Atheists only, serious answers please.?

Question

If Atheists want to replace Christianity, why don't they do more charity work? Around the city where I live, social services always refers families in need of food to church food banks, churches host AA and Al-Anon meetings, run church soup kitchens, ect. Why don't groups like American Atheists or the Rational Response Squad do the same? Many people I know(including other atheists) look down on such groups as childish because they spend all their time and budget on protest, but never really demonstrate what they stand for. It hurts their public image. So, why the lack of charity work?

Answer 1

Put bluntly, we don't have the numbers, nor the organization. We're not a group in the true sense of the word. We're scattered individuals. We don't get donations from a congregation, we simply donate to causes that we feel are worthy, and sometimes those are religious charities and causes.

Now, there is no lack of charity work from atheists, we're simply outnumbered by our religious conterparts. Think of it this way, group A has 100 members. Group C has 100,000 members. If 10% of each group goes out and performs charity work, which group do you think will be more visible? Also, group A has no headquarters and no affilliation, group C is headquartered in the busiest part of town and has T-shirts, vans, hats and other items that clearly identify them as group C. Which group do you think is going to be more easily recognizable?

I've participated in Habitat for Humanity, GreenPeace, and even worked in a soup kitchen, but you'd never know it just by looking at my avatar and screen name. Also, I usually don't try to score points for having done so, charity is something you do for the betterment of others, not to publicize your organization or recruit more members.

Answer 2

The noblest charity is accomplished by people who have no need or desire for any acknowledgements. Your assumption is nothing more than an indication of shallow ignorance. Some of the most beneficial charity work in the world is accomplished without the promotion of any phony self serving lies of a specific religion. Charity is a selfless act of love for a cause someone believes is worthy of their time. Atheists neither need nor expect reward for their generosity. Religions on the other hand not only want publicity, but, they also need it in order to further the illusion that they are truly concerned in the interests of their fellow mammals. The religious are the most disgustingly hypocritical and judgmental people in the world today. Additionally, the help they provide often furthers the suffering because their primary goal is to spread their own delusions onto the weak and vulnerable. As another poster mentioned, look at what the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has done. Also, the Red Cross is not affiliated with any cheap religious organization. You make a lot of unwarranted accusations while at the same time making religion look like a selfless and beneficial contribution to this sick society. If not for religion, there would be much less suffering in this world. Not all charity work is good. Preaching abstinence rather than providing legitimate birth control is one example.

Answer 3

That is an interesting question, which I pondered today. Religions don't do charity work for selfless reasons, even if they don't proselytize, they are still looking to either make themselves look good or create an air of superiority about their actions. Religious charity is in many ways a self-fulfilling prophecy. Religious conviction heavily influences the cause our problems, i.e., drug policy, poverty policy, education policy, etc. .... then, like a knight in shining armor the religious community want to come to the rescue of, e.g., the poor, who are poor due to the policies that is determined by religious conviction. If you don't believe or understand what I am talking about, you should look into it.

You are right though, Atheists should organize into some sort of organization that does more than just resist the religious crazies from infringing on people's rights and threatening the stability of our nation and the very constitution that allows you to be free.

Answer 4

That's a negative generalization. We are not the immoral people that you think just because we don't believe. I'm an Atheist. I'm also a blood donor, I'm an organ donor, I drop a $20 in the red cross donation box every week, and I give all my unwanted food to the food bank and I sometimes help out at the hospital in my free time....

The only problem I see with charitable organizations such as the ones you describe are IF there is a Requirement to believe in the Bible, then you get food. This is a common practice used by missionaries in Africa....

Answer 5

I am Atheist and I take my charity work seriously as do many other Atheists. Simply because there are not television commercials, billboards etc. advertising out charity works doesn;t mean they are nonexistant.. We simply do them pretty quietly for the most part not looking for a community cheer and pat on the back for doing the right thing..

Atheists tend to do the right thing simply because it's the right thing to do rather than for acclaim, a pat on the back, points with the fairy tale or a community cheer telling them how great they are for having charity..

Why not look up Atheist charities start with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and see what Atheists are quietly doing rather than spewing lies?

Answer 6

Because, and speaking as an agnostic cause I can't and WON'T speak for a group I'm not familiar with, we're not trying to 'replace christianity'. It's all about tolerance and acceptance of differing belief systems.

I, personally, do volunteer and give money to charities and have literally and figuratively 'fed the homeless'. I do these things out of FREE WILL and I DO NOT judge others for not doing as I do. It's my personal choice and mine alone.

I have encountered people who won't help out the homeless because they blame the homeless for their own predicament (ie: alcoholism, laziness, drug addicted, etc...) I don't tell these people that they should give money/volunteer and I certainly don't tell them that they are wrong in their beliefs. I listen, and that's it. It's their belief... who am I to say they're wrong and I'm right?....

To them, I am wrong for I am perpetuating homelessness and creating and maintaining homelessness by feeding/helping them. See what I mean? I can see their arguments against me, but I choose to do what I do because of my personal beliefs.

Christians don't necessarily do all the 'good' they do out of altruism. With all the 'good works' they do, there is a price:
the people being helped have to listen to scripture before they can eat in a soup kitchen (some won't even put out food till the preaching is done) and the 'word of god' is crammed down their throats. That's not love, that's an agenda!

PS... I used to be christian and I used to volunteer at the soup kitchen's so I know.. and yes, I know not ALL christians do this... I'm saying some.

Answer 7

Many good points from the posts above me. Atheists do not congregate in great numbers like church run charities, and we do not have the connections. Sometimes there might only be one of us in our entire cirlce of family and friends. Many of us just do our own thing. I donate money, food, and my daughter's outgrown clothing to a battered woman's shelter every six months or so. I don't do it for any other reason other than someone else could use it more than me and my child. Just because we do not believe does not mean we do not care for our fellow humans and other creatures (I also volunteer at my local animal shelter).

Answer 8

I do charity work on my own. I donate time and money. I pick up trash off the ground for lazy slobs. I engage in "random acts of kindness". I have no need to be a part of a group in order to help people. I have no need to put the label of "atheist" on what I do. That's just seeking recognition, and that should never be a part of charity.

In the meantime, groups like the RRS and American Atheists engage in their own kind of public service, for which I am grateful.

Preachershoe... get a grip

Answer 9

I do lots of charity work only it is not under a religious titled group so you don't notice. I do charity work for the humane society. If it was called the "christian power for enlightenment of the dogs being group", then I would just choose a different charity. I have also done walkathons and donated to breast cancer research. No religious affiliation so once again you would not notice an atheist doing charity work. We don't feel the need to make it so obviouse as christians do.

Answer 10

who ever said i want atheism to replace christianity. i have no problem with christianity or any other religion for that matter. just keep it out of the schools and government and i am fine. as an atheists i (nor any other atheists in the world) am not required or do i have an "image" to demonstrate or maintain. if i want to donate to charity i will look for a charity that i approve of regardless of what it's religious affiliation is.