Why do atheists complain about religion when most of the organizations in the world to help people with poverty or aids are ran or started by people with religous backgrounds? Atheists don't help the world out.

Actually there are many, many atheists who belong to and help out with charitable organisations (I'm one of them!). There are many more charities which are religiously-neutral than there are religious specific ones- with good reason, religion can create a bias- an neutral organisation seeks only to help those in need, whereas a religious one is often also seeking to spread the word of their own religion. I can't understand what leads you to believe that atheists "don't help the world out" as I see no evidence that Atheists are any less helpful than the religious. Many Atheists believe that one ought to good because its the right thing to do and makes the world a better place for people to live in, and to do good out of fear of reprisal from a God or gods is not "true" good at all as it has a selfish motive at its heart. Lack of religion is not equal to lack of morality.

Here are some charities that are unaffiliated with religion: American Red Cross United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Doctors without Borders (my charity of choice) Oxfam International Second Harvest United Way of America The Humane Society 4H The Sierra Club Heifer Project International American Cancer Society Amnesty International The American Foundation for AIDS Research Operation Give Operation Smile Those are just the larger charities I could come up with in a few minutes. I and many others would prefer to donate to these charities, because they focus on the health and wellbeing of the recipients. Many religious charities, I feel, are more interested in converting people than in feeding them, supporting their families and giving them adequate health care. Also, many religious charities and initiatives will prevent people from accessing care that does not match their religious beliefs. The most extreme example of this would be the "Global Gag Rule" which Bush put into law based on the urgings of religious groups, which cuts off people around the world from all forms of health care solely because they disagree with one service provided: abortion. That is certainly not in the interest of dying patients in the third world, and only helps a religious political agenda. If you say atheists don't help the world, then I'd say they help the world more effectively and with fewer strings attached than the religious.

I disagree strongly with your idea that Atheists do not help the world out. The reason Atheists complain about organized religions is the attempts to convert, force people to follow their beliefs, and the countless wars and other atrocities perpetrated in the name of those religions. (That kind of turns my stomach, too.)

I have to agree with the already well-stated answers above. I happen to be the sole atheist in my group of friends (at least that I am aware of, it's not a very popular thing to run around admitting to!) and guess how many of them offer to come help out when I volunteer for Meals On Wheels to help feed the elderly who are homebound or otherwise infirmed or help collect toys around the holidays to donate to Toys For Tots? None of them do. Now, I don't judge them or condemn them for this; we all interact with the world and approach things in our own ways. Another thing, to specifically address a cause you mentioned in your question, one of the most vocal and goal-oriented AIDS awareness groups, ACT UP! (AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power!), was by default strictly secular, sometimes even to the point of being anti-religion, to combat the unhealthy dogma that surrounded the disease. The group was formed in the late 1980's as a response to the worlds' lack of understanding of AIDS and the situations which cause it and which it causes for people after they become infected with the virus and the lack of any real public or government funding for combat it. This lack of response has most often been attributed to religion's irrational condemnation of homosexuality (and the mistaken belief that AIDS was just a "gay disease") and ignorance of sexual education, and the subsequent and inevitable spill-over of this way of thinking into the general culture. ACT UP!, while not a stated atheist organization, was by default a secular one, such as OXFAM, Doctors Without Borders, et al. If you look at the great number of atheist/secular charitable groups that help out all over the world, and understand that these groups do so without any strings attached and that they help out regardless of who is in need or what their beliefs are, you may just be surprised. Can groups, such as the Salvation Army, say the same? They may perform some wonderful and necessary works, but they also partake in some pretty un-Christian acts: Recently, when the state of New York proposed to require businesses in the state to offer health benefits to same-sex partners, the Salvation Army threatened to close all of its thrift stores and soup kitchens across the state in protest. Now, who would that action have helped? Who would it have hurt? The same can even be said of President Bush's "Faith Based Initiatives". All you need to do is look at the riders he has attached to many of the aid packages we have sent to poverty-stricken parts of Africa. Any references to "family planning" had to be removed, because that is something that just doesn't jive with conservative Christian dogma. I think that before anyone goes around bashing anyone either for their actions or for their inactions, or questioning their charity or humanity, thought and reflection should be employed. Nothing in the world is as easy as black and white. To give a quote, of obvious religious origin, "The devil is in the details."

What do you mean about complaining about religion? I don't, and I will defend anyone's right to believe or think whatever they choose. Atheists contribute to many causes, even causes that may have been started by persons who profess a "religious background". However, an atheist may choose not to donate to a cause that has a religious agenda coupled with its charitable side. I personally contribute to stem cell research, Aids research and literacy programs worldwide. I contributed to Katrina relief and Tsunami relief as well. It's inaccurate to state categorically that "atheists don't help the world out". I'm sure there are many "religious people" who don't contribute to charitable causes, just as there are surely atheists who don't.

Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett, two of the RICHEST families in the world, have donated close to a BILLION dollars to charities over the last few years. And they are all atheists. Doctors without Borders is a non-religious organization. The United Way is a non-religious organization. Just because atheists are not organized doesn't mean that they are not active. Please stop such slanderous statements. I'm an atheist and I've worked for non-profits for over 30 years.

Atheists do help the world out, loads of charities listed by other contributors show this. Maybe the Atheists you speak to only knock YOUR religion because they are sick of your self righteous attitude, especially where Atheism is concerned.

Do some research on Bill Gates (atheist) look at what he has contributed and if you match that I'll kiss your BUTT!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates#Wealth_and_investments

I did not state that correctly do to lake of characters to ask my question. I don't mean all atheists. But with most of the religous questions on here, there are replies about stupid Christian this stupid Catholics that. I have a lot of good atheist friends as well as religous friends. I already knew the answer before I asked just by the way the world is today. Its the same reason there is war. It doesn't matter if you're religous or not. There will always be a good and bad side to every group. I've said this before, this biggest problem with Christianity is Christians. And it's the same with any group. I guy with tatoos and earings(like myself) could go out and murder a number of people. Then someone sees someone like me that looks like that guy and judges me. Thank all of you for your good answers. Glad to hear about the help you guys are doing in this world.