30th November 2010
“It is untrue that non-religious people do less for charity; various studies and surveys have confirmed this and is insulting to hard-working secular charities and voluntary group, which make up two thirds of the voluntary sector, to suggest otherwise.”
Pepper Harow
November 30th, 2010 at 3:25
I personally donate my time when I can. I live with agoraphobia so it is hard to get out, but I have donated hundreds of hours to my local food bank in the semi-recent past. Once I can stabilize my phobias again, I definitely plan on returning since it’s amazing to get someone who is having a hard time in their life to smile. I made a lot of amazing memories there, and I want to make more.
November 30th, 2010 at 14:39
Who said Non Religious people do less for charity?And who is wasting money on various studies? Strange quote.
November 30th, 2010 at 17:48
I’ve heard the argument many times. It’s an attempt by the religious to claim a monopoly on goodness and imply that the non-religious are incapable of being good because they have no religion. One person tried to tell me there were no secular orphanages. Absolutely none. He should have looked first. A quick google search turned up many.
I think the studies are important to see where the money goes.
November 30th, 2010 at 18:33
The money goes in studies. As for claiming a monopoly on goodness, why would anyone want to make that claim?
November 30th, 2010 at 21:02
Well,Tech, if you haven’t noticed that many religious leaders make the claim that without God/religion there’s no morality, then you have not been paying attention to the people on your side of the debate.
This is a very common slur against those unimpressed by the arguments in favor of an invisible omnipotent sky daddy that leaves no evidence of His existence except in the ‘hearts’ of His followers.
November 30th, 2010 at 21:06
Some might suggest that religious charities try to alleviate the poverty that their doctrines and doctrinal conflicts help to perpetuate.
November 30th, 2010 at 21:10
Is there anything in the world that isn’t an issue for you guys?It seems good or bad you knock it all. I feel for you guys, honestly.
November 30th, 2010 at 21:46
My comment was unfair, not really relevant to the discussion and basically rubbish
I withdraw it
Sorry
November 30th, 2010 at 22:14
What do you feel for us tech?
November 30th, 2010 at 22:20
That was magnanamous of you, Simon but if it was unfair then why does the bible place such emphasis of the virtue of poverty? Mother Theresa herself was a great fan of poverty but not so terribly interested in aleviating it. Take no thought for the ‘morrow? Blessed are the poor in spirit? Why not a passage or two about the value of education and the importance of hard work to achieve comfort and self sufficiency in THIS life? Nope. If your life sucks now, you can look forward to a heavenly reward – if you are faithful and patient with your lot. THAT is rubbish.
November 30th, 2010 at 23:01
My comment was unfair because it implied, however loosely, that those who work for or donate to faith based charities might be motivated by a desire to perpetuate poverty. This is clearly not true.
December 1st, 2010 at 0:10
@tech The monopoly on goodness is claimed by the religious because goodness has been twisted to mean it has directly from God, and anyone that strays from God, strays from goodness. In other words, it’s stereotyping atheists, and a fear tactic the church can use to pen in it’s “sheep”.
And, you feel nothing for us since you can not possibly conceive what it is like to be an atheist and have someone’s pride in God over rule any form of their rational thinking and compassion; therefore, they instantly think lesser of you with absolutely no justification to back it up other than they simply believe in God. *hint hint*