Study: Less Religious Are More Motivated By Compassion Than Highly Religious

[Judi Lynn]

Study: Less Religious Are More Motivated By Compassion Than Highly Religious
by Eyder Peralta
01:43 pm
May 1, 2012

Are religious people more moved by compassion than those who described themselves as less religious or non-religious?

A group of scientists at the University of California, Berkeley set out to answer that question and what they found would surprise some: In three experiments, the social scientists found that the less religious were more generous when presented with situations that stimulated their compassion, which the scientists defined as "an emotion felt when people see the suffering of others which then motivates them to help, often at a personal risk or cost."

~snip~

"The results challenge a widespread assumption that acts of generosity and charity are largely driven by feelings of empathy and compassion, researchers said. In the study, the link between compassion and generosity was found to be stronger for those who identified as being non-religious or less religious.

"'Overall, we find that for less religious people, the strength of their emotional connection to another person is critical to whether they will help that person or not,' said UC Berkeley social psychologist Robb Willer, a co-author of the study. 'The more religious, on the other hand, may ground their generosity less in emotion, and more in other factors such as doctrine, a communal identity, or reputational concerns.'"

More:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/01/151775572/study-less-religious-are-more-motivated-by-compassion-than-highly-religious?ft=1&f=

[rfranklin]

1. Makes me feel proud to be "less religious"

This could explain the Republican religiousity.

[get the red out]

2. Empathy

Perhaps "less religious people" are less religious at least in part because Religion so often goes against empathy with its "social issue wars"?

[mainer]

3. Religion inspires an "us vs. them" mentality

You're either "saved" or you're not. You're either with "my" god or you're with the wrong god. Everyone who's not your religion is somehow less worthy.

I can see why they'd reserve their empathy only for people in their own group.

[angstlessk]

4. So the report that the more religious give more to charity might be based on the fact that

they give to their church (their own kind) and deduct it on their tax returns, whereas liberals or non religious folks give to individuals and do not report it?

[mainer]

5. Yes, I've heard the majority of charitable giving among religious is to their own church

Mormons, those socialistic folks, are required to tithe 10%.

[cqo_000]

6. So highly religious people are less susceptible to emotional manipulation