Its now out of the news, but remember, many in NC and SC are JUST beginning to face the worst times of their lives.

:P

I do get where you were going with that :)

:p

I share those values and would say basically my beliefs are Christian, but I also don't believe in a god who has racial or gender preferences. For all the faults of religion, which is after all made up of humans, is that there is still a lot of good that they do, and I dare say 10s of thousands of times to every negative action that is thrust in the spotlight.

and the problem with people doing "good" is that it doesn't sell newspapers :/

People always find a reason to fight, I fail to see where that quote offers insight to anything. Religion doesn't promise to end wars, there will always be those who usurp teachings, or misapply teachings, just like anything else people touch. What most religions do offer are some guidelines to a more harmonious life, much like Mr. Lennon there.
There is no doubt in my mind John Lennon was a huge-hearted person. However he was also extremely naive and short-sighted largely due to not having a real life from his teens onward. I still like a lot of his music but, I need something deeper to form core values and principle on.

i was alluding to Lennon's "imagine there's no religion" line

Itcould have easily been attributed to Lennon :)

the problem with religions, specifically the Abrahamic faiths, is that their teachings are littered with violence condoned by god or carried out in his name. i'd have more respect for these faiths if they brought their teachings into the 21st century and edited their holy books to take out all the violence etc.

until something like that happens there will always be fundamentalists from all three faiths who take these selective, violent parts and act on them

It's impossible to edit to prevent man from mucking something up. When I go to work I have to carry my drink in a clear container, because someone used their cup to smuggle a cellphone into a secure area... make it idiot proof and man develops a better idiot.

I'm an atheist and it is sad that religious folk hog all of that charity for themselves. I'd hang out with y'all and talk about how to be nice to each other and hop on a bus to NC with you if you'd just SHUT UP about Jesus. I totally agree that nice, generous people are attracted to religion because it's advertised as the place to be if you think that way. I'll assume you fell into that trap too. Sincere best wishes though.

If someone saved your life, wouldn’t you give them credit? That’s what all the talk about Jesus is for

I'm happy you spoke up, I agree that sometimes it gets overwhelming to me too . I have my core beliefs and they don't always align with other's. Having faith does not ALWAYS mean you have to go to a big building, sit still and listen to someone speak, then sing when told. For many though it does help them to learn more about how to be who they want to be. Like anything else, it can be overdone... much to my sadness to have learned I can overdo toffee.... but I digress.

Anyway though, to address your original point, if you hopped on the home-teams bus to go to the big game, you're going to have to listen to their cheerleaders. To expect otherwise is to set yourself up for disappointment.
Why seek to change those that already have a process in place and their way to contribute?Why not begin your own organization?
I remember as a kid a lot of the small things my grandmothers' churches did for them. The steady stream of their friends from there helping when my grandfather died, bringing food, making sure she was able to get here and there for years afterwards.

whats up wormface :)

Not much, workin on this one for a $50 prize lol. If I win I spend it all on the kids lol. It's really a genius plan, they don't bother dad so much when he's playing online :)

pretty smart for a white guy!

like the media is going to report any atheists donating money for your sake

not to mention any youtube atheists out there trying to raise money but getting their vids demonetized because of controversy

no one reports anything for MY sake. However if you know of youtube vids about atheists charity organizations please link them up. I really would be interested in them.