I've been wondering...

[The Singular Enigma]

Despite what some might think, there is a downside to atheism, and that is a community of people you can depend on if, say, you need a place to stay for a while. One could go door-to-door asking people if they are atheist, but that makes us no better than the Mormons.

What I mean to say is, if you're catholic and down on your luck/jesus juice, you can go to a church, ask around, and find someone willing to help you out, etc. while Atheists are somewhat more resource-limited because we lack a community in that sense.  

[LimeIzMyFaveColor]

because we don't need a community to help us
we can do it be ourselves wink

but i know what you mean
so maybe an atheist "church" should be built for nonreligious folk  

[Dathu]

Well, that can be a bit tricky in my opinion. One of the reasons Theists of the same ilk are so willing to help each other is that they know that they are all trying to follow the line of morals.

With Atheists, at least from my own experiences, there really is no moral norm. There is a majority where politics and ethics are concerned, but as I've mentioned before, I've met and know Atheists that cover the whole spectrum from demons to angels, liberals to conservatives, porn to Disney.

To me, someone asking for help because we're both Atheist, is really no different than any random stranger. Yes we have that one idea in common, no god, but after that their life philosophies and mine could be miles apart.

I think Lime made a good point. As Atheists maybe it would be a good idea to put that awesome thinking that gave us the strength to abandon the shackles of religion into remaining both intellectually and financially strong.

Besides, unless you've been ostracized or unfortunate, you've always got your family, right?  

[The Singular Enigma]

What if all your family hates you for abandoning Catholicism? The point is, every faith or lack thereof has people down on their luck, and it seems a lot easier to recover from a bad time with the more organized religions.

Just because we don't believe in a god doesn't mean we can't have a community. Maybe a Church of Nothing? Or Not Another Church?

It just seems the other religions have the allure of community, and we could grow with even a small sense of that outside the internet  

[Identity Undefinable]

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• ● •

I have a story to tell about this actually.

A Wiccan friend of mine lied when down on his luck. He went with a friend to the church and asked their pastor to make an announcement that her friend was to shy to come out and ask if they could stay at someones house for a few weeks, until they had saved up enough money to move. Someone came forward and my friend, being the wonderful actor he is tolerated going to church with that couple twice a week for two months.

I guess, even though it's wrong, lying could get you by.

I, thankfully, have always had accepting people, (a simple I just don't believe in it will do) and I've never been in a rut.

• ● •

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Ύσϑ Ӎϑst Ģσ Ŧhrσϑgh Ŧhϵ Ῥαɨn.♥✘&&&&

 

[D i v i n i t y]

I can sort of see what you mean Lol. Hopefully you have friends xP
If you don't then yeah I guess you could always lie. I mean Christians are more accepting toward each other probably since they're like "we both worship the ultimate God" and so that's a big thing in common that really matters to them; they're going to be spending eternity together one day in heaven!
For us, we see another atheist as another rational person.. So don't believe in God.. Nice, me either... and that's about it. I mean I'm not saying we're all mean but I don't think the thing we have in common is as much of a big deal in our life as for the Christians.  

[Raticiel]

I think helping someone comes first and your religious views have nothing to do it. I never saw a situation when someone refused helping a person with a problem because that person is, for example, not a declared catholic. Wow, I just spotted a bright side of my nation biggrin even if you, for example, don't go to the church, and you're on the mouths of all neighbours, you can still ask for help. Religion doesn't really matter, what matters is what kind of person you're asking.  

[B1g_crunch]

Why not just ask family and friends for help?