WORLD’S FIRST ATHEIST ORPHANAGE

WORLD’S FIRST ATHEIST ORPHANAGE

Not sure how accurate this story is, but “Motherboard” reported Feb. 24, 2015 that the world’s first atheist orphanage had been established in Uganda. Their goal was to raise $4,500 and build a facility that would house 15 - 20 orphans. Their motto is: “With Science We Can Progress”.

There is certainly a great need. Uganda has 3.5 million orphans, or about 9% of the population. A combination AIDS, civil war, accidents and abandonment is responsible for the problem. Not sure why, but can’t seem to find current news about these atheists. Did find that as of July, 2015 donations were streaming in and five buildings were completed. This included the hostel, classroom, kitchen, latrine, and a small road side stand for earning income from selling snacks, and crafts. Construction had also started on a health clinic at the site.

In 2016, they began “converting” schools near Kasese to Humanism. The Humanist Principles were set out by Kasese United Humanist Association (KUHA) . Eight other schools quickly accepted financial aid from them. Then three more orphanage schools adopted secular guidelines, and four female-led schools also began teaching the priciples of Humanism.

Not sure if their bragging rights are merited as there have previously been orphanages in the U.S.S.R., Communist China, and North Korea. By comparison with Christian orphanages, of course, there is no comparison. Katie Davis, for example, is a Christian. She first came to Uganda in 2006. When she returned to live in Uganda she personally adopted 14 orphans. She also provides sponsorships for 600 others. Her ministry is called Amazima. Then there is the Welcome Home orphanage caring for 65 orphans. Then there is also the Kampala Christian Orphanage, the Christian Life Orphanage, the Rafiki Africa Ministries, Grace International Inc., Etc., Etc. Etc.

Each orphanage has it’s own unique story. For example, in March 2001 a Dutch missionary couple, Pietr and Pita Butendijk started Noah's Ark Children's Ministry Uganda. A boy named Matthew became the second child they took in. As a toddler wandered the streets he wouldn’t speak or even respond to his own name. After only a couple of days of Christian love, however, he spoke his first word, “mamma”. Today Noah’s Ark cares for 65 children and expect to grow to 300.

There is an old story about the man who started a new religion that combined the best features of every religion on earth. He wrote these teachings in a book, then trained and sent out 12 disciples. When no one seemed interested someone gave him this salient advice. Before sending out your 12 disciples you first need to get yourself crucified and then rise from the dead.

Julian the Apostate became the Emperor of Rome and sought to make his religion grow by insisting that his pagan teachers live like Christians. He forbade them to read immoral books, visit a tavern or theater. They were to practice chastity, temperance, and hospitality. It still didn’t work. Historian Philip Schaff observed: “But of course all these attempts to regenerate heathenism by foreign elements were utterly futile. They were like galvanizing a decaying corpse, or grafting fresh scions on a dead trunk, sowing good seed on a rock, or pouring new wine into old bottles, bursting the bottles and wasting the wine”.

The Scriptures teach that pure religion is to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep onself unspotted by the world (Ja. 1:27). If you are not able to care for such needy people in your own home, it would be a simple matter to sponsor someone so that others can care for them. I would hope that you would choose to sponsor someone in a Christian orphanage. Since atheists believe in “survival of the fittest” they may not be as sensitive to special needs children as Jesus was. Further, atheists cannot tell a child where it came from, what it is doing here, or where it will go when it dies. Jesus taught that by helping the “least of these” you are in some mysterious way helping Him (Matt. 25:40). Please practice pure religion! You will never be sorry that you did!