Would atheists rather tell me my religion is wrong?

Question

Or find ways we can work together to solve major problems? For example , homelessness, poverty, access to healthcare, ending war? Is that a better use of our time?

Sky clad, why else would i ask such a question?

Markyy, thanks for pointing out that peace is a two way street

Zebra, i agree that preventing the wars is easier than stopping them when they are underway. There are some atheistic people who behave like our fundamentalists. I bet some of the ones telling me to leave my Bible at home do not even know what faith i am.

TLG, i was homeless for over 3 years. The Church gave me things i never even asked for just because they knew i was in need. Could they do that if they were not wealthy?

becbek, your point is quite valid and disturbing. Blessed are the peace makers

Answer 1

Yes it is. I am Christian and I've seen Atheists preferring your suggestion more often than a person of religion...

Answer 2

I stay in Scotland, which isn't exactly heaving with religion anymore. Three years ago the Scottish Executive had a big push to end homelessness. They called it a failure because the still had 103 cases of sleeping rough over the winter.

At the same time, my friends in the U.S. were fighting desperately to keep open the last shelter in the area that accepted children and families.

Atheists understand that this world is all we have. When we work for Habitat or Shelter or Medicins sans Frontiers, we're doing it because it needs to be done, not for the glory of God or even humanity. So we never shout about our theological positions.

Religious organizations are powerful tools for getting people together to do the right thing. Do it because it needs to be done, and for no other reason and with no other attitude. Criticize society and the way the systems work. If Pascal is indeed wrong, people will have suffered needlessly simply because too many believed that the future would be better.

Answer 3

If all religious people and atheists alike had the same love for Humanity as you have, there really wouldn't be much problems in this world.

I would, of course, rather work together.

Problem is that each group has fundamentalists who will disagree with both of us.

(Edit: yes cindy, satan has tricked me. Of course sweety)

Edit #2: Sadly enough in some of the answers you can already see it will never work...
-We get the tiring argument that using tithing could solve all the problems. It's my view that tithing is money given out of the kindness of people's hearts, and it is used for good. Those same people never mention that more money is spent on useless wars. That money could REALLY do something good on this planet.
-We see the even more weird argument that people just have to get a job. Jobs would end poverty, homelessness, etc. Jobs fix all the problems. And that coming from a person that thinks all problems end at the American border. Sigh. Let's tell those 30,000 children that again today die of starvation and Aids to simply get a job. If they worked, they would also have health care, right?
-We see people telling you to leave your Bible home. Great way to work together with mutual respect, really...
-We get the tiring argument of 'religious wars'. I'm a European atheist. When I don't use my brain I can easily say that Bush is quite religious, so the war in Iraq is the fault of religion. When I try to use my brain I realize there are millions and millions of religious people who also disagree with that war.

World problems will never be solved, for one reason only: our selfishness. And it's truly sad to see that, even in some of the answers to what should be an easy question. In a better world, everybody would simply answer your question with a firm 'yes'.

Oh well...

Answer 4

Personally, I don;t care one iota whether you have religion. Just keep it to yourself and do not attempt to inflict it upon us.
Regarding the solving of the world's problems, the individual governments around the world claim to have it all in hand but the big cheeses in government are also religious ...
Atheists would love to help and it would certainly be a better use of our time. Where do we start?
What is your solution? How do we do it?

As I have found throughout my life, getting a good idea is easy. Putting it into practice is SO much more difficult. The ball is in your court. Come up with a plan that would work?

Answer 5

Oh, I'd much rather work together any day. And yes, I'd love to solve major problems.

But very sadly I find myself getting more cynical as I get older (and I am pretty old!)

So I am afraid I have more or less given up with 'major' problems. I'm sorry to say this but it's true.

Which isn't to say I wouldn't like to 'tackle poverty' etc. But just look at the promises made by the G8 for example. Apart from Britain, the other European G8 members - Germany, France and Italy - have not yet committed themselves to the funding they promised. In the US, President Bush is battling with Congress over keeping his promises. He requested a $3bn rise in his aid budget, but Congress has cut that by two-thirds.

Which isn't to say I have 'given up' altogether. It's just I've switched my attention to the 'little' issues. Things I can do myself. Or things I see actually making a difference.
I work in a care home, I give money to charities which both provide 'emergency' aid and more long-term help, such as setting up communal projects or providing 'safety nets' to agricultural, social and trading initiatives in the 'developing world'. I do my best to recycle, to 'tread lightly' on this Earth and to treat my fellow men with respect and compassion.

Is this a bad thing? In some ways it is. To give up faith in those elected to carry out 'the will of the people'? Very bad indeed in my opinion.

So yes. I'd like to do more. I'm just not sure how.
.

Answer 6

In responce to your message to TLG:

Most churches aren't wealthy. The Catholic church is loaded as are the Mormons, but most localized churches are not. The majority of the money goes to rent the church's building and into purchasing curriculums for the Sunday Schools.

Most churches are relavitely poor. If the church helped you out, it was likely the result of a single person's generosity (i.e. someone gave money to the church and specifically asked that it be used to help yourself or other homless people). This is quite common in many churches.

Answer 7

you have fake numbers. in common terms a small factor of non secular people desire faith to tell top from incorrect. yet as an Atheist, your strategies tells you the authentic top from incorrect. incredibly, because of the fact which you're an Atheist there at the instant are not any regulations on your existence different than the regulation. My ideals have not something to do with morally top and morally incorrect. in case you have been raised via undesirable mom and dad you will think of that undesirable issues are morally suitable(it truly is a generalization) for the reason it is all you have been taught, and there is not any changing that.

Answer 8

Some one way, some another. I think it has to do with how long ago they decided to become an atheist, or decided that was the word to describe what they believe to be true.

But atheism does not preclude the sort of compassion which would prompt someone to want to help the less fortunate. And you are quite right that such projects are a much better use of your time than debates over god vs. no god.

Answer 9

Atheism isn't about saying religion is wrong.

Working together is something that people of all religions, and no religion, do anyway. I have worked to end homelessness and poverty with both Christians, agnostics, atheists, pagans etc. So your question is suspect.

The ones that won't are generally fundamentalists, of whatever stripe.

It is not good to generalize.

Answer 10

Pffttt...
Would christians rather tell me my lack of religion is wrong?
Or find ways we can work together to solve major problems? For example , homelessness, poverty, access to healthcare, ending war? Is that a better use of our time?
It works both ways...

Answer 11

I don't tell people of religion they are wrong. I keep my words to myself unless someone tries to force their views on me which I've not had to deal with yet. I am all for getting together to help solve major problems. I just wish we'd all realize we are all valuable human beings no matter what we believe or hear. We need to put aside the petty differences and stop hating each other. That would be the first huge step.