Charities: the new religion?

Amnesty International was created at a time when religion and socialism were dying - and it took the place of both, according to a new book.

Amnesty founder Peter Benenson said the purpose of Amnesty was to "rekindle a fire in the minds of men (sic). It is to give him, who feels cut off from God a sense of belonging to something greater than himself, of being a small part of the entire human race."

Methinks this concept will strike a chord for many charity (not just Amnesty) enthusiasts.

The book is called "Keepers of the Flame: Understanding Amnesty International". It's a tough, cerebral read, but the fact that the author spent a year inside Amnesty makes it compelling, whether or not you grasp all that thinking. Will he or won't he join Amnesty at the end of his combobulations? Read a (non-revelatory) overview here.