Pharyngula

Posted by: Glen Davidson | December 1, 2009 11:22 AM

I don't know, I think that charitable giving for malaria prevention, sanitation, and preventing malnutrition, has some merit.

Direct all such giving to atheists? Come on.

Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/mxaa3p

Posted by: thoughtspiral | December 1, 2009 11:40 AM

Cue the "science is just another RELIGION!" trolls in 3... 2... 1...

Posted by: eryoshimura | December 1, 2009 11:47 AM

I'll donate! But where were the women in that video? :(

Posted by: Alessa Mendes | December 1, 2009 11:52 AM

If you read Richard Dawkins' letter, you'll see there's actually a lot of benefit to donating. You also receive a free DVD or book (depending on how much you donate). It's a worthy cause dedicating to science education, and a lot more.

I've donated and spread the word through my own blog.

Posted by: Dr. Bob | December 1, 2009 11:56 AM

Hi, PZ,

Hearing a news item about a controversy over putting religious symbols on a courthouse grounds, I began to wonder: What symbol should atheists put up in such places where "all faiths" are allowed to put their symbols? Most people wouldn't recognize the red A that's used on websites. How about a bearded guy with a red circle and slash? Maybe you could run a contest to come up with the best idea....

Posted by: Andy | December 1, 2009 12:02 PM

If you're looking for a non-religious charity making a big difference, I would strongly recommend the Ankizy Fund. Founded by a group of paleontologists at Stony Brook University, this organization has built schools, provided dental clinics and education, and much more in remote areas of Madagascar.

Posted by: Charles | December 1, 2009 12:23 PM

Or Médecins Sans Frontières

Posted by: Bill Dauphin, OM | December 1, 2009 12:28 PM

paleodave (@9):

There are plenty of charities who don't have religion as one of their core values.

Indeed. One that I've recently gotten interested in is Heifer International, which promotes nutrition and economic development by providing livestock to the Third World poor as part of a larger program to promote sustainable self-reliance. It was founded by a person who began in church-based relief services, but the current organization has no religious affiliation and no mission to promote any religious doctrine.

To do its work, the organization must necessarily respect the diversity of faiths in the communities it serves, but the only mention of spirituality in its mission statement or governing "Cornerstone" principles is this fairly secular definition of spirituality (offered as just one of the 12 Cornerstones):

"Spirituality is expressed in common values, common beliefs about the value and meaning of all life, a sense of connectedness to the earth and a shared vision of the future. Heifer International works with people of all beliefs in our efforts to overcome poverty and hunger.'

Works for me.

Posted by: Ring Tailed Lemurian | December 1, 2009 12:44 PM

#2, 5, 9, 12
My family's charity is the (non-religious) SOS Children's Villages charity. It has been (unsucessfully) nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 15 times. They care for over 78,000 orphans and abandoned children around the world.
They don't advertise, which is why I'm mentioning them here, and they use voluntary workers (in donor countries). Every cent raised goes to their charitable work. You can donate or sponsor (which really means just pledging a regular donation, as they, unlike other sponsorship charities, discourage contact between foreign sponsors and "their" orphans).
http://www.soschildrensvillages.org.uk/sos-childrens-charity

Posted by: katbend | December 1, 2009 12:55 PM

lots of really great quotes in this video. great promotional video of a very important organization. the one thing that the RDFRS is missing is some kind of effort to spread scientific fact books for something throughout the world in various languages. it sounds sickeningly evangelistic but actually if the whole world really understood that we are a speck on a pale blue dot in a vast universe and understood how life and evolution works humanity could find more happiness and less suffering. imo.

Posted by: Steven Mading | December 1, 2009 1:24 PM

@Bill Dauphin, #14:

Glen D (@2):

Does your charitable giving amount to such a lofty sum that there are genuinely not enough explicitly secular charitable causes to soak it all up?

I think you missed the point of Glen's post. Glen was objecting to PZ's use of the word "all" in this statement (boldface emphasis mine): "what better way to treat this traditionally religious season than to use it as an excuse to direct all your charitable giving to a bunch of atheists promoting science and reason?"

If "all" had been changed to "some" I don't think Glen would have had the same objection.

Posted by: madbull | December 1, 2009 2:27 PM

I'd donate If I had the money. Jus a fkkin student.. Donations coming in soon I promise.
Right now I am high on beer, all I know is that I love Dawkins and PZ so much. I no longer blv tht throwing food stuff into a fire would please a half elephant half man 'God' called Ganesha
Yeah I used to be a Hindu and believed a version of that not so long ago.. and I'm not proud :x.. dont mock me plz.
Now i enjoy social drinking , sex, economics and science with no feelings of guilt abt the elephant-man freak being displeased. \m/
I just cant bring myself to desecrate hindu religious symbols though, I know there's nothing sacred about that kooky stuff and I tried my best to just stamp on a pic of the elephant God. I just cant bring myself to do it. Is it jus waning signs of years of indoctrination? I'll get over it right?
Please forgive the rants of a high, happy and aware Indian atheist.

Posted by: lesbianjesus | December 1, 2009 3:55 PM

Atheism as a belief is great, I'd be glad to talk to you about it.

Atheism as a movement seems to not understand irony, as this "Movement" becomes bigger and bigger it more and more resembles a church or a cult.

Now they are asking us to Tithe ?

Posted by: Aratina Cage | December 1, 2009 4:05 PM

That's dissappointing. I came for the lesbianjesus and all I got was a troll. :(

Posted by: Ted | December 1, 2009 4:47 PM

Celebrate WHAT by GIVING?
PZ have you become a closet Christian?

Posted by: Red-Handed | December 1, 2009 4:53 PM

The constitution needs a new amendment to assure the separation of Science and State.

http://www.climate-gate.org/

Posted by: Helena Handbag | December 1, 2009 5:45 PM

I'm in for $100, as a gift for our oldest child (physicist-in-training) who is toying with starting a Secular Students' group at his college. Will put the receipt in a card with the 2 DVDs tucked under the tree--he'll love it. Seems only fair--we gave his younger brother The God Delusion in his Easter basket (we celebrate all the chocolate-based holidays).

He may read this comment (hi Nate!), but he won't know which 2 DVDs are coming, so it's all good.

Posted by: fpqc | December 1, 2009 6:06 PM

PZ, your hair game is fucked up. =).

Posted by: lesbianjesus | December 1, 2009 6:57 PM

I apologize if my expression of my belief about donating to RDF seemed trollish.

I will try to be less "Off the cuff" next time I express such opinions.

Thanks

Posted by: Cosmicgarden | December 1, 2009 11:42 PM

Or you could always help raise funds for the Missoula Montana atheist billboard-to-be by purchasing these lovely gifts for yourself or your friend. For the girl who forgot to save her hymen for jesus: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuhlwlf/sets/72157622916308734/

Posted by: tim | December 2, 2009 2:54 AM

Whatever you do, don't donate to the starvation, err... i mean salvation army. those pricks are asking for id and social security cards from people they give donations to in order to make sure they dont give things to 'illegal immigrants'.

Posted by: Jadehawk, OM | December 2, 2009 3:21 AM

speaking of charities and donations...

has anybody here heard of mercy corps? from what I've superficially gathered about them, they're great (apparently secular, supporting local work rather than imposing one-size-fits-all solutions, good ratings at charity finder, etc); but I'm paranoid (and broke, so have to choose charities super-carefully) and would really like to know if anyone has experience with or better knowledge of them.

Posted by: Biology Blogger | December 2, 2009 7:56 PM

Richard, sorry then. There has been a lot of impersonators on this blog, like the fake Walton. Just wanted to make sure.

Thanks.

Posted by: NC | December 6, 2009 6:48 PM

btw, that was addressing @16