Soup kitchen refuses atheists.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by jerseygal4u

I wonder what would happen if a homeless atheist showed up at the Christian soup kitchen?
Do they make them pray?

I'm just asking,I'm not taking sides.

Yes, often they do require praying or listening to them proselytize - one of the reasons I've heard homeless people around here say they won't visit certain shelters or food banks.

This is why I always shake my head when people (mostly conservatives) claim private charities and religious groups should be the only ones handling welfare, food for the poor, etc. If they can turn away Atheist HELPERS for being non-Christian, who knows what would happen to non-Christian people in need? While I'm not generally a fan of "big government," at least government-subsidized welfare/assistance cannot discriminate in this manner.

P.S. I've been involved with a number of Jewish charities in my life, and not once have I witnessed them turning away volunteers for being non-Jewish. I'm more of an Atheist myself, in fact.

[banjomike]

Soup kitchens have handed out a big dish of Jesus on the side as long as there have been soup kitchens.

Sleeping in a warm, safe dry place almost always comes with a sermon, too. The poorest of the poor have always been easy pickings for Christians who offer only conditional succor. "Non-christian? No soup for you!"

[michiganmoon]

Originally Posted by Clintone

The journalists covered the story. They definitely want more news blame them. Why assume the atheists are seeking attention? What's with all these conspiracy theories?

Huh?

I clearly didn't say they were seeking attention. I said they wanted conflict. Why show up to a Christian charity wearing shirts explaining why there is no God - get sent away and then come back for a 2nd time.

What purpose does that solve other than trying to shut down the Christian message of the charity?

[michiganmoon]

Originally Posted by redfish1

It would be the same story, as Muslims are just as stupid as Christians

I don't think it would be the same story. Liberals would be torn on which group to defend. I've seen liberals defend Muslim prayer breaks in a big city school (Dearborn, MI) but attack Wednesday Mass for Catholics in a small town of a couple hundred in the wilderness of MI.