Atheist what do you do to make this a better world?

I create my own electricity. I recycle gray water. I have a small organic farm and I donate 50% to local food banks.

Great so you are basically trying to piss someone off and start an argument

you pissed off the wrong guy!!!

First of all, as a christian, I believe you are to respect others religion.

Great job with that one

Secondly, are you trying to call yourself better person than atheist because you are helping people? and are you also insinuating that atheist do not help others. These are assumptions I am making, but I have a feeling that this is what you are getting at because as an atheist, I get this criticism a lot.

We as atheist, for one do not care about following an ideology that says all things are done for a supreme being, we help others for the good of society and self satisfaction

do not try imposing your ideology on me

First you don't have a "Christian life". You have a life. We all have lives. Some of us have religions too.

Good for you for trying to help others. I feel that it is each individual's responsibility to be the change they wish to see in the world. If we each kick in a bit of effort in a positive direction, we all progress together. If not, we all suffer together. There are few things more important than social responsibility.

I do everything I can to make the world around me just a little bit more pleasant for everyone in it. First, I try not to add to the sorrows of the world. I recycle, garden and shop ethically and locally. I am tender and available with my family and friends and invested in nurturing them to the best of my ability. I foster abused and neglected animals and find them new homes. I volunteer for various charities and causes. My friends and I work hard to raise money for everything from arts programs to women's shelters. I am involved in the foster care system and have been a theraputic foster parent to sick and abused children and youth. I learn as much as I can about everything I can and then use what I know. I speak up for personal and political issues that require a voice. I encourage and inspire when I can. In reality, these are all such small things they are hardly worth mentioning. But I think small measures add up.

I live by Mother Teresa's saying, "I cannot do all things, but I can do this thing".

EDIT: I told you why I do what I do. I do it because it makes rational sense and benefits society as a whole. I do it because I empathize with other living beings and because I do not find apathy in the face of suffering to be moral. Is it gratifying? Sometimes. Is it always fun or validating? No. In fact, that is rarely the case. Believe it or not charities compete for money and the competition can get ugly. I don't get alot of pats on the back. Nor do I expect them. Frequently in foster care you never get to see the benefit of your effort. You take alot of sh*t and just hope for the best. Does it feel good to see other living things heal and become happy? Yes. But you don't always get to whitness the full recovery and it hurts like hell to watch people and critters struggle. Not all the animal's I've brought home even survive. Not all of the kids tunred out to live healthy lives as happy, productive adults. But you keep trying because you know giving up is not an option. That does not take religion or silly superstitions, that takes correct understanding of the situation.

I'm kind and helpful to everyone I meet, I vote (the effectiveness of that is up for debate though), I campaign for the Peace Alliance, I stand up for justice/fairness whenever I feel there is a need to in everyday situations, I meet with Congressmen to discuss issues I feel are important whenever possible, etc. Though it isn't an option for me at this point in time, I hope to do a lot of volunteer work in the near future.

I've spent my entire Christian/Quaker/Buddhist/agnostic/atheist life trying to help others as well. (Yes, I was each of those at some point in my life.)

Edit: I suppose being a massage therapist would count as well. I try to improve the physical health of others and often succeed on a semi-daily basis.

Why do I do these things? Maybe because I care about others and their well-being? Maybe because it makes others happy? Maybe because it might MAKE THIS A BETTER WORLD? Having said all that, yes, it does tend to make me feel good as well.

I am an atheist and I have fostered over 50 cats and kittens in my 10 years as an animal rescue volunteer. I give my money to help animals that need life-saving operations. I educate the public on responsible pet ownership and I advocate for the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats to reduce the millions of animals that are euthanised every year in shelters across this country. Though I am not rich by any means I give what I can to my local humane society and I donate $20 every month to the ASPCA.

I find this question to be extremely offensive.

George H.W. Bush, as presidential nominee for the Republican party; 1987-AUG-27: "No, I don't know that Atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered as patriots. This is one nation under God."

A very common belief expressed by many conservative Christians is that many, perhaps most, Atheists are deceitful liars. They suggest that Atheists really do believe in the existence of God. However, Atheists deny this because if they admitted that he existed, they would have to come to terms with God's demands in their life concerning morality and ethics, salvation, heaven and hell, beliefs in the cardinal doctrines of Christianity, etc.

John E. Evans: I was a Christian from the time I was 5 until about 4 years ago. That is when I turned 40 and was compelled to know God as much as humanly possible. I wanted to love God more than any human that had walked the earth. I began a quest for truth that started with an in-depth study of the bible which I continue today, consultation with theologians, intensive book reading of almost a book a week for the past 4 years, interviewing church leaders, attending laity classes at SMU and much personal thinking.

I loved Jesus and God with all my heart. I never questioned heaven. I prayed almost every day. We were even one of those families that prayed before dinner in restaurants. I felt sorry for atheists and could not comprehend why they did not believe.

But early in my journey, as I was trying to wrap my mind around God, I decided that if God was anything, God was truth. So I made truth my god and decided to follow it wherever it led. I NEVER would have guessed it would have led me to atheism but it has. It was not pleasant letting go of the idea of God. It was scary and dark and lonely at first.

But I discovered a new way of seeing that makes far more sense and is actually far more interesting than my old way. Like opening a dirty window and feeling a spring breeze and morning light illuminate a dark musty room, I feel more alive than I ever did while accepting the Christian worldview. I feel like I am making steady progress toward a better understanding of reality and that is incredibly exciting and fulfilling.

You must have been pretty productive as a three year old.

I donate blood on a regular basis.

I volunteer at the local church's Rebuilding Together (formerly Christmas in April) program.

I take time out of my personal life to listen to other people. You'd be surprised how much people can solve on their own, they just need someone to talk to and listen to them.

I fight ignorance.

I'm studying up to enter the Law Enforcement field. I'll be helping people for the rest of my career life and beyond.

"Why do you do these things?"

--Self-gratification? Yeah, I have an altruistic personality, and I tend to help others before I help myself. I get pleasure from helping others.

I donate blood because it's a great way to pick up chicks, and because someone out there probably needs it.

I volunteer at Rebuilding Together to meet chicks, and because there are not any atheist organizations around my area. Very heavy religious crowd.

I listen to other people because I like listening to other people. I get enjoyment from listening to their stories.

I fight ignorance, because ignorance begets crime. The better educated someone is, the less likely they are to commit crime. If people have the opportunity to learn, it'll open up new opportunities in life for them. Better jobs, healthier relationships, etc. This one is for the betterment of society.

LOL... another religious person who thinks that if someone is an atheist they must be a bad person

How about you tell me how many people had to be killed and tortured to lay the foundation for a faith that can now exist to do "good works" in the name of jesus while paying no attention to their past atrocities.

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Additional Details

Why then do you do all these wonderful things? Is it for self gratification?

You are also guilty of self gratification, you fallow your religion and do your 'good works' in the hopes that you go to heaven. Using your example you are no better.

What does being a Christian or Atheist have to do with being a good person who tries to help others?

And to answer your question, as an attorney, I donate as many hours pro bono as I can each year to assist people who could not otherwise afford a lawyer. I try to make my services available to all members of the armed forces for a reduced fee as my brother is a Marine, and I appreciate the sacrifice they make for the rest of us.

Being an atheist has nothing to do with any of that.

Good for you. You are the exception as I think you know. Among the many, I do fund raising for autism and juvenile cerebral palsy. I've "adopted" four fatherless kids and put them through college. I've even supported medical missionaries, despite their religious affiliations and evangelism sidelines. This past year with two parents passing I've been a bit busy, but I hope to be back in the swing soon.

And in the spirit of your question, my penis is certainly larger than yours.

I live each day intelligently, without giving a portion of my responsibility to a fantastical sky-daddy.

Also, I've never spent a moment deluding myself that by sitting in a room, having a conversation with the aforementioned sky-daddy, had any tangible effect on the material world. (When I'm cold, I build a fire, I don't pray for a volcano to erupt)