Comments on: Claire Rayner on Doing Good Works http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/2010/03/claire-rayner-on-doing-good-works/ Humanist perspectives on the here and now Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:47:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Katy http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/2010/03/claire-rayner-on-doing-good-works/comment-page-1/#comment-773 Katy Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:02:29 +0000 http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/?p=1746#comment-773 Dear Claire, I too am a fully paid up member of the Humanist clan (quite literally as i've just finished training to do wedding ceremonies), and your story really cheered me. I'm still unemployed, having recently finished a PhD, and so looked to do some volunteering whilst trying to persuade people that I'm fit for post-doc work. The easiest place for me to do it is a local lunch club at our nearest church, where we feed 65 pensioners once every two weeks. For many this is the only time they get out and socialise, and for some it is the only square meal they get. For a while I felt that this volunteering didn't really sit with my humanist principles, it being at a church and all. But the more you chat to people there, the more you realise that there is such a need for these types of services and many of the volunteers are just local non-religious people like myself, many unemployed or retired or widowed. Religion plays a part for some, but for many this is an opportunity to get out and do something good (without the hassle / expense of a CRB form). Hooray for goodly godless deeds I say. Dear Claire,

I too am a fully paid up member of the Humanist clan (quite literally as i’ve just finished training to do wedding ceremonies), and your story really cheered me. I’m still unemployed, having recently finished a PhD, and so looked to do some volunteering whilst trying to persuade people that I’m fit for post-doc work. The easiest place for me to do it is a local lunch club at our nearest church, where we feed 65 pensioners once every two weeks. For many this is the only time they get out and socialise, and for some it is the only square meal they get. For a while I felt that this volunteering didn’t really sit with my humanist principles, it being at a church and all. But the more you chat to people there, the more you realise that there is such a need for these types of services and many of the volunteers are just local non-religious people like myself, many unemployed or retired or widowed. Religion plays a part for some, but for many this is an opportunity to get out and do something good (without the hassle / expense of a CRB form). Hooray for goodly godless deeds I say.

]]> By: Hanne http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/2010/03/claire-rayner-on-doing-good-works/comment-page-1/#comment-731 Hanne Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:55:56 +0000 http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/?p=1746#comment-731 Hi Years ago I volunteered with a 'christian' charity (christian by name anyway) working with homeless alcohol and drug users, and - like you Claire - found that most of the volunteers were not religious. That same charity now recruits specifically in the churches and proclaims the christian message. I don't know if they would actually reject humanist volunteers, but I doubt I would feel very comfortable working there now. Sad isn't it? Hanne Hi
Years ago I volunteered with a ‘christian’ charity (christian by name anyway) working with homeless alcohol and drug users, and – like you Claire – found that most of the volunteers were not religious. That same charity now recruits specifically in the churches and proclaims the christian message. I don’t know if they would actually reject humanist volunteers, but I doubt I would feel very comfortable working there now.
Sad isn’t it?
Hanne

]]> By: jacqueline Baxter http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/2010/03/claire-rayner-on-doing-good-works/comment-page-1/#comment-637 jacqueline Baxter Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:36:00 +0000 http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/?p=1746#comment-637 Hi its a good story Claire . I suppose that it depends what you mean by 'showing off'. Some people just do what they can and then advertise it . Is this worse than those who do nothing ? :Lots of people need a group to do things through. They dont have the confidence to do it on their own. If religion gives this to them and then they 'go do it'who are we to argue that their contribution is less valuable than those who 'do it through' conscience alone. When my children were little the only way I could articlate my social conscience was through the school and the church. If we deny people this , are we not perpetuating the type of social exclusion and control that we rage against ? Jacqueline Hi
its a good story Claire . I suppose that it depends what you mean by ‘showing off’. Some people just do what they can and then advertise it . Is this worse than those who do nothing ? :Lots of people need a group to do things through. They dont have the confidence to do it on their own. If religion gives this to them and then they ‘go do it’who are we to argue that their contribution is less valuable than those who ‘do it through’ conscience alone.
When my children were little the only way I could articlate my social conscience was through the school and the church. If we deny people this , are we not perpetuating the type of social exclusion and control that we rage against ?
Jacqueline

]]> By: Andy http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/2010/03/claire-rayner-on-doing-good-works/comment-page-1/#comment-636 Andy Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:24:01 +0000 http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/?p=1746#comment-636 My grandmother (humanist) volunteers for a charity which the church would probably claim is a religious charity and which has a religious name but where almost all of the volunteers are not religious. It's funny that churches should be able to make political capital out of projects like that which are religious in name only. My grandmother (humanist) volunteers for a charity which the church would probably claim is a religious charity and which has a religious name but where almost all of the volunteers are not religious. It’s funny that churches should be able to make political capital out of projects like that which are religious in name only.

]]> By: Robert ede http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/2010/03/claire-rayner-on-doing-good-works/comment-page-1/#comment-632 Robert ede Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:19:16 +0000 http://www.humanistlife.org.uk/?p=1746#comment-632 My experience is similar, I volunteer and help with homelessness not because I'm a humanist though, but because I am human. My experience is similar, I volunteer and help with homelessness not because I’m a humanist though, but because I am human.

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