Do you think if Religion ceased to exsist in the USA?

Question

Many Organizations who help the poor and needy would also diminish?

For instance the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Operation Blessing, St Jude, VOM are major christian organizations that come to the need of people on a global basis.

If most people come to the need of other's they are doing it because it is the right thing to do commanded by GOD, even when some people are un-deserving of help, so in your opinion would people be so inclined to help other's if no deity was involved?

Answer 1

So you are saying that only people who believe in God are good and caring people? Deluded you are.

There would be organizations that would help people. You should check to see how much money doesn't go to where it should in all those organizations you listed. You'd be surprised by what you find. The Red Cross does some good but guess what they aren't always there for people.

I guess with all the answers showing you religion isn't needed wasn't what you were hoping for was it?

Answer 2

I think you are probably right, as bleak as that is. I think you are right that numerous christians only donate at all in order to fulfill an obligation. Like other answers say here--numerous people are helped by the Red Cross worldwide. They don't mandate that you be christian to donate or to receive help. The Salvation Army also was founded by christian organizations, but has been kept running by donations of people--people that have no revealed their religious beliefs.

In fact, many other religions believe in helping out your fellow human being. It is not a Christian trait any more than an easter celebration is. I do hope that people do it b/c its the right thing to do, but in the end I feel you are right. Too many people only donate b/c it is in their religion to do so. Perhaps the term "god-fearing" is more accurate than not.

I asked a question on here similar to yours trying to see similarities across the religion category--about if money were no object and you had no obligations (sleep, work, children) for 24 hours, what novel thing would you like to accomplish--and nearly everyone said they'd do something for profit like write a book or do absolutely nothing with the no obligations help and merely relax by a lake, hanging out with friends. Not one person said anything truly inspiring that would benefit even 5 people they didn't know.

So as distressing as this is to say--I do truly believe that if religion ceased to exist and there was no greater reward for it, a greater percentage of people wouldn't give a damn about mankind anymore.

Answer 3

Where did you hear that the Red Cross is a Christian organization? It has a cross for a symbol based on the flag of Switzerland, where it was founded.

And are you saying that people won't do good deeds and help those in need if they're not religious? You must have a very poor opinion of humanity.

Answer 4

The Red Cross is not a religious organisation. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement whose stated mission is to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for the human being, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering, without any discrimination based on nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.

So, no.

And besides, if there is no religion then that's a huge potential for coversions. The religious organisations would be lining up.

Answer 5

Wow. I'm an optimist, so I think that even without being told to do so, people would continue to help others. I donate, and I haven't been told to by the Abrahamic god.

Religious organizations aren't the only charities, you know. They do tend to get the most donations, but I think that's because theists tend to think that having a deity involved makes the humans in charge of the charity better somehow.

Answer 6

Wait, you're saying that people contribute to charitable organizations because they're worried about going to Hell?

I prefer to think they're doing it because they get a good feeling from helping those who are less fortunate, and we don't need religion for that... but yeah, you're probably at least partially right.

If there were no religion, there would be no churches, and all that money and land spent on churches and other religious buildings (have you _seen_ the extravagance of some of them??) could be put to use doing something else aside from perpetuating the faith. Imagine if half the money spent building churches alone went to charitable organizations!

Answer 7

Religion has nothing to do with community organizations. You mentioned a few, but there are thousands of organizations that help others simply because it is the humane thing to do. There are also many individuals, myself included, that do mentoring and other volunteer efforts outside of organizations, that simply do it because they enjoy giving back.

So yes, regardless if you believe in God or not, I would hope people would help others. You don't need to be "commanded" to do the right thing.

Answer 8

I think religious drives and needs are hard-wired in our DNA for most people. Vigorous and sustained attempts have been made to stamp out religion and religious feelings and ideas but they have all failed.
Ther is plenty of neurotic and twisted practice of both religion and irreligion. I think that the world needs ethical and loving,humane and transcendant religion more today than ever.

Answer 9

The Red Cross is a tainted blood sucking mess.
The Sally Ann has a 'WAR Cry', not a peace cry.
Blessed can be either law or grace, dead or alive.
Jude reminds us law law folk got saved + destroyed.
X-ian orgs are by & large legalistic: promote legalism.
Legalism is both natural and spiritual abuse: abusivie.

"$uch like are IMPure religions, and not "pure religion".
They're all as trolls, who 'trouble the water'; Not grace us.
JC didn't help the man into troubled water, but healed him.
He also later told the man & the woman: sin(law) no more.
It is best not to feed the trolls, nor to cross their troll bridge.
Amos 5:18: "the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light".

Pure religion arrived undefiled; And remained unspotted,
in it's come and go "visit"-ation, notably unto the "afflicted".
His Grace neither tempts(laws) nor can be tempted(lawed).
POINT: "Grace" is neither of the two "law"s in Mt 22:36-40.
More Excellent: neither broadmindead nor narrowmindead.

Trade in yer "law worketh wrath" for "grace is sufficient".
For by the using of ordinances "all perish": Col 2:20-22.

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 10

No. The religion of materialism flourishes in the USA and in many other countries. True religion which is a means to spirituality (an unconditioned, blissful and liberated state of being) is dying if not already dead.