Atheists are the most generous
Atheists are the most generous—even without heavenly reward!Who gives the most to charitable causes? Those who believe in gods or those who don’t?
“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven…” (Mark 10:21)
“Any charity you give is for your own good. Any charity you give shall be for the sake of GOD. Any charity you give will be repaid to you…” (Koran 2:272)
Charitable behavior gets big perks in the afterlife, according to Christian and Islamic theology. Philanthropy, in these creeds, is a highly profitable long-term investment, a down payment on ecstatic immortality. Quite the bargain!
But atheists? No heaven awaits them. No pearly gates, eager virgins, harping angels, fluffy clouds, or succulent oasis. No reward whatsoever. Atheists have no faith, no expectation of benefit from a deity. So, atheists are probably selfish, right? Pitiless, parsimonious. Totally stingy misers, not passing a penny off to the poor…correct?
WRONG! Atheists, non-believers, secular humanists, skeptics—the whole gamut of the godless have emerged in recent years as inarguably the most generous benefactors on the globe. That’s right. Hordes of heretics are the world’s biggest damned philanthropists. Both individually and in groups, heathen infidels are topping the fundraising charts.
First, the facts.
The current most charitable individuals in the United States, based on “Estimated Lifetime Giving,” are:
1) Warren Buffett (atheist, donated $40.785 billion to “health, education, humanitarian causes”)
2) Bill & Melinda Gates (atheists, donated $27.602 billion to “global health and development, education”)
3) George Soros (atheist, donated $6.936 billion to “open and democratic societies”)
A century ago, one of the USA’s leading philanthropists was Andrew Carnegie, atheist.
Abridged from article:
(Posted: Nov 25, 2011)
Comments (44)
“Christians who give do not use their giving to 'buy their way into heaven' or into God's good graces. In fact, that cannot be done. The gift of salvation is free of cost and cannot be purchase.”
I agree with your statement quoted above.
However, there is no mention of “buy their way into heaven” (your words) in the blog.
The giving referred to in this case is to store up treasures in heaven once one gets there and not to “buy one's way into heaven”.
You are misinterpreting the blog's message.
Your observation is correct with regard to my statement about the main purpose of the blog.
I should have said:
The main purpose of this blog is to point out that atheists can be philanthropic, and the most generous – even without heavenly reward.
Thanks for your observation.
the fact is,that it is no matter,if you are Religious or not,the only thing what matters is,that you have a GOOD HEART and Socrates has done a good job,by showing that Atheists can have as good Hearts as what ever Religious people and in many cases even more good Heart....the big problem is,that Religious People self declare them self as more glorious Humans,than other and still,that is not for sure how we measure GOOD HEARTS
Rolf
What about "prosperity" giving?
Prosperity church leaders often claim a specific blessing can be exchanged for the money being donated to their ministry.