So why would an atheist ask anyone else to pray for, or more specifically to bless anyone?

As an example of the question I raised:

So, this Christmas I would like to ask every human being who can do so, to bless the people of Africa and donate to them (and their animals), if you see an appeal in a supermarket, church or newspaper.

Wouldn't an atheist lack the belief in the value of a blessing?

Wouldn't someone that raises questions like these:

... including some churches and their leaders who do very little for the good of mankind. Many churches are also peopled by hypocritical congregationists who place their fat, comfortable girths onto a pew and rejoice in the fact that life is great and they are doing their Christian duty by attending worship "hour"

... probably feel that nothing to do with Church or Christian, or Christ in general feel that no good is done by asking for blessings for someone else?

In regards to terpfan's objections, I'd point out that "bless" has secular meanings as well as sacred. For instance:

- To confer well-being or prosperity on.
- To endow, as with talent.

To give a crass example, when a man is well hung, it's not uncommon to say, "He's blessed!" Hardly a religious thought going on there.

But beyond that, I think the intent of the article is to inspire those of a religious bent to put their money where their mouths are and prove it by putting said money where the author feels it should be sent. Given that, doesn't it only make sense to speak in the language of the intended audience? That's just good rhetoric, regardless of the speaker's personal opinion of said semantics.

That aside, I do have problems with other parts of the article, but I'll have to get back to that another time.

Let's clarify something first. "my wife says I'm an atheist" simply means that she thinks I'm an atheist but I am not a true atheist. A true atheist, as defined in the dictionary, "..is one who disbelieves or denies the existence of God."

As a Realist I believe that there is a Supreme Being but I have not yet discovered how He influences our thoughts.I am serious when I say that I am still studying the phenomenon of God. In fact I try not to deny Him completely as I have fairly high morals and empathise with others as much as many Christians do. Any debate on this should be left for another time, please.

I can still ask God and church people to pour out their blessings to the needy--no one can stop me from doing that because the needy are indeed (in Africa, specifically as far as this post is concerned), in need. And, yes, I do wish that some churches would think further than their noses and be more charitable but I suppose that I should have included all people who have the means to be charitable.

There is no reason for me not to ask for blessings (secular or otherwise), FROM CHRISTIANS TO THE NEEDY. I can say: "You're a Christian--bless the most miserable people on Earth--they really need our thoughts." What's wrong with that?

adnauseam,

I appreciate your sentiments, but I'm very careful where I donate my money in nations like these. As you know, many of these nations are in the state they are in because of rampant corruption, and money is often misappropriated. While I understand in that area SOME graft is almost impossible to avoid, I prefer to dedicate my dollars to places where more of them will actually REACH the intended recipient.

Do you have any statistics showing how much of the aid offered to various nations to serve Africa reaches the intended recipients? Do you have any preferences as to which organizations are better than others? I think there are many of us who would be interested in knowing from someone who sees the end results firsthand which organizations are worthy and which should be avoided at all costs.

As a Realist I believe that there is a Supreme Being but I have not yet discovered how He influences our thoughts

I think they call that an Agnostic (not exactly, but closer than Atheist).

Have a great celebration of the spirit of the season.  All can share in that.

Thanks Doc and festive wishes to you too.

Gideon, I believe that the World Food Program is the only organisation that can protect its convoys and distribute food fairly consistently. There is always a "man' in the woodpile though and the WFP have had thefts by their own employees in the receiving country's warehouses. That you will not stop in Africa.

Yeah, I realize you won't stop it, I just want my money going where there will be LESS theft.

Thanks for your recommendation. I will look into them.

Merry Christmas, Adnauseam!