I do...

though I look down on everybody who has more then just what they need to survive since there are people who don't have enough of things to survive.  (Yes the includes me.)

People who are willing to give up at least a little bit of themselves are better off then those who aren't willing to help out at all... but still largely selfish dicks.

blame Sci-fi boy?

I was just pointing out advantages to atheism.  Which include making more money and not feeling obligated to give money to charity because if you don't a judge from beyond this world will damn you to eternal torment.

highway - exactly.

Benevolence and charity should never, ever, be mandated by any government or authority.

Although in Christianity, it's implored and demanded by God, it's never forced (not a perquisite for salvation). I'd like to think that we are strongly compelled to help others.

I'll give you an example from my own life concerning charity:

I have a close friend that rents an apartment from my complex I own. His 10y/o daughter lit a candle, and burnt down his apartment unit, destroying everything he's ever owned, except for his car, and the clothes on their backs.

What help was there from the government? Very little (despite being in a blue-leaning state). Red Cross (a private organization) was on scene within 3 hours, and immediately handed him a $350 gift card to help him purchase basic necessities.

His church (of which, I am a part of as well) held an emergency offering during Sunday service (the fire was on a Sunday morning at 1am), and gave him $1,000 in cash to help him along. Others in the congregation that were unable to help him financially pledged clothing and furniture when he was able to acquire a new apartment. Still others went to businesses in the community and asked for private donations of gift cards for restaurants and retailers so he and his 10 y/o daughter could eat.

As his landlord, I allowed him and his daughter to move into my house, rent free, in order to help him get back on his feet, as he's going to require signficant sums of money to rebuilt his life.

He's also considered in the lower-middle class. Single person income, and has a daughter to raise. He's in a financial mess due to very poor planning, but a local Christian gave him a check for $3,000 to pay off 100% of his unsecured debt, so he wouldn't go into bankruptcy.


That's charity. Not coerced. Not demanded, but freely given by people that are not mandated, but desire, to move above and beyond what they are accustomed to, and give freely to help those in need. His church family (those he visits far less often) gave far more aid than his work family (of which, he has far more friends, and spends a much higher amount of time with).

Say what you will, but stamping out freely-given charity is the best way to absolutely destroy helping the poor. If you mandate 'charity' (it really ceases to become that when forced), you will create a class of people that are devoid of the character trait of charity. You'll create a society of people that are demanded to give, but have no desire. The rich won't give because they are not motivated by morality, or desire, to give. Not a great situation to be in.

i do voulanrty work, is that not giving up a bit of myslef to help others?

btw, if not already clear, im an Atheist

My impression of Kasz216

Anybody: "Hey, I saw this PBS special on the historical jesus...."

Kasz216: "ATHEISTS ARE LESS CHARITABLE!! I have a chart."

No offense man, I think you're one of the more intelligent people around here, but you like to work that into pretty much any religious conversation. I mean this topic was kind of a stretch.
"I don't understand why anyone would be an atheist."
"They don't donate to charity, that's why!!!"

I mean seriously? Do I look up unflattering statistics about religious people and post them in any topic that has "god" in the first post? At some point you just gotta admit it's in bad taste.

SciFi -

Do you realize that the average atheist (and I'm talking the average of the millions that are self-declared atheist) give much less of their time to volunteerism and charitable giving? Just because you do it does not mean your the norm.

Don't get me wrong, it's great that you volunteer, because it's an awesome thing. But you must understand that what you do is well outside the norm of your religion.

This video is worth watching if you have ten minutes, it is hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_EXqdJ4L7I

You don't think that not being tied to some third party moral belief code isn't an advantage?

Also i also mentioned atheists make more money... in the same sentence.

Do not make me go get my stick.