[Flankrene]

no he isn't. America's GNI is 14 Trillion and Sweden's GNI is 358 Billion. what don't you get?

It's not what I don't understand, but if the shoe fits. Measuring % against GNI is a much more accurate way to show how charitable a nation is, as it measures per capita. The size of a nation's economy doesn't factor into it.

[whatisthebluepill]

It's not what I don't understand, but if the shoe fits. Measuring % against GNI is a much more accurate way to show how charitable a nation is, as it measures per capita. The size of a nation's economy doesn't factor into it.

did you look at his "statistics"? it was for "Official Development Assistance" which basically is only the amount of foreign aid that a country's government gives out. liking helping economically or militarily. it doesn't have anything to do with private charities.

if a country's GNI is $30,000 and they give a few thousand dollars their % would be extremely high. that's why that list doesn't make sense.

[9rCR9hWL]

But the real reason why we 'give the most' is becuz all donations are tax deductible meaning we get tax breaks. Lol!

LOL, you know I have a rich uncle who was a cheap muthafugga. Some years ago, he moved to the US to expand his 'Empire'. When I visited him he had become a fucking Maecenas. I told him I was surprised about his positive change and he answered: 'Are you crazy? I pay less taxes this way!'

[spravka.ua]

Interesting. Would you say there's a correlation between the high level of philanthropic activity in the USA and its high religiosity? Israel is also more religious than most western countries, and is very philanthropic as well:



source

Absolutely. I don't think I've ever heard of an atheist charity.

[VladFal]

Absolutely. I don't think I've ever heard of an atheist charity.

there are actually a lot of atheist and agnostic people who have formed charities and given out money to charitable causes...

[xanaxist]

I don't think I've ever heard of an atheist charity.

You got to be kidding. The biggest american philanthropists by far are Bill Gates and his good friend Warren Buffett. Both are atheists. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is not affiliated with any religion.

[WXQMQFIr]

You got to be kidding. The biggest american philanthropists by far are Bill Gates and his good friend Warren Buffett. Both are atheists. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is not affiliated with any religion.

And, these (amongst others) multi-billionaires account for a significant proportion of American charity, sliding America further down the table in real terms when comparing it to a country with far less billionaires (say, Norway or Sweden).

[Blaxastij]

Most charities are crap, I believe in survival of the fittest except in some cases.

[PVaQlNaP]

Please point me to statements by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett declaring themselves atheist.

Do NOT cite any atheist sources who claim atheism on their behalf.

[gDGwm8BC]

Where are the sources saying that they are christian? Or are you claiming that on their behalf?

[tsaaapla]

Where are the sources saying that they are christian? Or are you claiming that on their behalf?

Nice try. But I never made such a claim. Therefore, I don't need to defend it.


Still waiting....

[mobiphones]

In my humble opinion, we shouldn't be arguing about this Common-sense dictates that both Religious people and Atheists can be charitable. Trust me, there are lots and lots of Atheists or Agnostics that are involved in philanthropy for humanitarian and environmental causes. What might differ most is where they spend their money and/or time on.

[mnhloot]

In my humble opinion, we shouldn't be arguing about this Common-sense dictates that both Religious people and Atheists can be charitable. Trust me, there are lots and lots of Atheists or Agnostics that are involved in philanthropy for humanitarian and environmental causes. What might differ most is where they spend their money and/or time on.

Perhaps, but I'll help you out by telling you that neither Bill Gates nor Warren Buffett has ever declared themselves to be atheist. That doesn't mean they are religious but atheism really needs to be self-declared. Just sayin.

[fubyFrery]

Bill Gates will never declare himself an atheist. He has too much to loose by doing so.

All I could find was the following and I'm sure everyone else found it too. A link to the interview
would be nice though.


Microsoft Cofounder and CEO, was interviewed November 1995 on PBS by David Frost. Below is the transcript with minor edits...

Frost: Do you believe in the Sermon on the Mount?

Gates: I don't. I'm not somebody who goes to church on a regular basis. The specific elements of Christianity are not something I'm a huge believer in. There's a lot of merit in the moral aspects of religion. I think it can have a very, very positive impact.

Frost: I sometimes say to people, do you believe there is a god, or do you know there is a god? And, you'd say you don't know?

Gates: In terms of doing things I take a fairly scientific approach to why things happen and how they happen. I don't know if there's a god or not, but I think religious principles are quite valid.


If this is correct then he is an agnostic.

[DrCeshing]

Perhaps, but I'll help you out by telling you that neither Bill Gates nor Warren Buffett has ever declared themselves to be atheist. That doesn't mean they are religious but atheism really needs to be self-declared. Just sayin.

well I never said they were atheists or religious either way

I have a personal hunch that they are Agnostic though.

[ethigSmimbine]

Please point me to statements by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett declaring themselves atheist.

Do NOT cite any atheist sources who claim atheism on their behalf.

Well turns out he has expressed agnostic views rather than outright atheism. In the David Frost interview he says "I don’t know if there’s a God or not" and in Time magazine in January 1996 he says "I don’t have any evidence on that" when asked about the human soul. In other words he is not religious. So the agnosticism of this greatest current philanthropist still counters your belief that only the religious are philanthropists.

Another counter example is the callousness and lack of charity among the highly religious upper caste hindu brahmins and banias of India.

[Aozozbag]

Well turns out he has expressed agnostic views rather than outright atheism. In the David Frost interview he says "I don’t know if there’s a God or not" and in Time magazine in January 1996 he says "I don’t have any evidence on that" when asked about the human soul. In other words he is not religious. So the agnosticism of this greatest current philanthropist still counters your belief that only the religious are philanthropists.

Another counter example is the callousness and lack of charity among the highly religious upper caste hindu brahmins and banias of India.

Nice backpedal. But I said I've never heard of an atheist charity and I still haven't. My response was also with regard to America.

[SpyRemo]

If that is all you wanted....

http://foundationbeyondbelief.org/

[Vobomei]

although US may donate more, they are not the happiest country

http://www.financialjesus.com/how-to...est-countries/

17th place

there seems to be a lot of nordic countries as the happiest, how strange

But compare it to what that guy posted as Donations by country, they match so you are 100% correct WickedGirl they match the same few countries appear on both of these lists.


1.Denmark
2.Switzerland
3.Austria
4.Iceland
5.Finland
6.Australia
7.Sweden
8.Canada
9.Guatemala
10.Luxembourg
17.USA
England 22nd place

[Aceroassert]

although US may donate more, they are not the happiest country

What has that got to do with the price of beans in China?