Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Tajapooh · 08-30-2005, 12:57 PM

See CNN's article below on helping Katrina victims. Notice the absence of any secular charity. As proponents of living ethically, we should have our OWN donations group, even if it does not run programs itself. The only secular aid organization I can find is SHARE, CSH's ecommerce placeholder that seems to be occasionally cranked up for major disasters. Does anyone know of another?

Giving is the ultimate stand-up-and-be-counted activity; an organization that has a charity is clearly willing to support the overall society. I would like to be able to give IN THE NAME of secularism.

(Incidently, I suggest it be called something more unique than SHARE. I just spent quite a while trying to find a website for SHARE, and it is just too common a word.)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency lists these organizations for those seeking to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina:

Donate cash
American Red Cross (800) HELP NOW (435-7669) English; (800) 257-7575 Spanish

Operation Blessing (800) 436-6348

America's Second Harvest (800) 344-8070

To donate cash or volunteer
Adventist Community Services (800) 381-7171

Catholic Charities, USA (703) 549-1390

Christian Disaster Response (941) 956-5183 or (941) 551-9554

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (800) 848-5818

Church World Service (800) 297-1516

Convoy of Hope (417) 823-8998

Lutheran Disaster Response (800) 638-3522

Mennonite Disaster Service (717) 859-2210

Nazarene Disaster Response (888) 256-5886

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (800) 872-3283

Salvation Army (800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769)

Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief (800) 462-8657, ext. 6440

United Methodist Committee on Relief (800) 554-8583

Mageth · 08-30-2005, 01:04 PM

I believe the American Red Cross, a spinoff of the International Red Cross movement, is a secular/humanitarian charity, and not a religious charity.

The red cross is not a religious symbol in that usage, although many interpret it as such.

http://www.redcross.org/faq/
<Mod note: Use this URL to learn more about the history of the Red Cross, which is a secular charity, and has never been operated by or for a church or religion. -ELGS>

Tajapooh · 08-30-2005, 01:17 PM

Ah, Mageth, I'm glad you answered. The point is not to find a charity that isn't explicity religious, such as the Red Cross. There are lots of those. The point is to find a charity that DOES identify itself as secular. In the same way that the Catholic Charities "brand" themselves as Catholic. I want to see something like "Secular Giving". Or "Unbeliever Charities".

I'm not just avoiding giving to religious charities - I'm trying to find a way to stand up and BE COUNTED as a secularist who gives to charity.

Having a secular charity would be a way of getting more credibility as a viable and strong segment within American society. That's why religions do it, not because their members are more generous than we, or because they have something against the Red Cross. Because they want their members to be COUNTED as generous people who contribute to the overall society.

Mageth · 08-30-2005, 01:29 PM

I see.

However, speaking for myself, I give for humanitarian reasons, not to make a point about my unbelief or to be counted as an unbeliever that donates to charities. Thus, I judge charities based on their ability/record of doing the best job of making sure that my donations are properly applied.

nj_heathens · 08-30-2005, 01:57 PM

From a recent Daily Kos post:

Give Money Only, and Give to the Red Cross

Quote:

by DHinMI
Sun Aug 28th, 2005 at 20:20:26 PDT
(From the diaries -- Plutonium Page.)

We had dozens of good diaries on this subject after the tsunami, and Markos and others did frontpage posts on this subject: the best way to help the folks destined to lose everything is to give to the Red Cross, and to give cash.

Unlike the tsunami, there's no question as to what organization is best suited to deal with this catastrophe in this locale: it's the Red Cross. They've already mobilized people from around the country to head to the Gulf region, and they're the best at dispensing aid, assessing needs and getting reconstruction going. They know what they're doing, and while not infalible, they're quite good. There's no need to reinvent the wheel.

And they don't need clothing, or canned goods or anything else. While your impulse to provide such items is admirable, they are experts at logistics, and working with FEMA and whatever other federal and state agencies are involved, they will get what's needed there in bulk much faster. It's actually very expensive for them to deal with contributions that aren't cash.

And they won't be trying to share the Good News of Jesus while they're at it.

I also just received this email from The Humane Society:

Quote:

In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, The HSUS has begun a massive relief effort to rescue animals and assist their caregivers in the disaster areas. Our highly trained Disaster Animal Response Teams are heading to Mississippi today to begin a multi-state animal rescue and recovery effort.

Please make an emergency contribution to our Disaster Relief Fund today!

While I think we should be discussing secular-specific charity, I'd like to urge everyone to take action now to help the people and animals who need our help now.

Mrs. Heathen

Brian63 · 08-30-2005, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mageth

I see.

However, speaking for myself, I give for humanitarian reasons, not to make a point about my unbelief or to be counted as an unbeliever that donates to charities. Thus, I judge charities based on their ability/record of doing the best job of making sure that my donations are properly applied.

Ditto.

I would not want to use to exploit this tragedy for any kind of PR gain. These people need help, and nothing else matters.

Brian

Tajapooh · 08-30-2005, 03:22 PM

This is not a thread to discuss Katrina relief. I hope no one thinks I am suggesting that folks do anything different for Katrina than give to the charity of their choice! It would take many months to set up a viable new charity, and obviously Katrina relief must happen immediately.

I am simply pointing out that, WHENEVER charity is called for (whether the need be ongoing or critical), no charity sponsorted by secularists -- atheists, humanists --currently exists.

I am wondering if others know of one. If not, I am wondering if anyone would be interested in giving to one if it were created (assuming that it were acceptably efficient).

EverLastingGodStopper · 08-30-2005, 07:28 PM

You may be interested in an ongoing discussion about this same issue, in a PA&SA thread titled "Atheism Politics." http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=129628

Classical · 08-31-2005, 06:48 AM

Attention fellow infidels:

I need your help. I am needing to find the names of some good secular charities. I thought I would begin researching this here. I would like a charity that helps people who do not have the basic necessities of life and that is very respected and actually gives its donations to the people who need it, not that the donations are eaten up by overhead costs and fancy offices.

Perhaps later I will explain why I need this information.

Thanks in advance.
Classical

Alter · 08-31-2005, 07:01 AM

I sent an email to the Council for Secular Humanism, urging them to restart the Secular Humanist Aid and Relief Effort (SHARE) that was originally set up for the tsunami victims.

If they open it quickly, we can give for the hurricane victims through it. I'll keep you posted.

08-30-2005, 12:57 PM	#1
Tajapooh Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: here, there Posts: 29	Giving - it goes to credibility See CNN's article below on helping Katrina victims. Notice the absence of any secular charity. As proponents of living ethically, we should have our OWN donations group, even if it does not run programs itself. The only secular aid organization I can find is SHARE, CSH's ecommerce placeholder that seems to be occasionally cranked up for major disasters. Does anyone know of another? Giving is the ultimate stand-up-and-be-counted activity; an organization that has a charity is clearly willing to support the overall society. I would like to be able to give IN THE NAME of secularism. (Incidently, I suggest it be called something more unique than SHARE. I just spent quite a while trying to find a website for SHARE, and it is just too common a word.) The Federal Emergency Management Agency lists these organizations for those seeking to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina: Donate cash American Red Cross (800) HELP NOW (435-7669) English; (800) 257-7575 Spanish Operation Blessing (800) 436-6348 America's Second Harvest (800) 344-8070 To donate cash or volunteer Adventist Community Services (800) 381-7171 Catholic Charities, USA (703) 549-1390 Christian Disaster Response (941) 956-5183 or (941) 551-9554 Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (800) 848-5818 Church World Service (800) 297-1516 Convoy of Hope (417) 823-8998 Lutheran Disaster Response (800) 638-3522 Mennonite Disaster Service (717) 859-2210 Nazarene Disaster Response (888) 256-5886 Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (800) 872-3283 Salvation Army (800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769) Southern Baptist Convention -- Disaster Relief (800) 462-8657, ext. 6440 United Methodist Committee on Relief (800) 554-8583

08-30-2005, 01:17 PM	#3
Tajapooh Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: here, there Posts: 29	Let's not miss the point! Ah, Mageth, I'm glad you answered. The point is not to find a charity that isn't explicity religious, such as the Red Cross. There are lots of those. The point is to find a charity that DOES identify itself as secular. In the same way that the Catholic Charities "brand" themselves as Catholic. I want to see something like "Secular Giving". Or "Unbeliever Charities". I'm not just avoiding giving to religious charities - I'm trying to find a way to stand up and BE COUNTED as a secularist who gives to charity. Having a secular charity would be a way of getting more credibility as a viable and strong segment within American society. That's why religions do it, not because their members are more generous than we, or because they have something against the Red Cross. Because they want their members to be COUNTED as generous people who contribute to the overall society.

08-31-2005, 06:48 AM	#9
Classical Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Posts: 1,808	Help in finding secular charities Attention fellow infidels: I need your help. I am needing to find the names of some good secular charities. I thought I would begin researching this here. I would like a charity that helps people who do not have the basic necessities of life and that is very respected and actually gives its donations to the people who need it, not that the donations are eaten up by overhead costs and fancy offices. Perhaps later I will explain why I need this information. Thanks in advance. Classical

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08-30-2005, 01:04 PM	#2
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	I believe the American Red Cross, a spinoff of the International Red Cross movement, is a secular/humanitarian charity, and not a religious charity. The red cross is not a religious symbol in that usage, although many interpret it as such. http://www.redcross.org/faq/ <Mod note: Use this URL to learn more about the history of the Red Cross, which is a secular charity, and has never been operated by or for a church or religion. -ELGS>

08-30-2005, 01:29 PM	#4
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	I see. However, speaking for myself, I give for humanitarian reasons, not to make a point about my unbelief or to be counted as an unbeliever that donates to charities. Thus, I judge charities based on their ability/record of doing the best job of making sure that my donations are properly applied.

08-30-2005, 03:22 PM	#7
Tajapooh Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: here, there Posts: 29	This is not a thread to discuss Katrina relief. I hope no one thinks I am suggesting that folks do anything different for Katrina than give to the charity of their choice! It would take many months to set up a viable new charity, and obviously Katrina relief must happen immediately. I am simply pointing out that, WHENEVER charity is called for (whether the need be ongoing or critical), no charity sponsorted by secularists -- atheists, humanists --currently exists. I am wondering if others know of one. If not, I am wondering if anyone would be interested in giving to one if it were created (assuming that it were acceptably efficient).

08-30-2005, 07:28 PM	#8
EverLastingGodStopper Banned Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 16,665	You may be interested in an ongoing discussion about this same issue, in a PA&SA thread titled "Atheism Politics." http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=129628

08-31-2005, 07:01 AM	#10
Alter Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,210	I sent an email to the Council for Secular Humanism, urging them to restart the Secular Humanist Aid and Relief Effort (SHARE) that was originally set up for the tsunami victims. If they open it quickly, we can give for the hurricane victims through it. I'll keep you posted.

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