Here's How Atheists Are Helping People in Houston After Hurricane Harvey

[trotsky]

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/09/07/heres-how-atheists-are-helping-people-in-houston-after-hurricane-harvey/

There was a strange letter to the editor in the Kentucky-based Glasgow Daily Times yesterday. Ronald W. Curry, a man who has apparently never used Google before, had a simple question for readers: How come no atheists are helping out in Houston?

Where are the atheist relief groups? Where are their fleet of trucks loaded with supplies? Where are their crews that help dry out and clean up? Where are their construction crews that rip out water-damaged carpet, floors and drywall and install new materials? If there is a single group of atheists involved in this effort — or for that matter, in any effort such as this, it is not known to the writer.

One answer to this question is that you’re not going to see as many atheist groups because we don’t pressure members to give us 10% of their income and don’t have the sort of infrastructure that allows us to pool resources quickly for relief efforts.

Another answer is that there are almost certainly a lot of atheists helping out with relief efforts, but they’re doing it out of the goodness of their hearts and don’t feel the need to broadcast their lack of religion in the process. It’s not like every godless volunteer is wearing a shirt that says, “God didn’t cause this hurricane!”

There is also much more at the link showing what atheists (and freethought groups) are doing, specifically.

[Girard442]

1. People in the middle of a disaster are in desperate need of real, tangible aid.

Did it ever occur to Curry that atheists are smart enough to know that this is a piss-poor time to be provoking theological arguments?

[AtheistCrusader]

3. Also a good point.

[AtheistCrusader]

2. And there aren't as many of us. Actual Atheists are what, 6-8% of the populace?

The 'nones' category is more than just atheists.

[guillaumeb]

4. What a nasty "letter to the editor" that was.

One would also assume that there are far fewer organizations devoted specifically for atheists in general. Simply because the writer asserts that he personally knows of no atheists being involved says nothing about atheists but a lot about the writer.

Here is a list of organizations that are providing relief:

https://www.axios.com/people-and-organizations-sending-aid-to-houston-2479084998.html

[trotsky]

10. Atheists are hated and disrespected all over the place.

Some religious bigots write letters like this. Others attempt to define atheism as a "belief."

[Mariana]

11. It's not really uncommon for religious people to dismiss

the good that atheists do. There even used to be a poster in this group, a writer, who that did that all the time, and he was quite rude and nasty to anyone who tried to enlighten him.

Some religous people, even if forced to admit that atheists do some good deeds, will proceed to insist that those atheists aren't really atheists, because real atheists would never do good deeds.

[guillaumeb]

12. The dismissal does happen.

Tolerance for different beliefs is the key.

[LakeArenal]

5. It's safe to say, Atheists know a lot more about Chistians

than Christians have chosen to learn about atheists.

Another ill-informed group looking for pats on the back in the name of jesus.

[Lordquinton]

6. Good news everybody!

[MineralMan]

7. Atheists don't broadcast their atheism when they assist in disasters.

They're not trying to sell disbelief in deities. They're just donating, helping, and doing what they can without seeking publicity for atheism. Atheists don't want to convert people to atheism, since it's nothing but a lack of belief in supernatural entities.

There's no check-box on donation drives to mark, proclaiming your belief or disbelief.

This atheist has already donated to Harvey relief and will be doing the same for Irma. In addition, my wife and I donate each year to a religion-based homeless shelter where we are, because it is the shelter that does the best job. We don't care about what religion people profess. It doesn't matter. Providing help is the goal, not evangelism.

[Lordquinton]

8. This is a good point

So many charites are religious based, that atheists have to donate to them to help the need.

Kinda atheist erasure.

[MineralMan]

9. I don't mind donating to charities that have a religion connection,

as long as the money I donate is actually being used to help people. I'm very selective, though, and insist that any organization that gets my money is going to use it for a specific purpose and use it wisely.

People who trumpet the idea that only religious people help during crises are abhorrent to me. And they're wrong, of course.

[Lordquinton]

13. Sort of theistic charity laundering

You give a religious organization money to help, and they claim it's all from God. Not saying anything about you, just your options, and then we get things like this op talking about Atheists never helping.

[MineralMan]

14. One of our major efforts through donations is to help homeless

people. In St. Paul, MN, the very best shelter and the one that does the most good here is a Christian-run operation. So, that's where our regular donations go. I don't care whether any credit goes to us. It's the way the money is used that counts, as far as I'm concerned. No doubt they offer a prayer before meals, but that doesn't hurt anyone. It's food, shelter, clothing, and outreach that matter to me.

But you're right. People who try to claim that non-believers don't participate are just idiots with something they're trying to sell.

[Lordquinton]

15. That's all I'm saying

Quality of care is another issue. Most Atheists do a lot of research before giving because of the desire to get a secular charity, and failing that one that just does good, not like the salvation army.