To The Atheist:One thing you don't understand about donation is that most of that money is still in your government. When they pledge a fund does not mean they pay it to the country. They use those funds to cover payroll and other cost for personnel living in that country. The hospital boat that's in Haiti is a perfect example of that. You think every one on that boat is working for free. You think the food,supplies and all other cost are free. This is how your government spends money that they pledge to other countries. Most of the countries who pledge have not yet given a dime to Haiti, because they claim they don't trust the Haitian government and I agree with them to some extent. Please don't blame people who are trying to send religious statues for the people. Maybe faith is the only thing they can rely on. Your penny may not save their lives at the end, God will decide.
My Response:
"One thing you don't understand about donation is that most of that money is still in your government. When they pledge a fund does not mean they pay it to the country. They use those funds to cover payroll and other cost for personnel living in that country."
Let's not give money because maybe it won't ALL get there? Of course there are administrative costs and such, but if you donate it to a good charity, the money gets maximized and as much as possible is given to the people. Let's say 90% of the money goes to people. Great, this is still better than chandeliers and stained glass going to a church. I'm sure that you wouldn't cease giving to charities here in the US because not all of the money would go to people. If everyone had this mindset, no one would give.
According to this charity, [http://givingaid.richarddawkins.net/] "every penny" goes to Doctors Without Boarders.
"The hospital boat that's in Haiti is a perfect example of that. You think every one on that boat is working for free. You think the food,supplies and all other cost are free. "
I never made any of these claims.
"This is how your government spends money that they pledge to other countries. Most of the countries who pledge have not yet given a dime to Haiti, because they claim they don't trust the Haitian government and I agree with them to some extent."
I'm not talking about giving to the Haitian government. I'm suggesting giving to organizations within Haiti.
"Please don't blame people who are trying to send religious statues for the people. Maybe faith is the only thing they can rely on."
They can have faith without statues, stained glass, and chandeliers. I'm sure, though, that they can rely on family, friends, drinking water, food, medicine, etc. All of these things are infinitely more important. In my letter, I also suggested that they donate money and then build a modest church.
How is God reliable, anyway, when he hasn't even been demonstrated to exist? ...and if he does exist, an all-loving God certainly wouldn't stand by and watch Haiti be devastated by an earthquake/design a universe with an earthquake.
"Your penny may not save their lives at the end, God will decide."
This is a big problem with your religious views. What if there is no "end" where "god will decide?" We need to focus on the certain life that we have now instead of focusing on the next possible life that is very improbable.
Let's not give money because maybe it won't ALL get there? Of course there are administrative costs and such, but if you donate it to a good charity, the money gets maximized and as much as possible is given to the people. Let's say 90% of the money goes to people. Great, this is still better than chandeliers and stained glass going to a church. I'm sure that you wouldn't cease giving to charities here in the US because not all of the money would go to people. If everyone had this mindset, no one would give.
According to this charity, [http://givingaid.richarddawkins.net/] "every penny" goes to Doctors Without Boarders.
"The hospital boat that's in Haiti is a perfect example of that. You think every one on that boat is working for free. You think the food,supplies and all other cost are free. "
I never made any of these claims.
"This is how your government spends money that they pledge to other countries. Most of the countries who pledge have not yet given a dime to Haiti, because they claim they don't trust the Haitian government and I agree with them to some extent."
I'm not talking about giving to the Haitian government. I'm suggesting giving to organizations within Haiti.
"Please don't blame people who are trying to send religious statues for the people. Maybe faith is the only thing they can rely on."
They can have faith without statues, stained glass, and chandeliers. I'm sure, though, that they can rely on family, friends, drinking water, food, medicine, etc. All of these things are infinitely more important. In my letter, I also suggested that they donate money and then build a modest church.
How is God reliable, anyway, when he hasn't even been demonstrated to exist? ...and if he does exist, an all-loving God certainly wouldn't stand by and watch Haiti be devastated by an earthquake/design a universe with an earthquake.
"Your penny may not save their lives at the end, God will decide."
This is a big problem with your religious views. What if there is no "end" where "god will decide?" We need to focus on the certain life that we have now instead of focusing on the next possible life that is very improbable.