From Blair Scott…Over the years, local Atheist groups have found innovative ways to become involved in their communities, such as adopting a highway and blood drives. These are great ideas to bring positive attention to Atheists. I would like to suggest another way for Atheist groups to get involved.Florida Atheists and Secular Humanists (FLASH) have formed a team for the American Cancer SocietyÂ’s “Relay for life.” Ken Westervelt, a representative of FLASH, formed the FLASH Team by finding other members of FLASH that wanted to walk. FLASH created its team page on the “Relay for Life” Web Page and then began asking for donations of ten or twenty dollars. FLASH also printed out info sheets from the “Relay for Life” Web Page to hand out with the groupÂ’s name on it.The “Relay for Life” will be held all over the country on April 17th, 2009. Each location will choose an appropriate location for the walk, which will take place all day and night. Teams should have at least one member walking at a time for the entire 24 hours. Why 24 hours? The American Cancer SocietyÂ’s slogan for this year is, “Cancer doesnÂ’t sleep, neither does the cure.”As of January 2nd, the FLASH team was leading in their local area for participating members and donations received.It would be wonderful if other local groups, including American Atheists Affiliates across the country could do the same! Imagine if across the country local Atheist groups are named in the American Cancer SocietyÂ’s newsletter, are listed on the “Relay for Life” Web Page, and receive mention in the local newspapers? How many theists might begin to question their idea of what an Atheist is, or more importantly, what an Atheist is not?For too long, Atheists have been incorrectly and unfairly defined by theists and religionists as uncaring, selfish, and self-centered individuals. Atheists know that such is simply not true. Perhaps the best way for Atheists to define themselves is by example and action. When theists and religionists see us Atheists cleaning a highway, organizing a blood drive, raising money for a worthwhile cause, or walking all night in the “Relay for Life,” they see by our actions that yes, Atheists do care and are involved in their communities: positively and selflessly. This is heightened even more when they realize we are doing so because it is the right thing to do and not because we are seeking a false reward of Heaven or afraid of an imaginary punishment of Hell.If the local group in your area would like to join FLASH and get involved, please check out the “Relay for Life” Web Page and find the event close to you and form a team!An additional way for local groups to get involved is DonorsChoose.org. The site lists schools in need of different items that they need or want. The donor group chooses the location they want to help and then helps the school get their specific need or want. The goal can be achieved through monetary donations or by donating the exact want or need that the school has. The local group gets the recognition for doing good deeds in their community. FLASH recently paid for over half the costs of a model solar system and eclipse models for a local science teacher.Ken Loukinen, the Southern Florida State Director and president of FLASH said, “When our group formed, our number one concern was the image of atheists and how to change it. As Madalyn Murray O’Hair said, “An Atheist believes that a hospital should be built instead of a church. An atheist believes that deeds must be done instead of prayers said. An atheist strives for involvement in life and not escape into death. He wants disease conquered, poverty vanished, war eliminated.” I love these words and think that if we do what Madalyn said, we can define ourselves. This is a great way to achieve equal status in America for its large non-believing population.”
I am glad to see that the American Atheists are contributing to charitable causes, although I hope that this is being done for the right reasons. I hope this is not just one big scheme to get some positive publicity, because that is not what volunteering is about. It should be done because it is the right thing to do. Instead of writing a short story, about everything you are doing, maybe you should just find some humility and swallow your pride. I would also like to note that even though you are contributing to a cure for cancer, your theology leaves cancer patients hopeless.
You can probably already guess that I’m a certainly not an Atheist, in fact I’m a Catholic, so my beliefs are far from most, if not all of your beliefs, whatever they are, it seems like they change depending on the day and the argument. You can go ahead and spend your entire life trying to disprove a God, just don’t mock my or any other religion, because at least in our church, we don’t ridicule your beliefs. You can have a hiss fit about the words “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance. Tradition must be broken in order to satisfy the “large non-believing population” in America.
I will probably never be able to prove there is a powerful being beyond our imagination, just like you will never be able to prove there isn’t one. I can live my life with peace of mind and faith, knowing that life isn’t bullshit, while you live in denial trying to figure out all of the answers.
Yeah, isn’t it nice? Helping other human beings just for the sake of it. No selfish Christians seeking rewards here. Just good ol’ fashioned kindness.
Hey genius, over 50 years of tradition was broken when your revisionist ilk took our neutral, inclusive SECULAR pledge and raped it. Learn some history.
And I’ll mock your religion all I want, thank you very much. Freedom of speech, another fine tradition. Your cringe-inducing, infantile rant makes it so easy.
Joe B
The question “Do gods exist?” is pure nonsense. I don’t waste my time answering nonsensical questions. Doing so would make my life “bullshit”.
Joe B? Is that shorthand for Joe The Bummer?
Dave
Why do you not comment on the Israeli action in Gaza other than to say:
Surely these events, which you have characterized as part of a religious war, warrant more than a glib reference to your vacationing preferences.
joe b,
You drink grape juice and eat crackers and believe that they are the body of a Jewish zombie. Talk about bullshit. I’ll stick to life – real, fascinating, and rewarding life – thank you very much. And since when is trying to figure out answers a bad thing?
What, Why do you kep asking the same stupid qwuestion over and over again?
I have answered you several times. Look it up.
THIS thread, please stay on topic.
Joe,
Your mythology is rife with immorality, hypocrisy, and hate. It is the most ridiculous of mythos.
Here is where your pope suggested shuffling rapists to avoid a scandal. I strongly suggest you read every word.
Atheists have been doing good for the sake of goodness since charity began. We just haven’t been touting it when we joined the Peace Corps or the Red Cross or the local food bank, because we didn’t feel the need to tout it. Then, irrational bigoted and backwards mythologies LIKE YOURS started claiming moral high ground (while hiding pedophiles to avoid a scandal) and now we need to sound a trumpet once in a while.
Dave
The obvious reasons apply: (1) It is a huge event, (2) As you have mentioned these events are in part religiously motivated, and (3) Israel receives a lot of money from our government that enables them to carry out such actions. Surely this is a bit more important than Travolta , The Boy Scouts, Bible Classes, plagiarism, inauguration prayer, and new year’s resolutions.
I answered your question so how about answering mine? What motivates your silence on this huge issue?
Dave
I looked it up. I found nothing. Please show me where you have commented upon these recent events in Gaza.
Quote from joe b: “I hope this is not just one big scheme to get some positive publicity, because that is not what volunteering is about.”
I tend to agree. I could give a rat’s ass what some theist thinks of me. I volunteer because I want to volunteer, not because I want to be compared favorably to some superstitious self-righteous dolt.
joeb –
I can live my live in peace and happiness knowing that should I decide to pick my nose there is not some laughing deity peering over my shoulder.
Christians have ulterior motives for doing “volunteer” work. They work to please their ever present “pie in the sky” daddy watching from above. Atheists are more moral in the end, as they do not need an ever present deity watching over them to make sure they do moral works.
David,
On behalf of the American Cancer Society, I would like to thank you for forming a team and for your support. Cancer affects everyone and we appreciate the communities who are helping us to fight back.
Way to go, FLASH! This is an excellent idea, and I think Blair wrote a great post here. Even though we atheists do our good deeds and volunteerism just for the sake of doing it, and not for any reward, perhaps we should start making our position known, to improve the general outlook on atheism. My atheist son has participated in Relay for Life for many years, but never identified himself as an atheist while doing so. I have been on the pledging side of it, though I’ve not actually done the walking part. All of my years in Girl Scouts and as a school volunteer were as an atheist, but only a select few knew of my views.
jcc-
Wow. I guess you’re right. That statement by the once, most-hated woman in America just reeks of despair. It’s a wonder any of us can go on.
Remember Thomas Paine’s birthday on January 29th. Theodore Roosevelt called him a “dirty little atheist” because some of his writings were considered anti-religious. If you are not familiar with him, do some reading, particularly “Thomas Paine” by Craig Nelson. He contributed greatly to our independence and suffered greatly because he was not afraid to speak out.
I too, as an atheist, have done charity walks with my wife and kids. I think it is important to raise money for scientists to find solutions. Praying for miracles just isn’t going to work.
In the past, I have done many things for charity just to do what made me feel good. But now I also think that telling everyone I’m an atheists while doing it has the added benefit of a positive image for all atheists. I am still doing good deeds for the sake of doing good and always plan to. I don’t need or want to personal accolades, I would rather be recognized as an atheist than an individual.
If you cannot walk in a “relay for life” please consider making a pledge for our team or another team representing a freethought group http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09FL?team_id=380535&pg=team&fr_id=13598
Thanks, Ken Loukinen
Thank YOU, Ken. Just made a small donation online.
Thank You.
I need to type slower and re-read before sending… but thanks for your support.
Joeb
What matter is it what our reason for doing good is? as long as we are doing good.
and to correct you… you will NEVER prove your god exists, if your god did exist only he (or she) could do so and for some odd reason (like non-existence) your god isn’t doing that, conversely we don’t need to or want to disprove your god to you, we only wish you would be intellectually honest and look at your god beliefs in the same light as any other incredible assertion, read the bible in the same light as you would a science book… you will then be doing what you think we are doing about disproving your god.
I’m Ken Westervelt, the organizer and team captain for FLASH’s Relay For Life. I really didn’t expect this to make the national atheist blog only a few weeks after coming up with the idea. Just goes to show you how fast information travels these days…
Thank you, Tarma, for your donation.
All I really want to say about this is that it would be a shame if this were ever covered by the media as a man-bites-dog story. Ted Turner’s quite the secular man, and he has a billion dollar charity running. Lance Armstrong’s atheist, and he’s also got a cancer-based charity. Warren Buffett, Bill Gates: both atheist, and both funding a really big nonprofit.
You’d be surprised at what you can find by going on celebatheists.com and searching out what kind of charities they’re a part of. I encourage you all to try it sometime. You might be surprised by what you see.
But it’s not just the celebrities. We come from all walks of life, and many volunteer to make life better for all of us. Feel free to see how one little group is doing at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/FLASH
Dave,
This is where I become Neo the Crackpot. But, consider this with an open mind.
Have you ever seen Chris Rock’s comedy routine about reasearch foundations. That’s not where I go to get my facts, but, I sat and listened and the guy was speaking my mind. I’m going to paraphrase, because that’s all I can do, I don’t have a manuscript. He said, “They want you to give money to cure AIDS, They’re not going to cure AIDS. They want you to give money to cure Cancer, they’re not going to cure cancer. You know why they’re not going to cure AIDS or cancer? Because there’s no money in finding a cure. They learned their lesson with polio. How much money did they make? The money is in finding a treatment that keeps you buying one more day of life for as long as you last.”
Must have been almost twenty years ago they tested a vaccine for AIDS. The news said the test was a failure because the subjects later tested positive for HIV. What they didn’t say, is that, at the time, the only test for HIV was to test for the antibodies that form after exposure. That is exactly how a successful vaccine works. That’s how the polio vaccine worked. Exposure to dead and weakened virus forms antibodies that prevent infection in case of future exposure.
I think your idea is great, but, why not help the homeless? Why not help the people in Darfur or Afghanistan? To hell with the research groups, that already have huge government funding. Help the people who really need help, and not those who pretend to have our interests at heart. If you want to make a statement, make a freethinker statement, not a shallow gesture.
NeoWolfe
Dave
925 dead Palestinians (45% women and children) so far yet you have still not responded to this hugely significant event beyond your following glib remark.
I’m observing Formosa’s Law with respect to NeoWolfe. Please, for the sake of decency, do the same.
I had to chuckle, Whatwasmynameagain submitted this enlightened post:
“I’m observing Formosa’s Law with respect to NeoWolfe.”
I cannot adequately express my appreciation for finally not burdening us with your indefenseable opinions. I hope you are fairly applying equal restraint when you listen to yourself or look at yourself in the mirror. I don’t want to read in the news that another earthworm has committed suicide. Read some books (non-skinhead), it will restore your self esteem.
NeoWolfe