Americans have medical debt rather than universal healthcare because religious groups support the GOP. Churches don’t pay taxes and push their agenda. It’s the fucking LEAST they can do to help sick poor people!

Maybe they should take over the running of the country

Any organization that does actual charity such as this, no strings attached, should be tax exempt for those kinds of activities. Even if they're a church.

Any member-benefit activities should be taxed. Even if they're a church.

There are people who help in this way who aren't religious - or at least don't do it under the heading of religion and the cover of the tax shelter of a religious shelter.

I received help with breast cancer care from an agency set up by people who wanted to help.

There are people who build meals on their own and bring it to the displaced.

People who quietly donate to medical bills.

I don't like seeing done under the header of religion it confuses what should be something that the government looks out for. (And that we all look out for as human beings).

Nice that they do it. But there just aren't that many religions doing it now.

Also there are Atheists groups doing it as well. Wonder if they get a religious waver on taxes too?

Good for them.

It just goes to show that some people are so naturally good that even religion can't turn them into complete jerks. Seriously, people take what they already want from their religion - atheism is just accepting responsibility for ourselves and not projecting it onto some supernatural entity.

It is a strange dilemma - were there some good people that supported the Confederate States in our Civil War - yet their society was based on racist suppression and slavery - was Robert E. Lee a war hero or a traitor... are some good people also devout Catholics that supported orphanages for destitute street urchins that were abused by pedophile priests? ...were some good people also active in the German Nazi Party and never took part in the Final Solution but looked the other way? Where do we draw the line when supporting a corrupt institution - or their principals that allow harm to innocent and vulnerable populations? We have to speak out for injustice wherever it is - remaining silent - or worse - looking the other way only supports the oppressors - never the oppressed. True charity is a good ideal - but that is not enough - you need to actively denounce corruption from within your own concept of God and Religion that has allowed and even institutionalized such historical activity as witch burning, the inquisition, pedophilia, religious racism, homophobia, genital mutilation, child marriage, fraudulent evangelists, and the list goes on...

I love this post. The problem is always generalization. The devil is always in the details. (Forgive this particularcliche.) True that much harm is done by the Christian community, but then again, much good is also done. What I object to is the perversion of things that profess to do good. That goes for various religions, Big Pharma, Western medicine, politics....all life.

This is why I do not categorically hate religion or religious people. Quite frankly, I do not understand why some people seem to.

There is a Muslim-owned grocery in my city that routinely lets struggling people run tabs, and often forgives part, or even all, of their debt if someone is struggling financially. And they do it without fanfare because that is part of their belief system.

One of our local Catholic churches also runs a soup kitchen and clothing bank, and has been feeding and clothing people for more than a century in my city. More than I have seen any other charity or government agency do for anyone. And they do it out of love, with humility.

A local presbyterian church has opened its doors (and arms) to LGBTQ people, giving them a place of love and acceptance, without any judgment.

I could go on with many more examples of the religious doing wonderful things, just right here in my city alone. Which makes it very difficult for me to be one of those people who categorically despises religion and the religious. I say "rock on"! To each their own, as long as they do no harm - and especially if they are doing good things.

Yeah not all are bad just a minority

The problem as I see it is the cult mentality, the us-them thinking that has taken over. About all my friends are Christian and I believe that most non-believers are like me in that they don't give a damn what people believe as long as that belief is not shoved down my throat or unless that belief tries to legislate what rights my family has. I criticize religious people when they make outlandish and immoral statements that are raciest, sexist, homophobic or just cruel. I say that the world would be better without religion. That doesn't mean that I propose taking someone's right to believe nonsense away. People should do good things because it's the right thing to do and not because they get brownie points from a god or a religion. If a religion is doing work that is beneficial to others of course they should be recognized for that as should anyone else doing the same.

Now that’s a baby to keep!

These great churches created homelessness, hunger and most of today's problems. Without churches humankind would be thousands of years ahead, free, traveling the galaxy and living forever.

so why can't the people who are in the church do all of this good stuff unless they're in a church? is church the only way to organize charity?

i'm not knocking what they're doing. i just saying one doesn't need religion to do it.

(and of course they support missionaries! missionaries are helping them exist!)

g

It is easy to criticize who is doing, it is difficult to act. Regardless of the intent of the action, I see only the charity of those who need it. Religion has its bad side, but there are some good things. And charity is still something I admire.
  After all we are all human beings.

To believe to not to believe - IMHO it takes neither to do good works for our fellow humans and animals on the planet.
The need to cross the street to attempt to force their belief on me or others is the issue. Allowing their religion to be co-opted by government is a problem. Failure to police your bad actors is a problem. Going to funerals and condemning the desist for their life choices is a problem.
Every 'tribe' seems to have their extremes, be religious or political and now some religious choose to be both.
Great that many in Illinois received aid for expenses most people in advanced countries do not have to worry about.
Now that churches can preach from the pulpit on who to vote for how about they stop promoting a liar, adulterer and possible traitor.
I agree some should not be thrown out with the bath water.

There are a lot of good people doing good things like this in churches. I agree with you.