primitive wants to find atheist charity for the homeless

[franksolich]

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/123011813

Hmmmm.

One of Omaha Steve's pals; in a fit of Christian charity, the big guy once purchased a star for her because she's poor.

Curmudgeoness (8,989 posts)   Sat Dec 1, 2012, 07:19 PM

Is there an atheist charity for the homeless?

Or at least a non-Christian charity. I didn't realize just how prevasive religion is in charities until a friend with boxes full of socks was looking for a way to get them to the homeless. All the suggestions turned out to be Christian organizations---Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, soup kitchens.
 
Then she said "I just wish there was a pagan or at least nondenominational charity". I can't come up with one but there must be. She is in Pittsburgh, but any suggestions would be appreciated.

skepticscott (6,248 posts)    Sat Dec 1, 2012, 08:47 PM

2. Is there a bird-watcher's charity for the homeless?

Is there a scrapbooker's charity for the homeless?

Why this incessant need to bolster the false equivalency between religion and atheism?

Curmudgeoness (8,989 posts)    Sat Dec 1, 2012, 09:32 PM

3. I understand what you are saying.

But the rest of my question is....is there a charity that is not religious in affiliation? Seriously, we have come up with all the charities we know about, and every one of them is religious in nature. If they are truly helping people, I will support them, but I would prefer to support a charity that is not cramming hell down peoples' throats.
 
And atheism is not a hobby. And the same can be said for "liberals"----is there a liberal business or charity? Not exactly, but there are businesses and charities run by liberals. Atheism can be considered a philosophy, as can liberalism. So maybe the question would be is there a charity run by an atheist or atheists. Barring that, is there a non-religious charity.

skepticscott (6,248 posts)    Sat Dec 1, 2012, 10:24 PM

4. Atheism is not even a hobby

It is a lack of belief in gods, period. It requires no action or participation whatsoever. It is not an overarching philosophy like liberalism or religion that dictates what a person's attitudes should be on a variety of issues.
 
If you want to look for a secular charity, that's fine...but there's no such thing as an atheist charity, nor does there need to be (despite the rantings of some on the Religion Board) in order for atheism to be true.

LAGC (4,119 posts)    Tue Dec 4, 2012, 03:20 AM

8. Do you have a Goodwill in your area?

Unlike their counterpart, the Salvation Army which is an evangelical Christian "charity" that is also politically and socially-active promoting religion, Goodwill is a secular organization that runs thrift stores coast-to-coast. From their page: "Our network of 165 independent, community-based Goodwills in the United States and Canada offers customized job training, employment placement and other services to people who have disabilities, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges."

We have a few in our area, they accept used merchandise donations, including clothing, appliances, electronics and furniture.

Curmudgeoness (8,989 posts)    Tue Dec 4, 2012, 07:22 PM

9. Yes, there is one in our town and I do donate most of my used clothes to them, and that is about the only place that I buy clothes. The biggest problem I have with them is that they SELL all the things donated to them. Sometimes, there are people who can hardly afford the prices, which are way below new retail prices, but they are not cheap. Also, even though most of these boxes of socks are new or barely used, I have never seen socks sold by Goodwill.
 
But I do love Goodwill. For me, it is great to be able to replace clothes inexpensively.

[Wineslob]

"I just wish there was a pagan or at least nondenominational charity". I can't come up with one

Why would that be? 


 

[ConservativeMobster]

Instead of bitching and moaning how about start one yourself? But that would likely mean the primitive would have to actually do something useful, nevermind, answered my own question.

[marv]

Hmmm, I guess Curmudgeoness can't spell Red Cross. Oh, I get it. She probably thinks it's religious because it *gasp* has CROSS in the name!

I could give her a lesson. I'm an atheist, and the Salvation Army is the only organized charity that I donate to.

[ConservativeMobster]

Hmmm, I guess Curmudgeoness can't spell Red Cross. Oh, I get it. She probably thinks it's religious because it *gasp* has CROSS in the name!

I could give her a lesson. I'm an atheist, and the Salvation Army is the only organized charity that I donate to.

Good one! 

[Undies]

I hear ya, Brother DUmmie.  I've been a lousy stinking drunk for many years because I cannot find an AA that does not insist there is a higher power.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

The homeless are unfit for survival.

[ChuckJ]

skepticscott (6,248 posts)    Sat Dec 1, 2012, 10:24 PM

4. Atheism is not even a hobby

It is a lack of belief in gods, period. It requires no action or participation whatsoever. It is not an overarching philosophy like liberalism or religion that dictates what a person's attitudes should be on a variety of issues.
 
If you want to look for a secular charity, that's fine...but there's no such thing as an atheist charity, nor does there need to be (despite the rantings of some on the Religion Board) in order for atheism to be true.

So an atheist wouldn't get all butt-hurt if someone wished them a Merry Christmas? An atheist wouldn't dictate that a person's attitude should be opposed to saying "God bless you"?

[EagleKeeper]

I didn't realize just how prevasive religion is in charities until a friend with boxes full of socks was looking for a way to get them to the homeless. All the suggestions turned out to be Christian organizations---Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, soup kitchens.

It flies right over their heads every single time, it never registers with these idiots.

This DUmbass Curmudgeoness can even mouth the words and still it does not register.

[ChuckJ]

It flies right over their heads every single time, it never registers with these idiots.

This DUmbass Curmudgeoness can even mouth the words and still it does not register.

I think they're just willfully ignorant.

The good news for them is that there won't be any atheists in hell.

[Tucker]

Curmudgeoness (8,989 posts)    Sat Dec 1, 2012, 09:32 PM

3. I understand what you are saying.

But the rest of my question is....is there a charity that is not religious in affiliation? Seriously, we have come up with all the charities we know about, and every one of them is religious in nature. If they are truly helping people, I will support them, but I would prefer to support a charity that is not cramming hell down peoples' throats.

What does this say to the DUmmies who insist that Christians are greedy, evil and hateful?

[jtyangel]

Really do they give. A shit at all about helping the disadvantages like they say or is it all about their incessant competition with what those Christians do? Their Shtik of talking out of both sides of thier mouth gets really old.

[jtyangel]

Instead of bitching and moaning how about start one yourself? But that would likely mean the primitive would have to actually do something useful, nevermind, answered my own question.

They never could run one that would work because inevitably the focus would be on sticking it in the eye of believers rather then serving the poor.

[Boudicca]

So an atheist wouldn't get all butt-hurt if someone wished them a Merry Christmas? An atheist wouldn't dictate that a person's attitude should be opposed to saying "God bless you"?

Granted I don't know many atheists, but the ones I do know are decent people who don't mind donating to the Salvation Army and will return a Merry Christmas greeting with a smile.  Also, for all the obnoxious behaviors exhibited by, for example, the ones on DU or that Newdow character, at least they are just pains in the ass, not strapping bombs to children and the mentally disabled because we don't believe (or not believe) in what they do.

[GOBUCKS]

Then she said "I just wish there was a pagan charity".

I think that would be the democrat party.

[diesel driver]

Curmudgeoness (8,989 posts)    Sat Dec 1, 2012, 09:32 PM

3. I understand what you are saying...

And atheism is not a hobby. And the same can be said for "liberals"----

Quite true, liberalism is not a hobby.

It's a mental disorder.

[Ballygrl]

I don't know of 1 Food Pantry that "shoves" Religion down anyone's throat, nor do they even check to see what denomination if any the person belongs to.

[BlueStateSaint]

They never could run one that would work because inevitably the focus would be on sticking it in the eye of believers rather then serving the poor.

Target!  H5!

[ChuckJ]

Granted I don't know many atheists, but the ones I do know are decent people who don't mind donating to the Salvation Army and will return a Merry Christmas greeting with a smile.  Also, for all the obnoxious behaviors exhibited by, for example, the ones on DU or that Newdow character, at least they are just pains in the ass, not strapping bombs to children and the mentally disabled because we don't believe (or not believe) in what they do.

The atheists of which you speak are what I used to refer to as real atheists. Taverner and his ilk at DU are what I used to call pretend atheists. The pretend atheists really believe in God and their belief bothers them. They feel if they shut down all mention or reference to God it will soothe their minds.

It may just be because they are more vocal, but I think the pretend atheists outnumber the real atheists.

If you don't think that the loons on DU long for the death of those who do not agree with them (or believe contrary to them) I think you're wrong. They just haven't figured a way to kill us that causes no risk or labor to them. I think that's one of the reason they so often root for terrorists.

[Skul]

The OP should not ask if there IS.
The OP should ask why there IS'NT.
The answer is quite obvious.

[USA4ME]

Hey, try finding the First Atheist Hospital in your local city or town.  Things are tough out there.

.

[Boudicca]

The atheists of which you speak are what I used to refer to as real atheists. Taverner and his ilk at DU are what I used to call pretend atheists. The pretend atheists really believe in God and their belief bothers them. They feel if they shut down all mention or reference to God it will soothe their minds.

It may just be because they are more vocal, but I think the pretend atheists outnumber the real atheists.

If you don't think that the loons on DU long for the death of those who do not agree with them (or believe contrary to them) I think you're wrong. They just haven't figured a way to kill us that causes no risk or labor to them. I think that's one of the reason they so often root for terrorists.

Oh, totally agree, Chuck, that the loonies long for our death, and not just in the political sense.  They've made their feelings on this subject VERY evident.  Thankfully for us they're all a bunch of little pussies running around shooting off their mouths, not their weapons.
I wish we could ship the lot of them to someplace like Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan and see how many days it takes them to become Muslims because they fear death more than they hate God.

[Skul]

It's sad to explain.
The SA puts their hand out to help.
The DUmpmonkeys put their hands out to take.

[MrsSmith]

I didn't realize just how prevasive (sic) religion is in charities...

   Poor little primitive, just now beginning to notice that atheists and liberals aren't the generous creatures they like to believe.   

[JohnnyReb]

There is already a very large atheist charity for the homeless.....it's called "The U.S. Government".....get a damn job and contribute like the rest of us.