R&S: If you plan to give money to charity, does the religion of that charity affect your decision?

Not really. I mean, religion isn't really the first thing I look at when I see a charitable org. Like, only last year I found out World Vision was pretty religious and I had been sponsoring a child through them for many years. It hasn't changed my opinion of them or anything plus they do fantastic things. I'm Agnostic, but I respect all religions. What I don't respect is when people use religion to attack others. I know that the child I'm sponsoring among many others like her who're in the middle of nowhere, who are just trying to survive and all they have is religion. In some way it helps them, and I wouldn't take it away from them and say certain religious organisations would use donations to build places of worship things like that- then I really wouldn't mind.

BA: Yeah, that's like I said earlier "when people use religion to attack others" others' emotions, tap into guilt. That's not what it's supposed to be about. My mum's a Catholic and she despises it, once someone came at our door asking to donate and showed a bunch of pictures and had the little ATM swipe thing ready-- mum gave him a massive lecture and he was just stumped lol.

When I donate to charities it's the recipient of the donation that I'm concerned about and really don't care what religion the charity itself is. Just as long as the donation is passed along and gets into a persons hand that needs it is what matters.

bq: I've visited a particular charity where it was mandatory to hear a religious service to recieve help from the charity. I don't particularly agree with that but it's not my place to argue if they are helping the needy.

When I donate blood at a blood bank I never tell them who can or can't accept my blood. I'm just sayin'...

Also if someone is on the street asking for a handout I don't judge them or think about what they may or may not do with the money they recieve. If they want to spend it on a cheap bottle of wine or a pack of smokes then so be it. It's not like poor people couldn't use a smoke or a drink every now and then. It'd be nice if they used it for food or whatever but many won't help the begger on the street believing they know best and what someone may or may not do with the money. I say, if someone is on the street begging then something must be seriously wrong for them to be there. That's all I can think of and leave it at that.

Hey :)

Good question and never really thought about it! I don't think it would affect my decision though no. I'm an atheist but charity is charity. I'd be more inclined to base my decision on what sort of people or animals the charity helped out. I make a monthly donation to Barnardo's which I'm pretty sure began as a Christian based charity. But I've never once thought about that in depth.

BQ: Perhaps, but I think they're right anyway. Anyone with a job can spare £5 a month. ANYONE can. Some people have really terrible lives, anyone without immediate danger or suffering in their life should count themselves lucky.

Have a lovely weekend Maddie :)

Sometimes. As a rule, I research the companies I put large sums of money into. I look to see who they are affiliated with, who they benefit, how my money is spent, and how effective they are at what they do. I don't support companies that impose their religion on others, regardless of what that religion may be. This applies to charities, schools, stocks that I buy, in some cases, even the products that I buy. For example, I don't shop at Wallmart, or it's affiliated stores, and I no longer buy Hershey's chocolate. (because both have committed huge violations against human rights, which I believe to be wrong.) I also refuse to invest in citibank, because it encourages religious war in 3rd world countries for the sake of profits, and resulting in huge amounts of human suffering, which I consider to be wrong on many levels. Greedy bastards.

I have stopped donating to salvation army, not because of their religious affiliation, but because they had some major corruption issues, and the people they help suffered for it. When they show that they have cleaned up there act, I will probably donate to them again. I'm not protestant, btw.

Also, guilt arguments tend to be riddled with logical flaws. If I'm feeling guilty, I'll donate my time with a company I trust, but no money to the people shaking me down until I can justify it rationally, and verify the numbers in my budget book. My father was a con artist, so I'm used to navigating around liars and emotional abuse.

Yes. Being agnostic/aetheist (FML- dont know if I don't believe), I firstly look for a cause. Then look at the governments say on that cause, concerning what charities to donate to.

From all walks of life, religious backed and non-religious backed charities, there will be people out there to rip you off. So be mindful of that. Religion isirrevalent at the end of a day when picking a charity...

I don't give to charities unless I know a bit about them, and I generally donate goods rather than money. Goodwill gets our hand-me-down clothes, the Salvation Army gets jack. Anyone that knocks on my door selling something or asking for money gets the door slammed in their face, at best. The same goes for anyone calling my phone. Beggars never get money from me, but buskers always do. Seriously, you can do almost anything to cross that line from beggar to busker in my book. Do a little dance, tell me a joke, something. And some folks just won't do it.

I would just try and find the one that promises the most amount of money to go towards the actual cause. instead of keeping some/the majority of money for their own personal reasons.(If that makes sense to anyone else.)

BQ: Absolutely. I think sometimes though, that's justified. They can use that advertising technique if they want. Just as we have the will not to donate, or to even change the channel when the commercials come on. If we so desire.

These are fake religions. Look, Matthew 5-6-7: the prayer is secret. That is truth eligion. That which is public hurts others, and hurts the God s work in each individue. The recite is in private. That is truth religion. Search topic NT, find real - life answers! The fake religion is idolatry, is vulgar, and is to make full of your self; the arrogance is reported but to self, and the equilibrium is Life and the human salone or ny him self can not find it. On the contrary, is The Word.

No, in fact I'd rather give to a non-religious charity that wants to be kinds to all sorts of people regardless of their religion. Discrimination based on religion is one of the major things wrong with the world today :(

BA: Yeah. Charities often "advertise" just as shamelessly as major corporations but at least it is hopefully for the common good.

I give to 3 charities by a monthly standing order through my bank, they were not chosen because they had any faith driven motivation but because of what they set out to achieve. As an atheist, I am glad that the regular news updates from these organisations stick to a secular vernacular.