Does your faith or own personal belief or moral code encourage you to assist the poor?

Yes, even though I am an atheist.

Interesting question because if all religious people really cared about helping the poor and the sick, we would have quality free education and universal health care for all in the USA. But they are either more worried about keeping every last dime of material wealth they have accumulated, or they are not really religious to begin with as just these 2 things would greatly lift many of the poor to higher levels, it will cure many of the ill who cant afford to get medical help. It would also bring many more people into religion as they would see it as a true caring and loving entity and not one that promotes greed, selfishness like they are part of a hierarchy and better than everyone else. When in fact, they are the same as everyone else as the bible says all men are created equal.

Or , you could animal farm it and insist that some are more equal that others, but that would be narcissism. And we all know God does not like narcissistic people, material people, money changers, or those who do not care for or love their fellow man. Bless you all if you help others who need help. And to the rest , you are nothing but posers out to make yourselves feel better about yourself. Not really religious at all.

Yes it does. I've done volunteer work before and I'm glad you asked this question because it has occured to me that it's been awhile since I have done some so this was a good reminder to get this back on my mind.

I always tell people that one of the best ways to beat depression (even if you're not religious at all) is to do volunteer work because you're doing something that will make you feel proud of yourself and you get to meet new people and it helps you be thankful for what you have.

Doing good for the sake of doing good is a wonderful feeling.

Compassion is a human trait, not something acquired through religious endevours. So, honestly, yes. I feel encouraged, as an atheist, to help those who are willing to work hard and who may have simply undergone unfortunate circumstances.

However, I don't believe in irrationally supporting those who exploit any compassion, kindness or generosity.

God has moved my heart for the poor all my life. I was in Vietnam where you get a first hand look at the really poor. I tell you the truth, America should be flat on their faces before the almighty God of Israel, begging for forgiveness of there great and horrible sin of waste and indulgences.

Check out this web site,http://www.ourchurch.com/member/b/bocministries/

God be with you,

William, a bond-servant of Jesus

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I don't have a faith but yes, i give regularly to several different charities.

I give to the St. Vincent De Paul society monthly.

yes I am an atheist that gives to a catholic charity, ironic huh?

but seriously they helped my mother out no questions asked when i was a child.

As I see it, man who has been in a car crash, and has had his pants cut off him by the emergency medics is in a worse position than I am.

I have pants.

It's only right, as I see it, to give that man a pair of pants.

That reasoning extends to food, to shelter, to transport.

If I can give, I do.

One day, I may have no pants.

On that day, I will be very thankful that there are people like me in the world who would give me a pair of pants.

Charity is not an obligation, charity is as normal as breathing.

No, it does not. Even though I am poor, non-religious and also believe in God I tend to be self-absorbed often. I also have a mental illness, but this may have something to do with it. I would like to donate what money I can to help with poverty and homelessness however.

Yes, I am encouraged to help those who are truly poor and without resources, like people in Third World countries.

Answer: Absolutely! One of the Delphic Maxims (# 135 of 147) explicitly states: "Share the load of the unfortunate (Ατυχουντι συναχθου) "

Yes