should i have been offended as an atheist or did i do the right thing by donating some cash because even though they preach they still help a lot of people?
any thoughts-thanks in advance for any answers-smile and enjoy the night
2007-11-26 12:18:48 · 14 answers · asked by lazaruslong138 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I guess it's a question of what's more important to you? Your ideological differences or helping people?
2007-11-26 12:21:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
They do really help people and I wish to support that. However, I seriously dislike what I've heard about their group being more manipulative than most towards the active members of their organization. The few reports I've heard about this suggest that if it weren't for all the truly helpful work they do for the poor, they'd probably be branded a cult by the media. In fact, they were when they first started as an organization many years ago.
I tend to give cash to the local food bank instead, which is not run by the Salvation Army but by a group of local organizations and churches working together. Also, the YMCA and YWCA locally both do a lot of good in this community.
2007-11-26 20:33:49 · answer #2 · answered by kriosalysia 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you think helping the poor and emergency shelters for women and shelter beds for the homeless is important? If you do then you gave money to the best organization I know for helping those in North America that need the help! I believe they can still honestly claim to house 1/3 or 1/4 of the homeless shelter beds in Canada and the United States.
I won't shop in Lowes and Target and some other stores just because they won't say Merry Christmas or allow an honorable organization like the Salvation Army there.
2007-11-26 20:26:55 · answer #3 · answered by Pilgrim in the land of the lost 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Salvation Army doesn't ask what your religion is before they help you out - they might invite you to church and share their faith but they help whoever needs it. If they are willing to help you, an atheist, there shouldn't be a problem with an atheist dropping coins in the bucket. I don't know the statistics but I believe them to be a great humanitarian organization. They have done a lot of good in my community and around my state. Our area is the site of one of the largest SA thrift stores anywhere. I don't believe they spend extravagantly. And no, I do not belong to the "Army."
2007-11-26 20:28:05 · answer #4 · answered by mtgranny 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm quite certain that when all the church groups from all over,,,came down to help on the Gulf Coast, after Hurricane Katrina,,,not a single one of them asked a person if they were an atheist or not, before they helped them...
Is that the way atheist think about helping? If it is a Christian charity they don't give? How selfish and sick is that?
2007-11-26 20:30:47 · answer #5 · answered by dreamdress2 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
O.K. I don't donate because I have another outlet.
Do you? If not, even though they preach, they do more good than you could ALONE....right??? so No harm done.
I don't donate because in my religion, not only do we help now, but we help ever moment of the day world wide, both in teaching people to act better towards each other, but also in actual building and rebuilding of whole communities. J.W. Bugsie
2007-11-26 20:25:44 · answer #6 · answered by bugsie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I give a great deal to charities and what I find is that the moment some theists discover that you're an atheist they assume you give nothing to any charity. It doesn't make me stop giving but it does make me feel sometimes like we get so little credit for anything.
I'm not looking for the "look at me being so pious soapbox" that some theists build for themselves but it would be nice to not hear "You're an atheist? Why don't you ever think of others?"
2007-11-26 20:25:06 · answer #7 · answered by tamyp 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it was good to donate. i too was at walmart today, and the bell ringer was just singing away and doing a great job of it. it sure put smiles on a lot of people faces, including mine. i like bell ringers who really put their effort into it.
2007-11-26 21:52:41 · answer #8 · answered by Debbie L 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Helping other people can't be the wrong thing to do. Getting over differences and just doing what needs to be done is definitely a good thing. Go you ;-)
2007-11-26 20:23:07 · answer #9 · answered by Lamborama 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No one asked you to give, you didn't have to. You simply made a choice to help others. I commend you on that. I too give to several organizations. Isn't it great knowing you have helped someone in need, even though they didn't ask.
That is what Christians do too.
Enjoy your evening too, hugs to you as well.
2007-11-26 20:24:02 · answer #10 · answered by army_sister71 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋