*sighs*
It's not everyday that the American Cancer Society upsets me. Like almost all people, I am anti-cancer. It's not easy to find someone who likes cancer. It's kind of a given that I dislike cancer a whole lot. But from this article, it looks like the American Cancer Society values not being too publicly seen as taking money from atheists more than it values getting money to help against cancer.
I really think most people with cancer would like help, both immediate for their treatment and investment in cancer research for long-term hope of improving humanity's ability to treat or prevent cancer. I really think most people aren't too fussy about where that money comes from, other than wanting it ethically obtained (that is, not having gangs of thugs going around randomly robbing people and then giving the money to cancer research, which while an interesting scenario, could create a less good overall society since gangs of thugs robbing people is generally a negative thing for societies).
I am reminded of a story my mother tells about when her mother was getting medical treatment. One organization would not help, but a church did. My family is not Christian - never has been. And she did specifically mention that neither she nor her mother was Christian, when the offer of help came, but the priest stated that helping people was what he believed the right thing to do was, and it didn't matter the religion of the person who was helped. I feel that is a very good sentiment, and is representative of Christianity when it tends to come across as a positive thing that encourages good action - Christianity at its best, and very in-line with many teachings in the Bible. And my mother didn't really care about the religious beliefs of people willing to help, so much as getting medical help for her mother. That, to me, makes sense. These were people being helpful and decent, regardless of a particular difference in belief that wasn't directly relevant to the issue at hand. It's not like they required a conversion or Christian prayers or anything in order for her to get medical treatment. And it's not like the atheist group was asking anyone who has cancer to give up their beliefs or to stop praying. The difference in religious beliefs between atheists and some people with cancer (since some people with cancer are atheists, but cancer is pretty indiscriminate, and I expect includes people of countless different faiths or lack thereof) is simply not relevant to the issue of can there be help on this issue. And I think it's really sad that people can't set aside religious issues when they aren't relevant to work together for an issue that so clearly is simply pro-humanity. Can't we all agree that we hate cancer and are in this together regardless of our religious beliefs? If we can't unite to be against cancer, it just seems so very disappointing. There are very few issues as clear-cut as human beings dislike cancer and working to treat, cure, or prevent it is a thing that human beings should try to do.
Edited to add: Apparently the ACS has responded. They rejected the offer, because they were worried that accepting it would cost them too much from other donors. Because apparently publicly accepting money from atheists would cause other people to not want to give them money to fight against cancer, because having an organization that doesn't publicly get money from atheists is more important to many people than working against cancer - or so the ACS thinks. Whether they are right or wrong, it makes me sad for humanity that people can be that bigoted and petty and can't come together against cancer. This is just so not a controversial issue. There are issues one can have about the best division of funding to help against medical problems or the best methods of being anti-cancer, but if you otherwise wanted to help the ACS, why would you turn away because you have different beliefs than some of the people who were part of a fundraising program for their organization? I suppose a common enemy just isn't a sufficiently unifying force.
I really think most people with cancer would like help, both immediate for their treatment and investment in cancer research for long-term hope of improving humanity's ability to treat or prevent cancer. I really think most people aren't too fussy about where that money comes from, other than wanting it ethically obtained (that is, not having gangs of thugs going around randomly robbing people and then giving the money to cancer research, which while an interesting scenario, could create a less good overall society since gangs of thugs robbing people is generally a negative thing for societies).
I am reminded of a story my mother tells about when her mother was getting medical treatment. One organization would not help, but a church did. My family is not Christian - never has been. And she did specifically mention that neither she nor her mother was Christian, when the offer of help came, but the priest stated that helping people was what he believed the right thing to do was, and it didn't matter the religion of the person who was helped. I feel that is a very good sentiment, and is representative of Christianity when it tends to come across as a positive thing that encourages good action - Christianity at its best, and very in-line with many teachings in the Bible. And my mother didn't really care about the religious beliefs of people willing to help, so much as getting medical help for her mother. That, to me, makes sense. These were people being helpful and decent, regardless of a particular difference in belief that wasn't directly relevant to the issue at hand. It's not like they required a conversion or Christian prayers or anything in order for her to get medical treatment. And it's not like the atheist group was asking anyone who has cancer to give up their beliefs or to stop praying. The difference in religious beliefs between atheists and some people with cancer (since some people with cancer are atheists, but cancer is pretty indiscriminate, and I expect includes people of countless different faiths or lack thereof) is simply not relevant to the issue of can there be help on this issue. And I think it's really sad that people can't set aside religious issues when they aren't relevant to work together for an issue that so clearly is simply pro-humanity. Can't we all agree that we hate cancer and are in this together regardless of our religious beliefs? If we can't unite to be against cancer, it just seems so very disappointing. There are very few issues as clear-cut as human beings dislike cancer and working to treat, cure, or prevent it is a thing that human beings should try to do.
Edited to add: Apparently the ACS has responded. They rejected the offer, because they were worried that accepting it would cost them too much from other donors. Because apparently publicly accepting money from atheists would cause other people to not want to give them money to fight against cancer, because having an organization that doesn't publicly get money from atheists is more important to many people than working against cancer - or so the ACS thinks. Whether they are right or wrong, it makes me sad for humanity that people can be that bigoted and petty and can't come together against cancer. This is just so not a controversial issue. There are issues one can have about the best division of funding to help against medical problems or the best methods of being anti-cancer, but if you otherwise wanted to help the ACS, why would you turn away because you have different beliefs than some of the people who were part of a fundraising program for their organization? I suppose a common enemy just isn't a sufficiently unifying force.