# Religious charity refuses to hand out water to hurricane victims **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 30, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552 "2005-10-30T03:37:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/1 "2005-10-30T03:37:49Z")
[Link](http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=4747&z=3&p=) Once again, the religious put religion above human beings. > [@](#): > > _Copyrighted article removed per board guidelines._ People wonder why I despise religion so much, and then they do things like this. I’m just glad that the Red Cross apparently shamed them into doing the right thing…eventually. Funny, how the secular charity is the one that actually helps, while the religious one doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/2 "2005-10-30T03:41:58Z")
Maybe they were waiting for Jesus to [turn it into beer](http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=John%202:1-11;&version=31;). ---
**Author:** ![lonesome\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@lonesome\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonesome_loser)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/3 "2005-10-30T03:50:00Z")
The religious wing nute are just that. Nuts. Let them do without. If there are any on this board, please show me in the bible where it says don’t drink. It does say don’t be a drunkard. Even deacons are only to be of not nuch drink. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/4 "2005-10-30T03:54:38Z")
Sigline! > [@lonesome loser](#): > > Even deacons are only to be of not nuch drink. ---
**Author:** ![lonesome\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@lonesome\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonesome_loser)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/5 "2005-10-30T03:59:47Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Sigline! Unfortunately I am of much drink tonight. But I ain’t a deacon either. Lonesome. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@Bob\_Loblaw\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Loblaw_1)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/6 "2005-10-30T04:11:16Z")
What would Jesus do? He would turn water in wine, that’s what Jesus would do. Oh, and give it to people. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/7 "2005-10-30T04:13:07Z")
> [@Der Trihs](#): > > People wonder why I despise religion so much, and then they do things like this. I’m just glad that the Red Cross apparently shamed them into doing the right thing…eventually. Funny, how the secular charity is the one that actually helps, while the religious one doesn’t. Well, feel free to hate whomever you please. The numerous stories of religious charities doing the right thing, time after time, aren’t terribly remarkable. When they screw up, of course, it’s a man bites dog story, and you will indeed hear about it. Of course, this story in no way changes the fact that the Red Cross has had numerous major financial scandals over the years. Oh, but that’s okay, I guess. Long as they’re secular. You have a mighty simplistic world view, it seems. ---
**Author:** ![lonesome\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@lonesome\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonesome_loser)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/8 "2005-10-30T04:20:07Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > Well, feel free to hate whomever you please. > > The numerous stories of religious charities doing the right thing, time after time, aren’t terribly remarkable. When they screw up, of course, it’s a man bites dog story, and you will indeed hear about it. > > Of course, this story in no way changes the fact that the Red Cross has had numerous major financial scandals over the years. Oh, but that’s okay, I guess. Long as they’re secular. > > You have a mighty simplistic world view, it seems. Wow Mr. Moto. How many strawmen do you have in your pocket? Might I suggest you read more about about Jesus? Would he have denied people water because a brewery bottled it? Are you saying you agree with the SBC? Of course stupid acts should be called on. It just might stop it from happening again. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/9 "2005-10-30T04:24:28Z")
> [@lonesome loser](#): > > Of course stupid acts should be called on. I don’t think **Mr. Moto** disputes this. He’s just coming out against making vast, unwarranted generalizations based on those stupid acts. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/10 "2005-10-30T04:36:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Resident lined up for miles to receive food and water at the distribution point. But the water was left on the sidelines by the Alabama-based group. Of course it’s an Alabama based group. Why the Hell wouldn’t it be? Shit. (And Roy Moore is running for governor here and these same people will be out campaigning for him- sorry Mama, but if he wins I am out of here as a matter of self protection.) ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/11 "2005-10-30T04:50:11Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > Of course, this story in no way changes the fact that the Red Cross has had numerous major financial scandals over the years. Oh, but that’s okay, I guess. Long as they’re secular. Guess you didn’t notice that those scandals got plenty of negative press as well. Since you missed it, even _secular_ charities that ripped off resources from those in need were criticized quite sharply. Some potential donors even changed their minds about how and where to give as a result. It was a trust thing. > [@](#): > > You have a mighty simplistic world view, it seems. Yeah, lots of that going around. Shit happens, even to religious organizations that withhold badly needed supplies to those in dire need while they parse the spiritual worthiness of the donors. No wonder Jesus wept. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/12 "2005-10-30T04:57:19Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > Of course, this story in no way changes the fact that the Red Cross has had numerous major financial scandals over the years. Oh, but that’s okay, I guess. Long as they’re secular. No, as long as they hand out the damned water. > [@Mr. Moto](#): > > You have a mighty simplistic world view, it seems. Yeah, silly me, I think it’s bad when a charity lets people go thirsty to score theological points. ---
**Author:** ![Annie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/858c86/32.png) [@Annie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/13 "2005-10-30T06:45:40Z")
And my favorite part of the parable: > [@Apostle John](#): > > … the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside … and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” Jesus Christ: savior of man, epicurian. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/14 "2005-10-30T06:47:43Z")
While I’m not about to defend their decision, I’m confused about one thing: > [@](#): > > Twenty-two pallets of the canned water, distributed free by beer company Anheuser-Busch, bears the company’s label – and members of the Southern Baptist Convention refused to hand it out to those in need. > > \ > > “The pastor didn’t want to hand out the Budweiser cans to people and that’s his prerogative and I back him 100-percent,” said SBC volunteer John Cook. Was it just the pallet that was labelled? Was it water in “Budweiser cans”? Either way I think it’s a ridiculous decision, though I might be _slightly_ more sympathetic if it was water in a beer can. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/15 "2005-10-30T11:13:47Z")
There is no Biblical injunction against drinking, although drunkeness is condemned. [There’s a discussion about that going on in GD right now.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=341921) Jesus does, however, have something to say about those who refuse to give something to drink to those who are thirsty, and it’s not pleasant. [It’s in Matthew 25:31-46,](http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:31-46;&version=31;) which goes like this )bolding mine): > [@Jesus](#): > > When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. > > Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ > > Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ > > The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ > > **Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,** I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ > > They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ > > He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, **whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.** ’ > > Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." I think someone needs to write to these people and ask them why they’re _directly_ disobeying the words of Jesus and indulging behaviours which Christ, Himself, says will get them condemned, even though the claim to know Him. To the non-Christians out there, once again, I apologize. I realize some folks can cite obscure verses to justify the Rapture, homosexuals being more sinful than heterosexuals and (literally) God alone knows what other nonsense! I’m just amazed by how they can overlook Christ’s clear and unambiguous teachings as recorded in the Gospels. It’s not that these people’s actions contradict the teachings of my Episcopal Church; considering we serve wine at pancake suppers, it’s not like we have a lot in common anyway. It’s that their actions are directly contradicting the teachings of the One they (and we) claim to have accepted as Lord and Saviour. I _am_ sorry. When I’m more awake, I may be outraged. CJ ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/16 "2005-10-30T13:22:37Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > Was it just the pallet that was labelled? Was it water in “Budweiser cans”? Either way I think it’s a ridiculous decision, though I might be _slightly_ more sympathetic if it was water in a beer can. I don’t know about this particular batch, but after the Northridge (California) earthquake, the water they handed out were in cans of the type normally used for beer\* but the labeling just had the words Anheuser-Busch, WATER (The dominant word), and their corporate logo. All were in black on a white background. It could in no way be mistaken for a can of beer by anybody even semi-literate. Peace - DESK _Really, what else would a beer company use? It’s what they have available and is what most of their filling lines are geared to._ ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/17 "2005-10-30T14:46:31Z")
**Der Trihs** , do not post entire copyrighted articles on this board. It is acceptable to post a small quotation and link to the copyrighted article. Do not do this again. **fluiddruid** Pit Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/18 "2005-10-30T15:00:53Z")
> [@Der Trihs](#): > > People wonder why I despise religion so much, and then they do things like this. If things like this–one small religious charity doing something stupid, when there are many, many others that do a lot of good in the world–are why you despise religion, then the reason you despise religion is because you’re an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/19 "2005-10-30T15:15:29Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > If things like this–one small religious charity doing something stupid, when there are many, many others that do a lot of good in the world–are why you despise religion, then the reason you despise religion is because you’re an idiot. “Things like this” implies that there are _other_ reasons, this being just one of them. Are you saying that he(and others) should list _all_ of the reasons that they despise religion? If so, this could be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552/20 "2005-10-30T15:26:11Z")
> [@D.E.S.K.Top668](#): > > I don’t know about this particular batch, but after the Northridge (California) earthquake, the water they handed out were in cans of the type normally used for beer\* but the labeling just had the words Anheuser-Busch, WATER (The dominant word), and their corporate logo. All were in black on a white background. It could in no way be mistaken for a can of beer by anybody even semi-literate. > > Peace - DESK > _Really, what else would a beer company use? It’s what they have available and is what most of their filling lines are geared to._ I can verify this - I kept one of the bottles as a souvenir. Even though we didn’t need it, we all thought it was a nice gesture. As for this preacher/pastor/deacon/whatever, his priorities are fucked up. Giving needed supplies to people in a disaster area take precedence over a label on a water bottle/can. When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, religious charities rushed in to provide emergency services, often acting more quickly and efficiently than the government. Relief workers in the stricken states estimate that 500,000 people have taken refuge in facilities run by religious groups. That’s a good thing. However Reverend Nobeer wasn’t one of those helping. There were others not helping also. For instance, the Salvation Army was refusing aid to anyone suspected of The Gay. “The Army will not change its policy,” said one official, who declined to be named. “You cannot change theological views. Those are so deeply embedded, they form the root of the faith itself.” > [@NBC2 News](#): > > The pastor didn’t want to hand out the Budweiser cans to people and that’s his prerogative and I back him 100-percent," said SBC volunteer John Cook. > The SBC felt it was inappropriate to give the donation out, and they weren’t happy when NBC2 wanted to know why. > “Why do you want to make that the issue? That’s not the issue. The issue is that we’re here trying to help people,” Cook said. Maybe it’s time to really look at charities and be more selective who we donate to. Kudos to Anheuser Busch, and a big smack in the mouth for this myopic and stupid “preacher”. What was inappropriate was refusing to hand out the water. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-charity-refuses-to-hand-out-water-to-hurricane-victims/328552.md?page=2)