need to look out for eachother and not just themselves. i just recently helped out with a program informing the students in my school about the situation in Darfur, i gave presentations and collected donations

even if u still believe this though, i dont think its possible that everyone will ever be able to become atheists, there are still many religious people out there, but being religious does not always make you a good person, like those who kill because they think their god wants them too