Chairity wont allow atheist to help.

[Owlix]

This is not only a great group for giving back to the community, but it also makes it easier for like-minded people to meet and socialize. This group is open to all atheists, agnostics, humanists, etc.

Do you seriously take that as meaning Christians are welcome?

Are you only on this Forum, John V, because it explicitly said you were welcome?

Because your quote from their organization is a lot like what this forum says too, only they invite theists as well....

[John V]

Are you only on this Forum, John V, because it explicitly said you were welcome?

Yes. If it said it was intended as a place for "like-minded people to meet and socialize. This group is open to all atheists, agnostics, humanists, etc." I would not have joined. I'm used to disingenuous arguments but this one might take the cake.

Because your quote from their organization is a lot like what this forum says too, only they invite theists as well....

Key words bolded. Thanks for supporting my position.

[pineapplebunnybounce]

Just because you're doing good work doesn't give you the right to discriminate. And not just discrimination but discrimination on religious grounds, wtf. If she was discriminating against a race I wonder who'd be so eager to defend her position? They're an atheist group, they should not have to hide that fact when they've clearly stated that part of their agenda is to show that atheists are good people, too. And when discrimination happens, it's the victim that should hide their differences, it's the offender that should be ashamed of their own close-mindedness. I don't think many of us would be as pissed off if she didn't say that the atheists had the devil with them, I mean seriously.

[Owlix]

So no representation without invitation. Understood.

[John V]

Just because you're doing good work doesn't give you the right to discriminate.

Some people have argued that the beliefs issue is petty compared to the charitable work being done.

And not just discrimination but discrimination on religious grounds, wtf. If she was discriminating against a race I wonder who'd be so eager to defend her position?

No one, but - she isn't. Religion is a voluntary association, skin color isn't. Big difference.

They're an atheist group, they should not have to hide that fact when they've clearly stated that part of their agenda is to show that atheists are good people, too.

Why do they have to show that in this specific Christian organization? There are plenty of other ways to give, and they admit that other faith-based organizations have accepted their help in the past.

[Brian37]

Reading further, there's a dispute about whether the atheist group demanded to wear their logo:
http://www.wspa.com/story/23773827/repor...lunteer-at

Landrum told 7 On Your Side, the Upstate Atheists were adamant about wearing their group's t-shirts and that the message goes against what the organization stands for in the bi-laws. Landrum says the group would be welcomed any day - as long as they weren't wearing the t-shirts with the atheist message.

"All I want to say is that, don't try to hurt this ministry, because they want to be here 1 day, we operate 365 days a year, so any negative publicity will only hurt this ministry," Landrum said of the backlash of the situation. She says she's received angry phone calls and facebook messages.

Brannon says the group was open to not wearing the t-shirts during the volunteering, and that the hateful comments aren't coming from its members.

---

And some more:
http://www.wyff4.com/news/local-news/spa...index.html

Kyle Cusick, a member of Upstate Atheists, posted a comment on a GoUpstate story about the conflict saying, "I was hoping we'd not only be able to volunteer at the soup kitchen, but also to wear our Upstate Atheists shirts. Not because we are trying to 'convert' people to atheism, but because we want people to understand that atheists are not evil people …

"If we could go to places like the Soup Kitchen, volunteer our time and be openly atheist, then the world would start to understand that we can be good people. We're not trying to get you to be an atheist. We just want you to be OK with us being atheist."

But also offered not to wear anything to advertise. They do think atheists are evil otherwise they wouldn't have turned them down at all.

[freedomfromforum]

Still thinking out loud... If I see an organization that I disagree with doing work that I agree needs to be done, why would I give more credence to our differing 'beliefs' than to our respective similarities and agreements? This goes both ways.

[pineapplebunnybounce]

John V,
They offered not to wear their t-shirts, at which point they're no longer even promoting their group, so it is discrimination.

Also, are you saying that it's ok to discriminate on religious grounds just because you're a religious organization? I would understand if they said, no you can't promote your group here, but that's not what they said, they're rejecting people just because they're not christians.

[John V]

John V,
They offered not to wear their t-shirts, at which point they're no longer even promoting their group, so it is discrimination.

It's disputed whether they offered that. The one member's comment to a news article lends support to the kitchen's claim that they didn't.

Also, are you saying that it's ok to discriminate on religious grounds just because you're a religious organization?

Yes. Christian groups should be allowed to limit themselves to Christians, and atheist groups should be allowed to limit themselves to atheists, and so on. Note that this isn't an employment issue, and the kitchen's site says it feeds anyone who comes, with no religious requirements.

In short, the atheists got their feelings hurt, and are making a stink about it.

I would understand if they said, no you can't promote your group here, but that's not what they said,

Again, we don't know that.

they're rejecting people just because they're not christians.

Yes, as they're a Christian organization. Duh.

[Tonus]

[Atheist Group President]Brannon said the group has worked with Christian nonprofits, such as Habitat for Humanity, in the past.

"We can all work together to achieve something positive regardless of religion or lack thereof," she said. "We've raised money for March of Dimes, worked with the Generous Garden Project, done community park clean ups, adopted a highway, and sponsored local foster children for Christmas."

Looks like they were turned away by the person who manages the soup kitchen, and decided to hold a separate charity drive. Without more than the he-said, she-said nature of the articles it just seems like a personal thing that didn't get in the way of people providing charity (I do not see where the soup kitchen was reporting a lack of volunteers, which means they have no shortage of Christians showing up to help). It's sad on the one hand that what may be a personal issue keeps the groups from joining to help, but they seem capable of working separately to help those in need.

Maybe they can open a competing soup kitchen! The homeless and hungry would be all too happily running back-and-forth. "Hey Rick! The atheists are offering extra bread with the soup!" "But Jack, the Christians have DUMPLINGS!!!"