Comments on: 20/20 misses a big point http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/29/20_20_misses_a_big_point A Blog of Atheist Thought Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:58:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: alexatheist http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/29/20_20_misses_a_big_point/comment-page-1#comment-48664 alexatheist Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-48664 I was thinking the same thing while I watched 20/20-secular progressives avoid overtly religious charities or those charities that discriminate such as the Salvation Army or Red Cross. Atheists like Bill Gates do more to improve the quality of life for people than any faith based charity becasue he creates jobs, wealth, and oppurtunites rather than just giving hand outs. I was thinking the same thing while I watched 20/20-secular progressives avoid overtly religious charities or those charities that discriminate such as the Salvation Army or Red Cross. Atheists like Bill Gates do more to improve the quality of life for people than any faith based charity becasue he creates jobs, wealth, and oppurtunites rather than just giving hand outs.

]]> By: sword_strike http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/29/20_20_misses_a_big_point/comment-page-1#comment-48666 sword_strike Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-48666 At work, there is currently a campain to get peopel to register and give 2$ per pay (authomatically deducted on the paycheck) to a society called "Centraide" who helps the needy. A plasma TV and a couple of Ipods were awarded as prizes at random to those who signed up.<br /> <br /> <br /> This society was recently exposed as wasting around 45% of donations in administrative fees and for sending some of it's donations to Israel, which is of course NOT mentionned in its campains.<br /> <br /> I give 5$ per pay to the local humane society. I do give to charity, but not just any one. With so many of them out there, I give to the causes that I take at heart and I know won't pocket the money. At work, there is currently a campain to get peopel to register and give 2$ per pay (authomatically deducted on the paycheck) to a society called “Centraide” who helps the needy. A plasma TV and a couple of Ipods were awarded as prizes at random to those who signed up.

This society was recently exposed as wasting around 45% of donations in administrative fees and for sending some of it’s donations to Israel, which is of course NOT mentionned in its campains.

I give 5$ per pay to the local humane society. I do give to charity, but not just any one. With so many of them out there, I give to the causes that I take at heart and I know won’t pocket the money.

]]> By: reedbraden http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/29/20_20_misses_a_big_point/comment-page-1#comment-48668 reedbraden Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-48668 Why do Christers give more blood? The Red Cross Bloodmobiles are always parked outside churches! I went to church all my childhood and that big ugly blood truck would pull in four times a year to suck our blood... as if the church itself wasn't doing enough of that. Why do Christers give more blood? The Red Cross Bloodmobiles are always parked outside churches! I went to church all my childhood and that big ugly blood truck would pull in four times a year to suck our blood… as if the church itself wasn’t doing enough of that.

]]> By: dsilverman http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/29/20_20_misses_a_big_point/comment-page-1#comment-48669 dsilverman Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-48669 See Reed? That's what I mean! That's a pretty blaring stat-wrecker right there! See Reed? That’s what I mean! That’s a pretty blaring stat-wrecker right there!

]]> By: karen http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/29/20_20_misses_a_big_point/comment-page-1#comment-48670 karen Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-48670 I've already addressed the bloody Salvation Army on another thread, I think everyone knows how I feel aout them.<br /> <br /> And that I'm charitable.<br /> <br /> I just try to give to more secular organizations.<br /> <br /> Does 20/20 figure religious people give more than nonreligious based on per person? Or does it just seem like they give more cos there's so many more of them and so many of us are in the closet and don't make a big deal about giving? <br /> <br /> I didn't see the show. Are the numbers based just on the SA can surveys? I’ve already addressed the bloody Salvation Army on another thread, I think everyone knows how I feel aout them.

And that I’m charitable.

I just try to give to more secular organizations.

Does 20/20 figure religious people give more than nonreligious based on per person? Or does it just seem like they give more cos there’s so many more of them and so many of us are in the closet and don’t make a big deal about giving?

I didn’t see the show. Are the numbers based just on the SA can surveys?

]]> By: alexatheist http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/29/20_20_misses_a_big_point/comment-page-1#comment-48671 alexatheist Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-48671 I was thinking the same thing while I watched 20/20-secular progressives avoid overtly religious charities or those charities that discriminate such as the Salvation Army or Red Cross. Atheists like Bill Gates do more to improve the quality of life for people than any faith based charity becasue he creates jobs, wealth, and oppurtunites rather than just giving hand outs. I was thinking the same thing while I watched 20/20-secular progressives avoid overtly religious charities or those charities that discriminate such as the Salvation Army or Red Cross. Atheists like Bill Gates do more to improve the quality of life for people than any faith based charity becasue he creates jobs, wealth, and oppurtunites rather than just giving hand outs.

]]> By: alexatheist http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/29/20_20_misses_a_big_point/comment-page-1#comment-48672 alexatheist Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-48672 Sorry-dont know why my post appeared twice! Sorry-dont know why my post appeared twice!

]]> By: JP http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/29/20_20_misses_a_big_point/comment-page-1#comment-48674 JP Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-48674 We were chatting in another thread about whether atheism should be considered a religion in order to receive constitutional protections under the First Amendment.<br /> <br /> What does "religion" mean to most people if even a few atheists would consider it to be "devotion to a cause"?<br /> <br /> I think of Susan Sarandan's "Bull Durham" character, whose "religion" was baseball. Or was it fucking?<br /> We were chatting in another thread about whether atheism should be considered a religion in order to receive constitutional protections under the First Amendment.

What does “religion” mean to most people if even a few atheists would consider it to be “devotion to a cause”?

I think of Susan Sarandan’s “Bull Durham” character, whose “religion” was baseball. Or was it fucking?

]]> By: karen http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/29/20_20_misses_a_big_point/comment-page-1#comment-48675 karen Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-48675 alex<br /> or anyone who knows,<br /> <br /> How does the Red Cross discriminate?<br /> OH! Do you mean because they won't take your blood if you're gay or have had same-sex sex? <br /> <br /> I was thinking in terms of them distributing disaster supplies. alex
or anyone who knows,

How does the Red Cross discriminate?
OH! Do you mean because they won’t take your blood if you’re gay or have had same-sex sex?

I was thinking in terms of them distributing disaster supplies.

]]> By: Monika http://atheists.org/blog/2006/11/29/20_20_misses_a_big_point/comment-page-1#comment-48683 Monika Unknown, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-48683 <br /> Another point that would skew the survey is that people often say they are religious when they are asked even if they are pretty secular.<br /> <br /> Also I don't give to people standing on the street with a can. How do I have any idea where that money is going? <br /> <br /> And as others have stated I give to secular charities. I give to Plan International every month and I go and give blood at the Red Cross as often as they let me (every 12 weeks). <br /> <br /> Finally if you are going to analyse religious charity I think you need to separate actual charity from the efforts to spread religion that get mixed in. Another point that would skew the survey is that people often say they are religious when they are asked even if they are pretty secular.

Also I don’t give to people standing on the street with a can. How do I have any idea where that money is going?

And as others have stated I give to secular charities. I give to Plan International every month and I go and give blood at the Red Cross as often as they let me (every 12 weeks).

Finally if you are going to analyse religious charity I think you need to separate actual charity from the efforts to spread religion that get mixed in.

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