Why don't atheists organize to give food and clothing to the poor and suffering in America...?

Question

Is it because no one would donate to such an organization? It sure would demonstrate to the world that we can be as "good and unselfish" as Catholic Charaties and the Salvation Army.

Answer 1

Because they are not after bragging rights, they do not need the pat on the back from something they do not believe in. Many give and do great things for others, but they are truly humble about it =)

Answer 2

Ever seen the financial disclosures of these national charities? Why do you think MBAs apply?

The Starvation Army is a sham. They just had Oliver North in my city as their featured speaker during their fundraiser. Mother Teresa was also a sham- a cruel, domineering woman who did not respect those she 'served'. She loved the fact that people were poor, not that she could help them. I have this information firsthand from friends who have lived in Calcutta all of their lives.

I have in place a local charity that began as Christian but is now humanist, with people of all faiths plus atheists donating and volunteering. Belief is not a requirement. The vast majority of the money raised goes to help the poor. Most workers there are volunteers and the director's salary is more of an honorarium, considering he could be making ten-fifteen times more as an attorney.

Check out Operation Foxhole Atheist. It's a group sending packages and other stuff to atheists serving, who are usually shut out by the fundie chaplains which have overrun our military.

I'm also part of a large regional humanist society which does many activities for the community and charity.

Answer 3

If you do good because the good needed doing anyway and don't mentally jot it down to earn future rewards from a supernatural entity or supernatural reward system, then you're doing it like an atheist. There are millions of organisations that operate without reference to supernatural entities and have done and continue to do a lot of good. For example a drug company that develops new drugs to fight diseases doesn't involve God in the process of development of the drug. Boeing and Airbus don't have Prayer on the checklist of things to do before allowing a plane to fly. Non-religious people like Buffett and Gates are the biggest donors in the world and run charities without any reference to God or any other supernatural entity or supernatural reward system. The UN and its various arms don't involve the supernatural - its a human organisation for improving the lot of humans. It makes no reference to God in its operations. The bottom line is that whenever there is an absence of any reference to the supernatural while doing things it becomes a-theistic.

Answer 4

If religious people spent their money on the poor instead of building churches on every corner, there would be a lot fewer poor people, not to mention more places to build homes for people.

Religious people haven't cornered the market on charity work, you are speaking out of ignorance.

I'm an atheist, and I've been volunteering for years.

And as far as the catholics go, most of the money they are spending these days is on child abuse settlements.

Answer 5

I don't need to persuade others to do the same as me, and I don't need a reason or praise for donating to charity. I donate to the poor and suffering every year by sacrificing my weekends and certain holidays at soup kitchens, etc. Besides, when you give, say, canned goods, to someone, do you really think they're going to ask your religion? How do you know we aren't out there organizing these things?

Answer 6

Atheists aren't an organization.

That's like saying "Why don't people who don't think Star Wars is a good movie give food and clothing to the poor?"

Some of the most generous and caring people I know have no religion.

(I just read your question again and see that it's a real suggestion. I still think that would be weird beacuse there are plenty of secular charities.)

Answer 7

Probably because we're just that organised and also I don't think we'd want to put people who aren't atheists off from donating

I do give to charity out of my pay every month and both them are secular
Also a (atheist) colleague at work runs a non profit animal charity (they find homes for abandoned pets)

Answer 8

Well, Bill Gates is either an agnostic or atheist and he runs a huge charity that helps a lot of people. But why do atheists need their own separate charities? It'd be a bit inefficient.

Answer 9

Well there are plenty of charities without religious affiliations. They don't call themselves atheist charities, because to most atheists the idea of restricting membership in a charitable organisation on religious grounds would seem absurd.

Answer 10

There are at least two free thought organizations in the city where I live that do various kinds of community service work. And they do it out of a genuine desire to help their fellow man, not because they think their god expects it of them.

Answer 11

in some cases, pagan organizations have given donations to charities which were not accepted because the donation came from pagans.

atheists don't need to gather as groups to proclaim how good they are to the public. they give as much as non atheists do, but just don't look for credit.