I guess we should respect atheists for all the good work they do for the poor and needy - shouldn't we?

Question

I mean,Lutheran Social Services couldn't even compare.

LSS is merely an example. One could also cite Catholic Family Services and the Dorothy Day movement. None of these groups seek converts. No doubt there are altruistic persons who are mere non-believers - but the hostile or negatively motivated atheist cares for for no one but himself.
I think it is worthwhile to make a distinction between non-believers and religion-haters. Interestingly - since I also think a distinction should be made between "fundies" and real Christians - fundies do nothing whatsoever in the way of helping people - except for the occassional conversion gimmick. Again,they are a lot like aggressive atheists.

Answer 1

Anyone who does good work for the poor and needy is worthy of respect and appreciation. It doesn't matter what creed or belief one has. A good deed is a good deed.

Answer 2

Doctors without Borders

Secular Humanist Aid and Relief Effort

Second Harvest

The Make a Wish Foundation

Toy-for-Tots

Habitat for Humanity

The Nature Conservancy

Planned Parenthood

The American Cancer Society

The American Foundation for AIDS Research

Heifer Project International

The March of Dimes

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

There are many, many more, whether charitable or philanthropist, and unlike Mother Teresa, they don't sit by and withhold medicine or aid until you convert.

When I was a Christian I gave to Christian Charitable organizations, and without exception I had to learn about the mismanagement of funds, expensive trips taken by the CFOs and Televangelists, etc.

I will never give to an organization that mentions religion in its charter or that is affiliated with a religious organization again. I have never had a problem or heard a word about questionable activity since i began giving to secular charitable organizations, but I still keep my eyes open. They may have been infilitrated by ..................Christians!

Answer 3

You know, we do do good things. I give what I can, though I don't have much. I volunteer a lot because I'm out of work. I just don't feel the need to toot my own horn about it. You are really something else, making statements like this without knowing any of us. All you know is what you see here - you don't know anything about me personally, so how dare you assume that I must be some sort of self-obsessed yuppie atheist heathen who doesn't care about the poor? You, my friend, are the reason I hate religious people. They think they alone do good works, or that by sending a check once in a while to a charity they're assured entrance to Heaven. It makes me sick.

You should be ashamed for assuming that atheism equals apathy.

Answer 4

Such stupid sarcasm is not necessary. We are all aware of the huge debt we owe to the large number of non-Theistic movements that have transformed the United Kingdom from squalor and subservience, into a modern ,secular, progressive society. The social services that form the safety-net for the poor, free education for the masses,housing,and health. The long established tradition of overseas aid and charitable intervention. All this and more we owe to those early socialists , communists,and assorted radicals, who put people before superstition, never attended any church, but dedicated their lives to the living. Even today the work continues, without sarcasm, without doubt.

Answer 5

A man was talking to a Pastor...
He said "Pastor I don't need faith I am a good man. I do much Charity, I love my wife and children. I don't break the law, and I even like you!

The Pastor replied...
" You have certainly proved that you are not a bad person, but how can you be good without God.

The Book of James says "faith without works is dead"
We must also turn this around: Works without faith are futile.

Answer 6

Measured as a percentage of the GNP, the more atheistic countries like Norway, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Japan, etc, etc are the highest contributors to Aid to Third World countries.

But I'm sure you were aware of that. And you're right, we don't need any praise for that. It's the normal thing to do.

Answer 7

Yes... I've seen a LOT of altruistic atheists who have no religious affiliations be very kind in that way, and Buddhism tries in more and more ways to reach out w/o trying to recruit people to the religion for aid, etc.

_()_

Answer 8

As a Christian, I feel that it is necessary for me to defend the "atheists" against such a generalization. All atheists are not uncaring, evil, immoral or disrespectful people. They simply do not believe that God is real. Even though I would gladly give my right arm to be able to convince even one of them to believe in God and develop a personal relationship with him...I will still not condemn them for what they do believe. The judgement has to come from God. You and I are no angels either are we?

Answer 9

I respect anyone who helps the needy, regardless of religion. I struggled with the basic needs of life for the first 20 years of my life, now as a college graduate I spend a lot of my time volunteer. I don't do it for respect or image.

Answer 10

Does LSS do Doctors without Borders?
How about Unicef?

No?

How about mental health? Suppling children with medical insurance? Wow... LSS is the greatest ever! No one can compare...