Why you don't see atheists feeding the poor

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Vexcalibur
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Kurgan
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23 Oct 2013, 7:26 pm

So by cherry picking one soup kitchen, you've proved a point? There are many secular charitable organizations (eg. Amnesty). Despite this, people from the major religions actually give more to charity than most atheists do.



adifferentname
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23 Oct 2013, 7:35 pm

Kurgan wrote:
So by cherry picking one soup kitchen, you've proved a point? There are many secular charitable organizations (eg. Amnesty). Despite this, people from the major religions actually give more to charity than most atheists do.


Collectively or individually?

Based on a percentage of earnings or irrespective of individual wealth?

I'd ask you to provide some 'evidence' but I'm quite certain you'll draw a blank.



91
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23 Oct 2013, 7:46 pm

"The SCCBS data do not support this hypothesis, however: Religious people are more generous than secular people with nonreligious causes as well as with religious ones. While 68 percent of the total population gives (and 51 percent volunteers) to nonreligious causes each year, religious people are 10 points more likely to give to these causes than secularists (71 percent to 61 percent) and 21 points more likely to volunteer (60 percent to 39 percent). For example, religious people are 7 points more likely than secularists to volunteer for neighborhood and civic groups, 20 points more likely to volunteer to help the poor or elderly, and 26 points more likely to volunteer for school or youth programs. It seems fair to say that religion engenders charity in general — including nonreligious charity."

http://www.hoover.org/publications/poli ... ticle/6577


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VIDEODROME
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23 Oct 2013, 9:10 pm

I wonder if it's either difficult or awkward for a secular charity to form.

Or if some Atheists are reluctant to self identify.

Also, is it possible that Religions have a different Income Tax status? It seems like a Secular group could just as easily setup a Non-Profit, but I'm not sure how that works or if there is a significant difference.



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91
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23 Oct 2013, 11:22 pm

VIDEODROME wrote:
I wonder if it's either difficult or awkward for a secular charity to form.


Not really there are many secular charities. My personal feeling is that secularists prefer to act through the state.


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VIDEODROME
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24 Oct 2013, 12:23 am

91 wrote:
VIDEODROME wrote:
I wonder if it's either difficult or awkward for a secular charity to form.


Not really there are many secular charities. My personal feeling is that secularists prefer to act through the state.


I have the impression that many Secular people tend to be more politically Liberal, so maybe they're comfortable with the idea of their Tax Dollars providing the Social Safety Net.



Vexcalibur
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24 Oct 2013, 12:41 am

If anyone wants a serious answer for "why you don't see atheists being charitable". The answer is simply that atheists don't usually wear t-shirts to bring attention to them while doing charitable stuff. Also, since there are many closeted atheists out there doing charity, a chunk of the charity from the religious actually belongs to atheists ^^.

Kurgan wrote:
So by cherry picking one soup kitchen, you've proved a point? There are many secular charitable organizations (eg. Amnesty).

You missed the point of the thread but here is a consolation cookie: o .
Quote:
Despite this, people from the major religions actually give more to charity than most atheists do.

1. Citation needed.
2. Make sure not to include "donations to church and bigoted advocacy groups" as charity.


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MCalavera
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24 Oct 2013, 3:35 am

Charity is always a good thing for those in need (unless there are unfavorable conditions for them to follow as a result).

But it is no really a good measure of one's morals anyway. I care more for the motive behind it than the act of charity itself.



fibonaccispiral777
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24 Oct 2013, 5:28 am

MCalavera wrote:
Charity is always a good thing for those in need (unless there are unfavorable conditions for them to follow as a result).

But it is no really a good measure of one's morals anyway. I care more for the motive behind it than the act of charity itself.


Thom Yorke, the lead singer of Radiohead, once said 'all charities do is mop up the blood'. It's a cynical view to take but I can see his point rather depressingly.



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24 Oct 2013, 6:01 am

Kurgan wrote:
So by cherry picking one soup kitchen, you've proved a point? There are many secular charitable organizations (eg. Amnesty).


I wouldn't piss on them if they were on fire.



Tequila
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24 Oct 2013, 6:01 am

MCalavera wrote:
But it is no really a good measure of one's morals anyway. I care more for the motive behind it than the act of charity itself.


Exhibit A: Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile.



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24 Oct 2013, 7:09 am

I speculate that atheists (at least in the US) are more likely to advocate government programmes rather than NGO charities to help the poor/elderly etc. than religious individuals.

So, a simple comparison of donations would likely be invalid.

It would probably be better to ask: "What percentage of your income (for instance through tax-funded programmes or donations) would you be willing to allocate to charity?"

So far, I haven't found a study that uses such a methodology.

And if someone is donating money to religious "charities" advocating abstinence only sex education as a tool to combat HIV, then that money would be less harmfully spent if it was donated to Al Qaeda.



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24 Oct 2013, 8:37 am

Individuals spend as much or little money to charity as they wish and as their budget allows. I don't think religion has a lot of influence on that. Maybe religion-based charity groups will donate more to people of the same religion, although certainly in Europe they become more and more charities that help people regardless of their faith.

The social welfare system we have in Europe has nothing to do with charity, it is a political system. Nothing to do with charity. Charity are groups you join voluntarely or money you give away personally to the ones in need. Governments do often support charity groups and initiatives.

Also, I would like to add, what is charity? For example I am paying member of a Cuba support group ; membership money is used for projects in Cuba and for organising events defending Cuba. Some would call that wrong to defend a socialist state, I am in favor of Cuba's system so I consider it charity. Not everyone will agree where the boundaries of "charity" lie. Fundraising for a religious building for example, I wouldn't call that charity, even though I have nothing against it.


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