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Nov
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20
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2009
Tra la la la la…
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Tis the season to give. To have a heart. To help others. To give a damn. The rest of the year… who cares… but, this season… yes, this one, right now… because Christ was born, you should get a heart and care a little and help a fellow human being out. You know, just in time to get a tax break. Because really, what is charity without the tax break??
You know what I saw right underneath one of these feel good ads… I’ll tell you what I saw. I saw a man, with a battered coat, with nothing more than a blanket and a newspaper, sitting there. Underneath that sign telling all of us to have a heart. Telling the world that we should give a damn. All the guy wanted was a dime, and not one person would even look him in the eye. While everyone carried their new purchases, and walked down the street and read all of this marketing B.S. telling them to care, they did the opposite. They. would. not. even. look. a. fellow. human. being. in. the. eye. Forget the money, how about acknowledging this person exists!
I have lived in various places and all have had some amount of homelessness. I generally try and carry some change, but more than that, I attempt to look them in the eye, smile and say “hello.” Do you know what happens… before I even give them change, their face lights up (most of the time). They smile back. They say something. They look as if they haven’t had anyone talk to them in days. It breaks my heart. I can’t imagine not being acknowledged by anyone. Cannot. Imagine.
I remember when I went on a date during college, the guy was a Christian and told me all about his good works and the mission he was going to go on, and what he already done. As we left the restaurant, a homeless man stood beside us and asked how we were. I answered him and talked to him while we waited for the light to change. As we walked away from him, this guy said, “I can’t believe you talked to him!”
Needless to say, this was our last date. I mean, the homeless man just asked how we were doing. He didn’t try and come into our space, he smiled, he just wanted to say hello. I’ve had worse incidents with busy business people who shove me out of the way to get off the fucking curb.
Why do I write all of this? Just to remind you… this season… when everyone is cheerful and asking you to give (which, believe me, I’m happy people do), I ask that in addition to giving… look someone in the eye, smile and acknowledge your fellow human being. Seriously. You’ll be shocked at how good it feels.
3 responses so far
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November 20, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Good article — not sure I’d associate kindness with “Christian” or “church” behavior. Some people walk their talk, and some don’t. I prefer to put my energy into those who do — and thank you for being one of them.
Have a very merry Christmas!
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November 23, 2009 at 6:46 pm
“I remember when I went on a date during college, the guy was a Christian and told me all about his good works and the mission he was going to go on,”
If he was telling you about all his good works he wasn’t a Christian to begin with.
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February 25, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Greetings Earthling,
I don’t care whether people believe in God or not. I only care if people exhibit loving kindness, empathy, and compassion. I only care if people help each other, if people join forces to lessen inhumanity.
I discovered secular humanism to be a mutual admiration society of armchair philosophers. There is really little difference between a secular humanist, a Unitarian, or anyone mildly committed to any religion.
I seek people committed to helping others. Most atheists realizing there is no afterlife pursue pleasure, and happiness. Atheists tend to see themselves as individuals rather than part of the brotherhood of humanity, or part of sentient life.
I see humans willing to engage in self-sacrifice for the betterment of all. Officer Spock: “The Good of the Many Outweigh the Good of the One.”
Unfortunately, humans do not operate logically.
Humans tend to pursue a selfish game strategy that leads to everyone losing.
If I had a little help, I could alter the future of mankind. I don’t expect anyone to believe this claim. I just wish I could find someone in a position to help willing to hear me out.
United we stand, divided we fall. Organized humans can do much more good than individual humans. National armies and business corporations succeed because they are organized.
Organized religion has been both a force for good and evil. If we are going to destroy organized theism, then we need to replace it with some kind of organized group of caring humans.
Poor / needy atheists have no community where they can turn for emotional support or emergency aid. Government aid can not replace the role of a church to help a member in distress. We need to find a way to form groups, where people know each other, and can help each other based on the kind of human being they are.
In many religious congregations, when a member of the congregation needs help, the other members are there for them. Religious congregations offer their members many benefits.
Most atheists and secular humanists just want to be left alone, they follow the creed of Nietzsche or Ayn Rand. There is are no secular humanist congregations where members help each other, support each other, and work together for the common good.
If you are an attorney, donating your time to work as a guardian ad litem is great. You may be self-sufficient, and independent. What about atheists who are not self-sufficient? What about atheists who need to belong to a community? Where do they find camaraderie? Fellowship? etc? I find secular humanists to be very cold. Secular humanists are cats. But most humans are like dogs. They need to belong to a larger family, to an extended family. Atheists have nothing to offer people like this.
I discovered most people don’t believe in God because they think that is the most likely truth. Most people believe in God so they can join a congregation where they can be part of group. The lone wolf is a pathetic creature. When the lone wolf injures a leg it starves to death. When a wolf that is part of a pack injures a leg, the other wolves bring it food.
Wolves are effective hunters only when they hunt as a pack. They can bring down animals much larger than themselves. Lone wolves are not effective hunters. This is why people join gangs.
Atheism is not a viable alternative to organized religion. Until atheists create organized groups that cater to the poor and needy, they will be viewed as selfish, self-centered hedonists.
Cheers,