indoctrinated Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 I believe that it is a sad thing to see that most charity work is the result of religious organizations, very few are independent of religion, or religious affiliations. This is an interesting point that ynotbegoodtoall included in their testimony. What charities exist which atheists or agnostics can support with a clear conscience? Here are a few I support which I think are non-religious (correct me if I'm wrong about that!). Can others add to the list? Medecins sans frontieres (aka Doctors without Borders) Oxfam Intermediate Technology Development Group (aka Practical Action) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy-tiger Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 This is an interesting point that ynotbegoodtoall included in their testimony. What charities exist which atheists or agnostics can support with a clear conscience? Here are a few I support which I think are non-religious (correct me if I'm wrong about that!). Can others add to the list? Medecins sans frontieres (aka Doctors without Borders) Oxfam Intermediate Technology Development Group (aka Practical Action) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> In the UK? Most of them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indoctrinated Posted August 22, 2005 Author Share Posted August 22, 2005 In the UK? Most of them...[ Practical Action was founded and inspired by economist E. F. Schumacher who wrote "Small is Beautiful." It is a UK charity which runs development projects applying appropriate sustainable technology to third world needs. I think it is pretty cool and possibly unique! Fascinating for budding inventors! website is at http://www.itdg.org/?id=home There is a Schumacher society in USA but I think it is educational only. Link for Oxfam America is http://www.oxfamamerica.org/ and Oxfam international is http://www.oxfam.org/eng/ Medecins sans frontieres was founded in 1971 by a group of French (pretty obvious I would have thought!) doctors and journalists in response to the Biafra famine. http://www.msf.org/ American home page is http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/home.cfm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy-tiger Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 Practical Action was founded and inspired by economist E. F. Schumacher who wrote "Small is Beautiful." It is a UK charity which runs development projects applying appropriate sustainable technology to third world needs. I think it is pretty cool and possibly unique! Fascinating for budding inventors! website is at http://www.itdg.org/?id=home There is a Schumacher society in USA but I think it is educational only. Link for Oxfam America is http://www.oxfamamerica.org/ and Oxfam international is http://www.oxfam.org/eng/ Medecins sans frontieres was founded in 1971 by a group of French (pretty obvious I would have thought!) doctors and journalists in response to the Biafra famine. http://www.msf.org/ American home page is http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/home.cfm <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I meant that of all the charities in the UK, most of them are Areligious in nature and can be supported by Agnostics/Atheists with a clear conscience Personally, I'll support any charity that helps people/animals, as long as they're not pushing a belief system as part of that help. For example, the Salvation Army here in the UK is a grey area, but I still support them. Reason? They will help the poor and homeless WITHOUT trying to preach at them, and they provide a place for blood donations to be made... again, no preaching involved. This I know for a fact as I've been in the position of needing their help... which is another reason I support them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indoctrinated Posted August 22, 2005 Author Share Posted August 22, 2005 I meant that of all the charities in the UK, most of them are Areligious in nature and can be supported by Agnostics/Atheists with a clear consciencePersonally, I'll support any charity that helps people/animals, as long as they're not pushing a belief system as part of that help. For example, the Salvation Army here in the UK is a grey area, but I still support them. Yes, even my father who was vehemently anti-religion thought the Sally Army were okay! Probably the same sort of thing with the YMCA? I find it difficult to get a feel for how it is in the USA. Our monarch is "defender of the faith" and yet even many of our religious organisations quite happily compartmentalise the religious bit and the secular bit of what they do. The USA had a revolution and they have a constitution and yet they seem more religious! I heard it explained once by the fact that Europe had a hundred years or so of bloody religious wars which left us with less stomach for religious controversy. History is not my strong point so I don't know if there's any truth in that. Anyway, back to the point. There must be some USA non-religious charities, surely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy-tiger Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 Yes, even my father who was vehemently anti-religion thought the Sally Army were okay! Probably the same sort of thing with the YMCA?More than likely...I find it difficult to get a feel for how it is in the USA. Our monarch is "defender of the faith" and yet even many of our religious organisations quite happily compartmentalise the religious bit and the secular bit of what they do. The USA had a revolution and they have a constitution and yet they seem more religious! I heard it explained once by the fact that Europe had a hundred years or so of bloody religious wars which left us with less stomach for religious controversy. History is not my strong point so I don't know if there's any truth in that. Well... since it's more like several hundred years of senseless religious wars, we're more apt to think that maybe, just maybe, fighting for a specific set of beliefs isn't the best idea after all... Anyway, back to the point. There must be some USA non-religious charities, surely! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Can't help you there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max Posted August 22, 2005 Share Posted August 22, 2005 For example, the Salvation Army here in the UK is a grey area, but I still support them. Reason? They will help the poor and homeless WITHOUT trying to preach at them, and they provide a place for blood donations to be made... again, no preaching involved. This I know for a fact as I've been in the position of needing their help... which is another reason I support them. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I agree. I'm in the US, and there is some preaching by the Salvation Army, but at least they're sincere in their mission, and they help those who no one else will help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazy-tiger Posted August 23, 2005 Share Posted August 23, 2005 I agree. I'm in the US, and there is some preaching by the Salvation Army, but at least they're sincere in their mission, and they help those who no one else will help. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Interesting... Sure, the SA preach, but not to the people they're helping. The only preaching they do are small leaflet campaigns now and again. I'm hoping that this is what you meant, rather than them preaching to the people they're helping... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead_hobbit Posted August 23, 2005 Share Posted August 23, 2005 I'm extremely careful when choosing my charities, especially since some make political actions that while perhaps well intended will put people's lives in danger. This happens in both leftist and rightist organizations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indoctrinated Posted August 23, 2005 Author Share Posted August 23, 2005 I'm extremely careful when choosing my charities, especially since some make political actions that while perhaps well intended will put people's lives in danger. This happens in both leftist and rightist organizations. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Yes. I agree. I try to only give to organisations that I know something about. It's not possible to have 100% certainty of course! I am never sure about giving to beggars in the street. The received wisdom is that it is not a good idea because they will only spend it on drugs or drink. I'm not entirely convinced about that argument. Sounds a bit too much along the lines of only give to the "deserving poor." I do not give to people who are aggressive about it or who seem to be spinning me a yarn. But otherwise I am inclined to. Perhaps it is better to give people one's time and concern and maybe take them and buy them a meal or something. I know some people who do that. I am not that much of a saint. Sometimes I'll exchange a few brief words and a smile, and not just give money; but that's about as far as I go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dead_hobbit Posted August 24, 2005 Share Posted August 24, 2005 I am never sure about giving to beggars in the street. The received wisdom is that it is not a good idea because they will only spend it on drugs or drink. I do what a nice Mormon lady once told me she did. I'll offer to get them a burger or something at a fast food restraunt, but not the actual money. That way I know the money actually goes to supporting their livelyhood, instead of an addiction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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