The best investment in difficult times is to help those that are less fortunate. The
investment goes into the bank of the eternal. All the other banks stop at the wall.
(Some of you may not understand this because it hasn't been scientifically proven)
Do you mean something like sponsoring an african child elbeau? ,,, ie: Childfund?
... sets me back a bit over $11 per week >> helps provide permanent potable water & schooling .... priceless.
Yeah, I was thinking about investments and all that stuff earlier.
If I don't sell all my air rangers, I might stick the leftovers in a brotherhood bin. Hopefully some florist/party shop finds it in their heart to leave a few helium canisters in there also.
Happy recession everyone.
Geez I really struggle with charity, I absolutely hate that the CEO's of these charities draw hundreds of thousands of dollars in salary whilst a few cents of every dollar donated ends up where it should be.
But on the other hand if you don't have the right corporate structure then the charity goes arse up anyway. Maybe directorship of charities should be limited to a year or so, at a capped salary of 100k or something. Then that position becomes an act of actual charity rather than a career.
Such a difficult situation and I'm buggered if I know the answer.
^^^What about a charity that does not pay staff, does not pay any fees, where 100% of all donations go to the intended recipients???
Golder Trust
Yeah Elbeau, Why the Hell(oops!) would Gody be vaguely interested in YOUR little world? Aren't there more important things he /she would be more interested in..... golf for example? or defeating the prince of darkness, Sato?
That s it Guys. I really don't think debating God/Atheism etc achieves much. I just wanted to suggest that helping others is a very handy way (from my experience) of helping yourself. Additionally my belief informs me that as well as helping others (and yourself) you get a pat on the head from the Boss later as well. Win Win
Pascals wager is worth a look about this subject
1 "God is, or He is not"
2 A Game is being played... where heads or tails will turn up.
3 According to reason, you can defend neither of the propositions.
4 You must wager. It is not optional.
5 Let us weigh the gain and the loss in wagering that God is. Let us estimate these two chances. If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing.
Wager, then, without hesitation that He is. (...) There is here an infinity of an infinitely happy life to gain, a chance of gain against a finite number of chances of loss, and what you stake is finite. And so our proposition is of infinite force, when there is the finite to stake in a game where there are equal risks of gain and of loss, and the infinite to gain.
I think Thomas Aquinas had a similar argument. Trouble is, elbau, it's nothing but wordplay. Pascal could say he loses nothing and gains everything by assuming the existence of god. I could say I gain nothing and lose everything by doing the same. I'd be just as correct.
Sorry I couldn't help it. No more. Nothing really to be gained for either of us debating the issue. Time alone will tell. See you in the next world.... Maybe
Perhaps I should have said I struggle with charities rather than charity.
Was discussing this with my wife last night, when Lise was eight she saved up $10 and donated it to the Blind Association. Ever since she has received a monthly letter from them, alms open.
This is my problem with charities the 10 bucks that Lise originally donated has been consumed many times over with postage, admin fees etc etc.
Elbeau the Big Issue costs money to print and is full of drivel penned by self righteous pratts who feel they have to force their views down others throats. Not surprised you dig it. Your mate in the vid has partially got the idea though, if you see some poor bugger on the streets with three socks and no shoes, help him out. Take your shoes off and go "here ya go mate" or as Flysurfer says leave 'em at the bus stop.
Charity is about helping someone out, not patting yourself on the back and saying "Hey God look at me"
are just like you said. Raising money so that they can use that money to raise more money. But if you are wanting to help you can. Many charities do an amazing job on less. Many that i am involved with pay little to no money to staff. In Fact there is a Charity register that many are tested by to show just how much money they put back or spend on campaigns.
You should donate to the Roman Catholic Church, they are great charity and do Gods work, they are also the worlds biggest corporation, and instead of feeling good about yourself you get to whip yourself for not giving more, I think this is what the OP is really looking for, because real charity is not about making yourself feel good about helping others, its about genuinely giving them a hand to be on your own level and strive beyond that.
When they do achieve brilliance beyond your own standing you can then compete with them and conquer and divide, destroy and consume.
I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods (zeus, shiva, to name 2 of 10,000 odd who have been worshipped by humans), you will understand why I dismiss yours.
The biggest charity in terms of turn over is the Salvation army. The CEO of the salvation army gets $13000. This is Salvos america.
The Salvation army in Australia is the same. They get a pittance compared to the other commercial charities and they will always be there no matter what the issue is to comfort ,support and in a quiet non religous way (more by the example of their behaviour) guide people through the issues they face.
If I am giving to people I tend to give to them.
Otherwise I give to Sea Shephard.
I am very happy to see my charity dollar at work ramming the shizen out of a Japanese whaler.
I got brung up propa as a salvo, and am pretty proud of what the crew do.
Last I heard, 97 cents in the dollar donated to the Salvos, lands on the street.
the missing 3 cents is taken up with admin costs including payroll and complying with govt. red tape.
I understood that even more would make it to the streets if the red tape could be reduced, but that would probably put public servants out of work- and then the Salvos would be looking after them too....
stephen
