Secular Charity for Haiti

2 Responses to Secular Charity for Haiti

1. Holopupenko says:

   January 17, 2010 at 9:56 pm

   Why do atheists spin their wheels in trying to convince others that they’re “just as moral”? First, given atheism’s track record of tens of millions of bodies during the 20th century alone, one could not be faulted for scratching one’s head. Second, even if granted–so what? Apart from the first point and specific anti-life issues most atheists support, in a day-to-day context I might grant their assertion. That’s not the question: it’s whether the basis of defensibly objective. Third, let’s do an empirical comparison: how much aid is given to Haiti per capita by atheists and believers? I bet I know the what the relative outcome will be…
2. ylooshi says:

   January 17, 2010 at 10:27 pm

   Why do atheists spin their wheels in trying to convince others that they’re “just as moral”?

   Accusations of “wheel spinning” aside, atheists are 1) responding to the charge that they are “immoral” as put forth fallaciously by religionists time and time again and, 2) providing through means like this a way for humanists (be they atheist or theist) to make charitable contributions that aren’t encumbered by the baggage of superstition that so often (though not always) accompanies religious charities.

   First, given atheism’s track record of tens of millions of bodies during the 20th century alone, one could not be faulted for scratching one’s head.

   Please. Name a single instance of act of violence committed because of atheism. This is one of those fallacious, bullshit claims made by the superstitious time and time again that I was mentioning. None of the acts of atrocity and genocide frequently cited by the superstitious to support their “atheism=evil” claims actually work. Hitler was Christian throughout the Holocaust (the belt buckles of his SS bear this out!); Stalin was raised in the Russian Orthodox church and used the Church to achieve his ends; Pol Pot had his own ideology and political goals that fueled his agenda. Not one of these people or their minions used atheism as a platform or reason to commit genocide. Religious nuts on the other hand have no way to account for the Crusades, worship of idiot mythical heroes like Moses, David, and Joshua who slaughter thousands according to biblical mythology as well as kidnapped and raped young girls. Religious superstition gives us figures like David Koresh, Jim Jones, and Marshal Applewhite.

   Apart from the first point and specific anti-life issues most atheists support, in a day-to-day context I might grant their assertion.

   Yet another fallacious assertion. Its interesting how religious nuts in society tend to claim a “pro-life” stance until it concerns things like death penalties, wars, and brain-dead spouses of other people.

   Third, let’s do an empirical comparison: how much aid is given to Haiti per capita by atheists and believers? I bet I know the what the relative outcome will be…

   I think we’d agree here. The one thing that atheists do not have is patriarchs, priests, and cult leaders who convince them that Jesus wants their money in collection plates. I think its good that many of these collection plates find some of their proceeds actually making it to deserving ends.

   But then the point of my post here wasn’t to compare the morality of atheists to theists. It was to point out that there are people literally dying for the few pennies we can send to buy water, medicine, fuel and other necessities that will get people and life-saving supplies to them. It matters not if they are religious people, or irreligious people; people of Christ or not people of Christ. They are people. They need and deserve our help. The two charities that the RDF is using, I think you’ll agree, are reputable and professional as well as extremely effective.