Do any pagans or other non-Christians accept charity from Christians?

Question

I was seriously thinking about this today. I live in a small community with a Salvation Army that is very generous and seeks to help all of the people who need it, no matter their religion. I guess the real question is do you feel guilty, knowing how many disagreements and worse that happen between us and them on the net and in life? Do you donate to or volunteer at Christian charities as well as others?
Before today I always said that I wouldn't take food or clothes to the Salvation Army because their beliefs are so different from mine. I was wrong in some respects. They and I feel that people who need help are people who need help, no judgement. Also, they don't preach at you or try to "save" you at all. There was a magazine about their religion in the bag, and I read it out of respect. I just wanted to know how other pagans and other non-Christians really feel about this.

I know that it's my business and no one has asked why we need help, at least so far, but I do want to explain a little. My husband work full time at a good job but over half of his checks go to health insurance alone. He also works a part time job. I have major depression and aniexty disorders, and I try to substitute teach at least a few times a week, when I can leave the house. I'm one who gets disability and works as much as I can, but it's not enough. I was told by my doctors to apply for aid and I have put it off for 2 years because I thought it made me weak. I've accepted that my family's going through a tough time and we won't need charity to help us forever.

Answer 1

The job of thesr Chritain charities is supposed to be to help all people no matter race, creed or religion. I have never been put in the position that I have had to really think about this, but I think that if my family needed help I would take it from anywhere that I can get it.My family comes before my pride or my religous differences. I do donate ti the catholic diocese, becasue they have help so many people. I may not agree with their religion, but I ahve no problem with their charities. I also donate to goodwill and the salvation army. Not money usually as I am on a tight budget but I always have wxtra things that I have no use for anymore that someone else may need. A portion of my pay check goes directly to the catholic diocese, and to unicef. I donate food money and clothign to the vets every year. You shouild never feel shame becasue you're going through a rough time and your family may need a little help. Take what s offered and tahnk the Gods that the help was there for you. I understand about depression an anxiety disorders, my mother is an acute agoraphobic and I ahve suffered ndepressiona and anxiety myself in my lifetime. If you ever feel the need for a friend or someone just to talk to feel free to email me. I will always try my best to make time, sometimes a friendly voive or typer as the case may be makes all the difference in the world. pleasr don't listen to the ones who I'm sure are going to pop up and tell you taht if you were a christian all your problems would go away, it's not true.
Bright Blessings on you and your family.

Answer 2

That's one of the great things abour our beliefs. We are still people and we do not judge based on beliefs at all. Neither does the Salvation army. If you think about it, there are more than just Christian and Pagan denominations to consider. Christian beliefs will actually go so far as to claim that other Christian beliefs are wrong. Take the Mormons for example, outcasts from the church so much that they had to travel across the country and set up anew in Utah. That's just one example, yet, if you need help, even Catholic Social Services will help you because that is what they are funded for. If they turn anyone away by religious discrimination they can lose their funding. I have to say though, that I have never had Catholic Social Services or Salvation Army look down their nose at me for being wiccan. For that matter they don't even ask. So I don't feel bad at all if I accept help from them. Their people and if one of them needs my help, perhaps that is fate. That's my jumbled view. Sorry to ramble.

Answer 3

I know an elderly atheist couple who are signed up for something (Angels Foods?) via a Christian charity, to help them make it through the month. Don says they're nice people and "among the few that actually follow the word". The group knows the couple are non-believers and never preach.

I disagree with you about what I call The Starvation Army. Their history is horrid. This year, once again, for their fundraising dinner in my city, they paid Oliver North to be the keynote speaker. I can't think of anyone more unAmerican and they get zero from me.

I contribute to a local charity that began as a Christian ministry but now has every faith you can imagine involved, including Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. Their motto is "No questions asked". You could walk in wearing a $500 dress and say "i'm hungry" and they'll cheerfully feed you.

Answer 4

I'm sure they do, and don't feel bad about accepting help. There are some really nice Christians out there, and when a person is in need, religion really takes a back seat to helping those in need.

I am a pagan Witch, and I give to non-Christian charities, but I admire all good charities and I encourage everyone to give generously to the charity that moves them and that need them. I used to work for Catholic Charities, I am an ESL teacher, and most of my students were from Vietnam and had no idea that they were being helped by such different groups.

The bottom line is that we are all on this planet together and it is up to each of us out there to DO SOMETHING to help. Anything. Give of your time if you have no money. I buy goats and other farm animals for families in developing countries through the Heifer Project, a charity that has no religious affiliations but with a heart and soul as big as our world.

A last thought: give when you can, what you can, and remember that you may be in need someday. If you are in need, receive with thanks, and give back someday.

Blessings and happy Yule to all,
Lady Morgana )0(

Answer 5

If I was in need I would accept from whoever was willing to help, just as I am willing to help others regardless of their faith. If I found a Christian charity that focused on something I wanted to contribute to and was well behaved about it, I would have no problem donating. I don't deal with the Salvation Army, however. They apparently have a reputation for not playing well with the other charities, and I witnessed it first hand when I was with the Red Cross helping with hurricane recovery in 2005.

Answer 6

The vast majority of charity are non religious based and for good reason - so they can work where they need to without being a threat through religion!! The vast majority of charity workers are non christian!! Indeed because christians try to use charity to force religion on others there have been many killings and kidnappings of aid workers!! It has made the wars in Afghanistan and Iran far worse and far more dangerous for the honest aid workers!! A mormon church in Capetown entices poor blacks to the church promising them food if they come and deny the same food to much poorer people in far greater need!!

Answer 7

I would accept charity from Christians but I will not volunteer for Christian charities if those charities try to convert the people they help. I would avoid those like the plague. I don't feel guilty being non-Christian because of disagreements. I'm not the one telling people they are going to hell for not believing in a certain way. They should feel guilty.

Answer 8

Accept the help and give back when you can. People do charity work (usually) out of true warmth and a need to help others, not for brownie points. Most charities don't care if you're Christian or not (there are a few that are jerks about it), as long as you are truly in need. Once you're on your feet and doing better, give back to that charity or "pay it forward"

Answer 9

Not being religious I do not volunteer at religious charities as they also focus on that which I don't believe in. I give plenty of time and money to secular charities.

When a good friend of mine and his husband wanted to volunteer for the Salvation Army they were rejected because of their homosexuality. Therefore, I will not support any charity that chooses to discriminate.

Answer 10

Personally yes I would. The organization giving these things is not expecting any kind of conversion, or reverance or anything else; they are doing it because they are helping their fellow humans in need. I do the same thing when I donate to the United Way each week through work.

Now if someone offered something on the stipulation that I go to worship services or similar I would simply smile and say 'no thank you'.