Hello All

[Kai]

Hi all,

My name is Kai and I have been an Atheist my whole life.

However, in my early teens I began to become influenced by religious friends who had begun to impress upon me that "people who don't believe in God are not good people."

My mother responded by inviting some missionaries to talk with me about their Church and beliefs.
It was the best thing that she could have ever done, as I was utterly confused by their insistence that a lack of evidence coupled with blind faith is a virtue. I have studied maths and physics ever since.

Recently the AFA caught my attention as I was looking for a network of active Atheists in my country, further spurred on by recent reports in my local paper of "God Squad's" hitting the streets.

http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/god-squad-on-mission-to-calm-street-aggro/

I worry about programs such as this being abused as recruitment tools by the church, and feel dubious that any other political or non-profit organisation would be granted the same opportunities.

Does anyone have any advise for complaining about this, or know of any efforts to organize against it? Anyhow glad to be on board :o

Kai

[wolty]

Howdy Kai. Glad for you to be here.
Don't know about the advice thingy. Have to think about it for a bit.
I am sure others here will be able to help.

[davo]

Gudday Kai,

This kinda thing is all too common, and they like to advertise it for god brownie points. Not sure if there is much you can do about it .. except help groups that are secular.

Community policing has been occuring in many aboriginal communities for a while now, you also have Crime Stoppers, Bush Watch, Neighbourhood Watch, Officer Next Door Program, Victim Victimisation Program etc etc. Programs in Melbourne, Sydney etc doing similar stuff such as free food kitchens (eg:food not bombs, which have been on the street since the mid-90's) creating safe spaces with food etc for homeless and passersby alike.

[robertkd]

Hi all,

My name is Kai and I have been an Atheist my whole life.

However, in my early teens I began to become influenced by religious friends who had begun to impress upon me that "people who don't believe in God are not good people."

My mother responded by inviting some missionaries to talk with me about their Church and beliefs.
It was the best thing that she could have ever done, as I was utterly confused by their insistence that a lack of evidence coupled with blind faith is a virtue. I have studied maths and physics ever since.

Recently the AFA caught my attention as I was looking for a network of active Atheists in my country, further spurred on by recent reports in my local paper of "God Squad's" hitting the streets.

http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/god-squad-on-mission-to-calm-street-aggro/

I worry about programs such as this being abused as recruitment tools by the church, and feel dubious that any other political or non-profit organisation would be granted the same opportunities.

Does anyone have any advise for complaining about this, or know of any efforts to organize against it? Anyhow glad to be on board :o

Kai

Welcome Kai,

I take it your parents are religious, for them they would find it difficult and we are concerned that religious bodies have such influence.

For you silly as it may sound Kids Help Line even if it's just to find out what your rights are. Atheists like is lamb's and christians cover all the gambit of humanity that is there are good and bad. Generally Atheists have morals and are generally good citizens.

Remember if you need a reality check just want ot unload your problems the forum is here just ask. ;)

[DavidB]

There is a need for assistance amongst our most vulnerable and needy citizenry. All kinds of help is required in order to give people dignity and aid. But this assistance should be given to the citizenry by our governments: our governments should not abrogate their responsibility by 'farming' out necessary aid packages (night pastors indeed :mad:, sheltering the homeless, feeding the hungry, job search, family planning, adoption agencies, education in the shape of faith-based schools :mad:, and etc) for religious organizations to deliver. It is this kind of activity that 'warms' folk toward religion and they begin to see religion as a force of good (when no one else seems to care??).

It is certainly easier to just let the faithful get on with it and fill the need for aid and assistance, than it is to provide these services economically by government. It's all about votes. The more a government seems to be able to do with less money will always get the votes. It is silent the amount of tax-payer dollars goes in supporting these religious institutions that provide these services.

Religion gets away with this because government neglect their responsibilities and non-religious charities aren't all that thick on the ground at the grass roots level.

What's the answer?