tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222625281347419787.post4283936650475858746..comments2024-03-15T18:52:48.143-06:00Comments on Ethics Forum: Atheists Moral but Not CharitableAlice C. Linsleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13069827354696169270noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222625281347419787.post-63457401552759308852008-10-19T16:36:00.000-06:002008-10-19T16:36:00.000-06:00seems highly faulty. most giving from religious p...seems highly faulty. most giving from religious people is to their own religious organization as well their volunteering. i can imagine most atheists do not spend sunday with a charity organization but they do not call their form of socializing charity. the default belief is that religious activity is charitable whereas most of us know what this is.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185949317767851165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222625281347419787.post-86268536658835481862008-09-30T15:17:00.000-06:002008-09-30T15:17:00.000-06:00Again, thanks for the link and terrific informatio...Again, thanks for the link and terrific information. The facts are what matter, not our version of them (although one's perspective is a fact to take under consideration). <BR/><BR/>I've always considered agnosticism to be a more honest approach to real questions than atheism.<BR/><BR/>I'm a Christian, by the way. And an anthropologist.Alice C. Linsleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13069827354696169270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222625281347419787.post-85114203911760357802008-09-30T12:04:00.000-06:002008-09-30T12:04:00.000-06:00I would have to agree with the conclusion that rel...I would have to agree with the conclusion that religious people give more than secular people, at least based on that study. I did read the original report and the word “atheist” never appears in it. Also, in the latest Pew Research report on religion just a few months ago, only 5% of American claim to be atheist. The study had over 25% of the study group as secular (or atheist if you are Catholic).<BR/><BR/>If you do a comparison to Europe, much more secular than the USA, you find that Americans give more per individual that the Europeans. That could be because most Europeans countries have far more social services in place to help people that need help (and a lot higher taxes to pay for it). <BR/><BR/>The favorable USA comparison starts falling apart when you do economic<BR/>aid by country. The USA is only 4th behind the UK, France, and Japan when it comes to total dollar amount given. <BR/><BR/>Here is a real shocker. When you look at it per capita the USA is 19th, behind all European countries except Italy. The #1 country is Luxembourg which gives $519 per person. The USA gives $25 per person. You can find all the stats at:<BR/><BR/>http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_eco_aid_don-economy-economic-aid-donor <BR/><BR/>By the way, I am an agnostic.ARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940624152523035460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222625281347419787.post-87240596741972822772008-09-29T18:51:00.000-06:002008-09-29T18:51:00.000-06:00That's a good observation, AR. This certainly wasn...That's a good observation, AR. This certainly wasn't a controlled sociological study. <BR/><BR/>The question I'd like to explore if to what type of charities or causes do most people who consider themselves atheists give? That would be far more revealing, I think.Alice C. Linsleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13069827354696169270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9222625281347419787.post-29826224987577427292008-09-27T23:22:00.000-06:002008-09-27T23:22:00.000-06:00It is an interesting but misleading title for the ...It is an interesting but misleading title for the study. The study did not isolate and compare a religious group to an atheist group but religious to secular. Some in the secular group were probably Christians but didn't go to church that often or perhaps felt it was not necessary to attend church. <BR/><BR/>I first read the study on a Catholic site and feel that it is the usual attempt by the church to paint atheists in the most unpleasing light possible. The title is an absolute lie. Don't want any of the flock straying.ARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14940624152523035460noreply@blogger.com