AKD96

I was at a gas station while on my way to Baltimore when I overheard this elderly lady ask someone if he know where the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church was, so I stepped in and gave her directions. When she still looked puzzled, I told her that I was going that way, and that she could follow me if she would like. She agreed with a big smile on her face. The best part of this is, as she was following me, I know the Darwin Fish on my bumper was staring her right in her face the whole time.

I like doing my part to show people that Atheists are not bad people. I wonder what went through that elderly lady's head as she was following an Atheist, showing her the way to a Catholic Church.

What are some other peoples’ opinions on helping religious people in this manor? It makes me think of one of Mr. Silverman's articles at americanatheist.org where he wrote about joining his Jewish friends so that they may properly carry out their religious practices. He said something along the lines of that he wanted to show people that Atheists are not bad people.

[ December 06, 2001: Message edited by: AKD96 ]</p>

Yossarian

Well, I'm an atheist, and I visit Mecca with my parents from time to time. While there, I often volunteer to help old people perform their rituals. There's a certain ritual involving walking the distance between two hills, back and forth, seven times--can take up to an hour if you're healthy and walk fast, and old people often hire a wheelchair to do it in. They need someone to push them--I've done it a couple of times, when they've needed it. They don't know they've been helped by an atheist and moreover, an atheist who is contemptuous of the pointless running-between-hills. So I can't say I do it to let them know atheists aren't bad people, because they think I'm a Muslim. I do it altruistically, I guess. Help your fellow man when they need help, and not let your own prejudices get in the way. As I want them to be tolerant towards me, I'm tolerant towards them.

I'd say it's humanly justified and thankfully, there's no atheistc dogma that prevents one from being 'friendly.' In Islam, one is exhorted in the Koran not to befriend the non believer. I'd like to rise above such pettiness, and by doing so, I'm at least being consistent and through my actions, making it clear that I CAN overlook the differences between humans to embrace our commonality, even if God can't.

SaguaroJen

Great job, AKD96, and quite humorous, too!

Not helping would be prejudiced. I think I tend to go out of my way to help those who think I'm going to their hell. I guess I'd like them to see that I don't have horns.

OTH, I do stop short on raffle tickets to raise money for their new RE buildings...

AKD96

I agree with you SaguaroJen. While I would do things to personally help a religious person, I would never do anything to help a church or other such organization. Religions have enough money as it is - Representation without Taxation. I appreciate that religions are non-profit organizations, but when they start getting into politics, something's got to give.

When I am helping a person I am helping a fellow human; not their religion. The same lady that I helped had probably at one point or another judged an Atheist or at least looked down on us. I hope her small experience with me shed some light on the fact that Atheists are people too and that Atheism does not automatically equal devil worshiper or amorality.

[ December 06, 2001: Message edited by: AKD96 ]</p>

dk

She might think,
"There but for the grace of God go I" or possibly,
"Atheism is vulnerable to God's grace."

So AKD96, so do you think it matters whether the Good Samaritan was an Atheist, Hindu or Pagan?

DarkBronzePlant

Oh, how wonderful it was the god placed you at that gas station to help her out!

Jack the Bodiless

What a pity that nice man with the secondhand car hasn't taken off that nasty sticker yet.

diana

I think DarkBronzePlant is dead on.

I had the occasion to help an elderly woman one day....I was in Austin, Texas, visiting with my big brother. He was on his way to church, and I went out for a run. I came across a woman with a grown but mentally retarded daughter parked beside the road. The woman seemed to be searching for something. So I stopped, introduced myself, and asked if I could help. She was looking for her daughter's hearing aid in several square yards of Texas roadside grass clumps and litter. I helped her look for a while, then my brother stopped on his way to church to see if he could help, and we found it. The lady said to me, in gratefulness, "God sent you to help. Thank you."

I forewent the opportunity to ask why God would send an atheist who happened to be skipping church as we spoke to indulge herself and said, "You're welcome."

I just like helping people. I think telling people you're atheist, in many cases, only makes them rationalize how God is working through you, and it doesn't help. In my case, since so many people know I'm "fallen away" from the crutch...I mean "church"...people simple tell themselves that obviously I believe because I'm such a good person, that I must be in denial.

I pity those who look down upon their own race so much that they think we all must be bribed/threatened to behave decently toward one another.

d

hinduwoman

I don't think it matters so much if you help people out.
After all, I actually gave pujas in the name of my relatives and colleagues in the major temples and brought back flowers and consecrated food. They wanted it very badly and it would have hurt them if I refused to do this little favour.

Of course, one danger is that some of them think that I actually believe in these things and am only being atheist to be fashionable.

Dark Jedi

Very nicely put. I have been looking for the proper words to articulate this thought to a co-worker. I think I shall use this line of reasoning to do so. Do you mind?