Comments on: Holier-Than-Thouism

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:40:00 +0000

According to Jesus, "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret." Matthew 6:3-4. If the Christians truly took this to heart, we wouldn't need to advertise that Atheists are the biggest group on Kiva.org. But since they thump their own chests and proclaim that we have no morals, advertising our good works becomes necessary. If we can advertise our morality while doing good works, I don't see why we shouldn't take advantage of a win-win situation.

By: Curtis

Curtis — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:41:09 +0000

Kiva, meanwhile, is a way for people to improve their lives and add to the wealth of their community and their nation. In the long run, this is the only way to lift people up out of poverty and help developing nations join the industrialized world.

I applaud your logic and choice of charities. Helping people help themselves is the only effective way to alleviate poverty. However, this year I am tripling my donations to my childrens' PTA instead. This year, it seems more appropriate to be locally charitible.

By: Lirone

Lirone — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:03:45 +0000

I think to be fair, we should grant that many Christians give out of concern for other people - the idea that it gains them a few stamps on an access to heaven card is a bonus for them, in the same way that raising the profile of atheist giving is a bonus from working through Kivu. For me accepting the good motivations of much Christian charity is the flip side of the "you can be good without god" argument

By: theBEattitude

theBEattitude — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:12:57 +0000

I give because I desire to help people in need. Christians give because they are afraid of what god will do to them if they don't. Giving in god's name is just "proving a point" and "rigging" their act of compassion to prove an imaginary god's existence.

By: Tommykey

Tommykey — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:21:11 +0000

that is gods realm your treading on.

There is no such thing.

By: Richard P

Richard P — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 04:51:15 +0000

"You should give because you believe in something" Don't you understand this has nothing to do do with reason or need, it has to do with credit... We're all evil people we cannot do good, we can especially not do good and take credit for it... That would be horrible. If we accept that we can do good.. for no reason but that we want to, then we have to give up that pathetic excuse for a god.. The next step to that is to think that I might be responsible for my own actions.. Then I could not blame my failings on the temptations of the devil... then I would actually have to live like I profess you should, instead of living this delusion of weakness. Don't you understand then I wouldn't have an excuse to live this lie. No don't go thinking you can do good things, that is gods realm your treading on.

By: Gary

Gary — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 18:55:56 +0000

I once had a roommate who claimed that no action could truly be altruistic. No matter how hard you try not to benefit from the help you give others, you'll benefit in some way, so we are all selfish deep down.

I argued in response that it is pointless to think this way. The actions are what's important, and no matter how one twists the motives for helping others, help was given, often at a negligible benefit for the person who helps. If one gives without planning to benefit, their actions could still be considered altruistic, even if the giver profits in the end unintentionally.

By: The Ridger

The Ridger — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:03:49 +0000

If only the religious kept their mouths shut when they donated ... maybe.

By: Eshu

Eshu — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 15:08:42 +0000

Even if you end up doing some good deed - something that helps people in need - for reasons that someone else deems as "ultimately selfish" (showing off, reducing your guilt, fear of divine retribution...), does it matter? If the people in need get the help what does it matter what reason the donors have for giving?

Btw, if anyone would like to donate money to me for ultimately selfish reasons of showing off, keeping up with the Joneses etc, go right ahead! ;-)

By: Corvus

Corvus — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:52:37 +0000

It reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend re: Valentine's Day. The friend was not a fan and wanted to know why I was doing something for the holiday. "It's an excuse to celebrate." says I. "Why should you need an excuse to celebrate?" says they. "Just because I don't NEED an excuse doesn't mean I won't use one when I get it." So you like to do good for people. Great! And maybe you shouldn't need any more reason than "doing good" to do so... but does that really mean you shouldn't use a reason when you get one, out of some fit of "holier than thou" pique? Shouldn't doing good be, well, good for most any motivation? Screw "give because". What matters is the "give".

By: Opethian_days

Opethian_days — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:37:30 +0000

lol
believe in something... like helping people... <__>

By: Adele

Adele — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:26:24 +0000

"You should give because you believe in something..."

No... you should give because you want to help people.