to think 'Christian Aid' is a religious charity?

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

A woman came to my house this evening to collect a Christian aid envelope that had been posted through our letterbox last week. I looked for it but I think it had gone to the recycling bin and I had no intention of giving any money as

1. I do not give to religious charities I prefer secular.
   
   
2. I do not like people coming to my house to ask for money - no matter the ccause - I like to choose when and how to make my donations.
   
   I told the woman this and she made a very sour face and said 'well we are not a religious charity' as I bade her a firm goodnight and shut the door.
   
   I do appreciate that Christian aid are doing there best to help people all over the world in very difficult situations and not just evanglalising to the poor. But they are still imo a religious charity - so I prefer not to donate to them - or Sally Army etc. There are plenty of good works being done by other charities without religious affiliations so I do not have to.

[scurryfunge]

Yup

[valiumlatte]

Well isn't that just fabulous for you? Wow - that is seriously, like, you know, out there.

[messymammy]

it's all in the name really isn't it!? silly woman :o

[Crevix]

why are you surprised that Christian aid is a Christian charity?

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

So CA isn't a religious charity scurry? Best change its name then

[meditrina]

It is a religious charity, but much of the work it does is secular and it is not a particularly proselytising body. And it does a lot of disasters relief work too.

But there are lots of other charities involved in these areas, and I'm sure it won't be hard to find ones you prefer.

[RitaBix]

No shit Sherlock

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

I am not surprised Crevix but apparently there volunteer was. BTW I give not give the poor woman my full sermon {ahem} on why I didn't want to give her any money - just said 'sorry I do not give to religious charities' and good night.

[Shallishanti]

Maybe she meant that they do not evangalise or restrict their activities on religious grounds, as far as I know they are inspired/motivated by their beliefs, but I'm pretty sure they don't impose them on others

YANBU to decline to give them money though, but it's harmless enough to knock at your door, isn't it?

[Ariesgirl]

I think YABU.

Christian Aid is a religious charity admittedly but, because charity and giving and forgiving and being non-judegmental are some of the central beliefs of Christianity, and they certainly practise what they preach, I think they are worth giving to. And this is coming from someone who really isn't religious. The same with the Salvation Army - they are respected by all sorts of people because they are out there doing the work on the street and practising what they preach. They don't force their religion down people's throats - they get out there are look after people who need it. And I have confidence that the money they raise is going where it's needed rather than lining the pockets of a dictator government.

Which humanitarian charities do you choose to give to instead? Are you sure it wasn't just this individual woman who wound you up rather than the charity itself?

[Crevix]

how would she be surprised? silly bint

[millie30]

Maybe you live near me OP. I was in the bath this evening with my toddler and someone was banging on my door. They kept knocking for ages so I rushed out of the bath, got my DS out, wrapped towels around us, ran downstairs where they were still banging loudly and it was a bloody Christian Aid collector at the door! Surely if they don't get an answer right away they shouldn't just keep banging for 5 minutes! Grrrr!!

[Northernlurker]

So what secular charity are you going to donate to instead?

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

there! Their! sorry typing in the dark - and yes I happily donate time and money to other good causes - I think I just got a bit miffed that shge was trying to argue with me on my dorstep about my decision.

[clementinebelle]

YABU. Christian Aid is an amazing charity. They say on their website that although the reason they carry out their work is rooted in the Christian faith, they offer aid to people of every faith and none, without conditions. They do some really great work and I have supported them for years.

I can't understand why the fact that they are motivated by their Christian faith would stop people from wanting to support their work!

They collect millions every year during CA Week which is put towards ending poverty and hunger in the developing world. I don't think it's such an imposition really that they knock on your door once a year to ask for money for starving people.

[scurryfunge]

It was an attempt at sarcasm bigmouth

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

Shelter, comic relief, Greenpeace, I volunteer in my community and I am waiting to get a place helping with my local CAB but I prefer to donate on a cause by cause basis.

[Animation]

"I think I just got a bit miffed that she was trying to argue with me on my doorstep about my decision."

Yes, that would piss me off as well.

They shouldn't be knocking on doors.

[Ariesgirl]

ShelterBOX is an amazing charity if you are ever looking for a useful place to send some spare cash www.shelterbox.org

The fact that they put in crayons and paper and other toys into the boxes for the children always makes me well up.

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

Doh!

I have no doubt they do good works - do I have to donate? Nope.

[concernedaboutthis]

Hm, i'm collecting for christian Aid this week. I certainly wouldn't argue and will be very apologetic to anyone that i had disturbed/inconvienenced. I hope not everyone will think I'm a pain tho'.

[clementinebelle]

They shouldn't be knocking on doors? And foregoing the £10million or thereabouts they collect every year during Christian Aid Week just because it upsets a few rich (and yes, you are rich compared to the penniless people they collect for) Westerners.

Right. You write and tell them that Animation.

They are collecting money for people who literally have NOTHING. People who have one meal a day if they're lucky. People who are boiling up weeds or mud for food. People whose children die because they cannot afford to take them to the health clinic. People whose children die of starvation.

God forbid that anyone should dare to ask people in the UK for money for these poor, poor people and dare to take up a minute or two of their precious time.

Fortunately, most people are a bit more charitable than that and are happy to support those less fortunate.

[clementinebelle]

concernedaboutthis, good on you.