I will give the young woman’s organization the benefit of the doubt that they will help even children who choose not to accept Jesus Christ. However, it’s difficult to imagine many children refusing when they’re being fed, housed, and told they will be rewarded eternally if they just follow certain teachings.
I spent a large portion of the evening Googling various religious organizations giving aid to Haiti, and I didn’t find a single group that didn’t have an undertone of missionary work as one of their primary objectives.
It honestly made me quite sad.
Tyrannical governments recruit soldiers by entering desolate areas and feeding and educating the youth. The children would grow up associating “good” with those who were feeding them, and would end up serving the ruling government. I can’t help but think that religious charities are guilty of the same vicious coercion.
I’m not the type of person who takes anything very seriously. In fact, I debated with myself as to whether I should write this very column as a satirical piece. However, I chose a serious tone in hopes of making it clear that I separate the need for voluntary aid from the unfortunate reality of religious entities preying upon the weak.
I can’t imagine anyone going to Haiti on a mission to clothe, feed and tell children there is no God. As cruelly humorous as the final goal may sound, actually doing it would be a real jerk move.
Somehow this same line of reasoning does not seem to apply to religious organizations. If you enter Haiti on a mission to house, feed and teach children about personal religious values in a positive way, somehow this is OK in the minds of people working for these religious organizations. After all, they’re just trying to save children from an eternal hellfire.
When people have had their lives destroyed, they need help. Real help. The sad reality of the situation in Haiti is that religious organizations are there to recruit — and help. Anyone who wants to help those in need is best advised to donate to any
non-government, secular humanist, charity.
There is never a God required when it comes to good deeds.
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A version of this article appeared in the Feb 3 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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This reminded me of a short documentary you might like on you tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WQ0i3nCx60
Hell's Angel
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If a "Christian" organization is NOT promoting Christ and preaching the gospel through their works, they should shut down.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Mark 8:36
If these groups weren't helping at all, you'd cry foul and call them "unloving".
Can't please everyone. May as well please God.
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Psalm 68:5
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling
Exodus 22:22
Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan.
See, anyone can quote the bible. Helping those in need is God's message, and someone who goes to Haiti for the sole purpose of helping out isn't going to "lose his own soul". Why do you feel the need to force your beliefs on them too?
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Helping those in need IS God's message...and the greatest way in which one can be helped is by being saved. If all a Christian group does is feed someone...but they don't get born again and die and go to hell, eternally they did that person no good.
I never said that someone going there just to feed someone would lose their soul.
Why do I need to "force" my beliefs? Because I am commanded to do so. If they don't want to hear it, if you don't want to hear it, you're free to walk away. My feelings won't be hurt.
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Thank you Chad for an enlightening article for college students to fully consider the effects of donating to a religious organization for aid purposes. Instead, we can donate to secular, professional organizations, such as Oxfam International, that work for the SOLE PURPOSE of helping those in need. The fact that religious organizations impose their beliefs (directly and indirectly) on the helpless is disheartening and evil in itself.
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man these religious groups sound a lot like the democrat party. giving sustenance to those in need while soliciting support for their cause. why cant they just do it out of generosity rather than to strengthen their groups?
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you're assuming it's true because Chad said it? that's worse than anything any religious group could do.
and on that note, it is seriously devoid of intelligence to presume that because a group acts for what they believe in (God, here) that it is in self-interest.
Chad, this is your worst article so far. quite off the radar.
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I'm sorry...wouldn't someone acting for what they believe in be the definition of self-interest?
I don't think Chad is opposing ALL self interest, but rather he seems to be opposing directly this idea of using tragedy as a means to boost missionary work.
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Matt, you clearly don't understand "self-interest" or "using tragedy." Giving time and money to help others and offering people the opportunity to join a religious group is not self-interest. Similarly, to "use" a tragedy the person would have to get some kind of gain.
If you go out and recruit for a student org, is that acting in self-interest?
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Of course it is! You want members.
I don't think self-interest is a bad thing. I also don't think the writer of this article thinks self-interest is a bad thing.
The issue is simply with THESE groups using tragedy to spread religion.
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A great piece, Chad. Using this tragedy as a means of religious recruitment is an incredibly self-serving thing to do.
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This piece reminded me of Richard Dawkins's firm belief -- with which I strongly agree -- that indoctrinating young minds with religious belief is a form of mental child abuse. It is noble to help those in need, but using charity as a soapbox for proselytizing, particularly to children, is repulsive.
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