10-19-2015
 |
| Source: Keep Our Veterans Safe |
On Sunday, a group of about 15 volunteers gathered at the Veterans Center on North Jefferson and served lunch to about 150 people in need of a hot meal and a friendly face. Of course, charity events such as these happen all the time, but this one was different in an unexpected way: it was run by your friendly neighborhood atheists.
The event was hosted by the Springfield Freethinkers, a local atheist and agnostic group with about 960 members on Facebook. “We blew through 23 pounds of beef, 25 pounds of chicken, and I don’t even know how many tortillas,” said organizer Cora Hanf.
Ironically, the veteran’s center is run by The New Life Evangelistic Center. The faith based organization works to provide support, services , and goods for the homeless and the needy.
For many of the Freethinkers, this event was about more than just helping the needy, it was also about raising the profile of the nonreligious in a community dominated by churches and faith-based organizations. “I think the stereotype of immoral atheism or uninvolved atheism is something that persists in our community because, until recently, atheists didn't really gather in large groups regularly the way Christians and other religions do,” says Cora, “but that is something that is changing fast. And it's wonderful.”
Cora says, however, that the main goal should never just be to change perceptions of atheists, but rather it should be to help the community “because it need to be done and is the right thing to do.”
Volunteer Craig McDonald says that helping people through community service is something that he has always been drawn to. “My atheism is a non-factor in my desire to help people who need it,” says Craig, “I like helping people. I used to participate in charitable projects with the church we attended.”
However, in the Bible Belt, charity, morality, and civic virtue are often tied to faith in a higher power. The nonreligious, atheists especially, are distinctly aware of this attitude and sensitive towards how the the public perceives their actions. “I would say it is vital that the community at large gets an eyeful of non-believers participating in the community, performing charitable actions, and generally doing the right thing,” says Craig, adding, “I sincerely wish that the believers in our community would see us for what we are, rather than what their pastors, imams, priests and elders have described us as being.”
Working with faith-based organizations like The New Life Evangelistic Center brings with it a mixed bag of emotions for the nonreligious. On the subject, Springfield Freethinkers President Pam Adelmann said, “We wish services for homeless individuals were provided by a secular organization, but New Life Evangelistic Center has a long track record and sincerely cares about this issue. We understand their services are not conditional on beliefs.”
The sentiment was echoed by Craig McDonald, who described working with faith groups and tolerating the inevitable proselytizing that comes with that partnership as “the price of admission if you want to help people.”
Theological matters aside, all of Sunday’s participants would probably agree that the important thing was that the needy received help and support from the community. For the Freethinkers, showing others that one can be good without God is merely an unintended, though welcome, bonus.
About Thomas Essel
Thomas Essel is a secular activist and writer. He serves as the Content Manager for The Original Motto Project, is a regular contributor to the Patheos blog Danthropology, and his opinions have appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. Thomas lives in Springfield with his wife, two kids, and numerous cats.
You can contact Thomas at tcessel@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @TCEssel
The event was hosted by the Springfield Freethinkers, a local atheist and agnostic group with about 960 members on Facebook. “We blew through 23 pounds of beef, 25 pounds of chicken, and I don’t even know how many tortillas,” said organizer Cora Hanf.
Ironically, the veteran’s center is run by The New Life Evangelistic Center. The faith based organization works to provide support, services , and goods for the homeless and the needy.
For many of the Freethinkers, this event was about more than just helping the needy, it was also about raising the profile of the nonreligious in a community dominated by churches and faith-based organizations. “I think the stereotype of immoral atheism or uninvolved atheism is something that persists in our community because, until recently, atheists didn't really gather in large groups regularly the way Christians and other religions do,” says Cora, “but that is something that is changing fast. And it's wonderful.”
Cora says, however, that the main goal should never just be to change perceptions of atheists, but rather it should be to help the community “because it need to be done and is the right thing to do.”
Volunteer Craig McDonald says that helping people through community service is something that he has always been drawn to. “My atheism is a non-factor in my desire to help people who need it,” says Craig, “I like helping people. I used to participate in charitable projects with the church we attended.”
However, in the Bible Belt, charity, morality, and civic virtue are often tied to faith in a higher power. The nonreligious, atheists especially, are distinctly aware of this attitude and sensitive towards how the the public perceives their actions. “I would say it is vital that the community at large gets an eyeful of non-believers participating in the community, performing charitable actions, and generally doing the right thing,” says Craig, adding, “I sincerely wish that the believers in our community would see us for what we are, rather than what their pastors, imams, priests and elders have described us as being.”
Working with faith-based organizations like The New Life Evangelistic Center brings with it a mixed bag of emotions for the nonreligious. On the subject, Springfield Freethinkers President Pam Adelmann said, “We wish services for homeless individuals were provided by a secular organization, but New Life Evangelistic Center has a long track record and sincerely cares about this issue. We understand their services are not conditional on beliefs.”
The sentiment was echoed by Craig McDonald, who described working with faith groups and tolerating the inevitable proselytizing that comes with that partnership as “the price of admission if you want to help people.”
Theological matters aside, all of Sunday’s participants would probably agree that the important thing was that the needy received help and support from the community. For the Freethinkers, showing others that one can be good without God is merely an unintended, though welcome, bonus.
About Thomas Essel
Thomas Essel is a secular activist and writer. He serves as the Content Manager for The Original Motto Project, is a regular contributor to the Patheos blog Danthropology, and his opinions have appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. Thomas lives in Springfield with his wife, two kids, and numerous cats.
You can contact Thomas at tcessel@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter @TCEssel
No comments:
Post a Comment