Ethical Question about accepting charity

[elshiva]

Is it morally ok for an atheist to accept charity from religious organizations?


There are two christian organizations and one jewish helping me now. Am I in the wrong?

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Did they offer you the assistance under the condition that you share their beliefs?

If yes, then you may have a moral dilemma. If not, works of charity are meant to address the givers' obligation within the faith, not the recipients.

[elshiva]

5. That's a good question. The answer is no.

They never said anything about that at all. The thing is I recently became an atheist while still on the charities. I called up one of the christian ones and told the priest I was an atheist and she said, "Oh, ok. Goodbye." She did not seem to care, which is a good thing. These are fairly liberal religious organizations (episcopalian and interdenominational jewish), not southern baptist or hassidic, which would probably want me to convert to accept charity.

[Duer 157099]

2. Here's what is sad

The fact that you ask that, let alone think it, says a whole lot about religious "charity" - meaning, it's been de facto for so long that one exchanges their willingness to be converted for whatever "charity" is being supplied.

In other words, we are used to religions buying converts.

That is fucking sad.

But to answer your question: HELL YA it's ok to do what you're doing! In fact, I think atheists should do it even MORE to even out the score some.

:thumbsup:

[ThomCat]

3. If you need charity, it is never unethical to accept it.

:shrug:

I hope you're getting what you need, and I hope you're in a much better position soon.

[elshiva]

7. Thank you. This is probably why you won't see me

totally dissing religion altogether as an atheist.

[Starry Messenger]

4. I'll bite

I am an atheist, but no expert on morals. But from the armchair school of philosophy where I sit, it seems like groups like these find helping people in need a positive part of their participation in the creed-of-choice, no matter what your beliefs are. Perhaps in the future when you are in a position to "pay it forward" as it were, you could put resources towards a non-secular charity that overlaps the ethics of both atheist and believers? Just my 2 cents.

MPK

edit to add: I hope things look up for you soon. I've done the "free bread" centers myself some years

[elshiva]

6. Thanks, MPK.

[Generic Brad]

8. This is good for all involved

Look at this way - you're an atheist. For that reason alone, they think you're going to burn in hell for eternity.

You are actually doing them a favor by taking their stuff and helping them get to heaven through their good deeds. Conversion is probably not the goal. They are most likely just helping you out of the goodness of their hearts.

[flvegan]

9. You may not "get" ethics.

Especially in these regards.

Two Christian orgs and one Jewish one helping you, big + on ethics.

You wondering if you as an atheist care to accept it? Seems those orgs are living up to what their ethics dictate.

[elshiva]

10. Another good question. I have some trouble with the episcopal

church with accepting from one church because this priest does not believe homosexuals should be priests. However, he thinks homosexuals should be allowed basic civil rights. The other church, the priest is an open homosexual.

:shrug: These are the two closest churches that my family have a history with. The jewish organization covers a lot of different branches of judaism, so I don't think they have an official statement about leadership.

[Breeze54]

11. No but it IS unethical for them

to require that you believe in, what they believe in, order to get any help.

[emilyg]

12. Not wrong at all.

[question everything]

13. Not wrong. These organizations help needy people

because they need them. Do they ask for your religion before they provide help?

If not, then they obviously want to help for the sake of helping.

Take it and good luck.

[tjwmason]

14. No.

Our Lord told us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoner...when he said thay he didn't add a proviso "as long as they convert". When I give money to christian charities I expect that it will go to christians, atheists, agnostics, jews, muslims, pagans, buddhists...

[JI7]

15. no, i am atheist and i have given money to them sometimes

even though i am suspicious sometimes about whether it goes to actually helping people or preaching about the religion.

[applegrove]

16. No. If you need the help - that is what it is there for. Good for the churches that

they reach out beyond their congregations. If you need the help I would take it without worrying about morals. Churches don't pay taxes like everyone else does so they can help people. It is healthy for them and their souls to be helping out. Ever think of it that way?