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Hissyspit

(45,788 posts)
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:02 PM May 2012

Study: Atheists More Driven by Compassion than Highly Religious People

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by ScreamingMeemie (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Raw Story

Study: Atheists more driven by compassion than highly religious people

By David Edwards
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 16:17 EDT

- snip -

Research from University of California, Berkeley published in the most recent edition of the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science found a stronger link between compassion and generosity among non-religious or less religious people.

“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,” UC Berkeley social psychologist and study co-author Robb Willer explained. “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.”

- snip -

“These findings indicate that although compassion is associated with pro-sociality among both less religious and more religious individuals, this relationship is particularly robust for less religious individuals,” the study said.

- snip -

“Overall, this research suggests that although less religious people tend to be less trusted in the U.S., when feeling compassionate, they may actually be more inclined to help their fellow citizens than more religious people,” Willer concluded.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/05/01/study-atheists-more-compassionate-than-highly-religious-people

33 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Study: Atheists More Driven by Compassion than Highly Religious People (Original Post) Hissyspit May 2012 OP
but, but, but... I thought Atheists were evil? fascisthunter May 2012 #1
And Liberal otohara May 2012 #3
When we care, we mean it.... fascisthunter May 2012 #4
You can't trust this study. progressoid May 2012 #6
And "militant" (whatever that means as applied to atheists but its used pejoratively). nt riderinthestorm May 2012 #21
Absolutely....driven by real altruism and empathy, not by fear and browbeatings Namvet67 May 2012 #2
+1 Auggie May 2012 #16
+200 They also help others more because Auntie Bush May 2012 #25
Harm no one and no thing. Namvet67 May 2012 #26
+1 nt Poll_Blind May 2012 #29
Surprises me not at all especially since .... Scuba May 2012 #5
You Mean Like Chuck Colson DallasNE May 2012 #13
Liberals see a poor or disabled person and say, "There but for the grace of God go I..." rfranklin May 2012 #7
Or if they don't believe in God at all, Curmudgeoness May 2012 #17
I know atheists who are more "Christian"... KansDem May 2012 #8
I'm one myself nobodyspecial May 2012 #12
Gee....I wonder if this will be on the news tonight.? BlueJazz May 2012 #9
What news are you watching? Lawlbringer May 2012 #11
Ok, how about survivors of tornadoes.... PassingFair May 2012 #15
If the survivors say they're blessed Lawlbringer May 2012 #24
Never the less...I see it on the news all the time. PassingFair May 2012 #28
Meh, they can believe what they want. Lawlbringer May 2012 #32
Southern news BlueJazz May 2012 #22
It's easier to judge on a case by case basis. Lawlbringer May 2012 #10
Nothing wrong with preaching against superstition and holy "ghosts"...it's called education Namvet67 May 2012 #27
If he's gotten to 17 years old Lawlbringer May 2012 #30
Sorry if the post seemed disjointed Lawlbringer May 2012 #31
Most atheists I know are less likely to be hypocrites, too. PassingFair May 2012 #14
+10000 rainbow4321 May 2012 #20
In other news, water is wet. Odin2005 May 2012 #18
Any word on Lowly Religious People? RUMMYisFROSTED May 2012 #19
Makes sense Flatpicker May 2012 #23
Locking. ScreamingMeemie May 2012 #33
 

fascisthunter

(29,381 posts)
1. but, but, but... I thought Atheists were evil?
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:05 PM
May 2012
 

otohara

(24,135 posts)
3. And Liberal
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:11 PM
May 2012

which in some circles is worse than being evil

 

fascisthunter

(29,381 posts)
4. When we care, we mean it....
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:12 PM
May 2012

progressoid

(49,827 posts)
6. You can't trust this study.
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:14 PM
May 2012

It's from Berkeley.

Hitler. That's all the proof you need that Atheists are teh evil.



 

riderinthestorm

(23,272 posts)
21. And "militant" (whatever that means as applied to atheists but its used pejoratively). nt
Tue May 1, 2012, 09:39 PM
May 2012

Namvet67

(111 posts)
2. Absolutely....driven by real altruism and empathy, not by fear and browbeatings
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:10 PM
May 2012

More open-minded, better educated,certainly more rational. I would rather my daughter date an atheist any day.

Auggie

(31,067 posts)
16. +1
Tue May 1, 2012, 07:10 PM
May 2012

Auntie Bush

(17,528 posts)
25. +200 They also help others more because
Wed May 2, 2012, 09:50 AM
May 2012

they TRULY feel compassion...whereas, most the Religious do it out of fear of God or to wrack up points with him. lol

Namvet67

(111 posts)
26. Harm no one and no thing.
Wed May 2, 2012, 09:57 AM
May 2012

Poll_Blind

(23,864 posts)
29. +1 nt
Wed May 2, 2012, 10:09 AM
May 2012

PB

 

Scuba

(53,475 posts)
5. Surprises me not at all especially since ....
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:13 PM
May 2012

.... "highly religious" is often the same as "con artist".

DallasNE

(7,392 posts)
13. You Mean Like Chuck Colson
Tue May 1, 2012, 06:15 PM
May 2012

Newt Gingrich and Donald Trump?

 

rfranklin

(13,200 posts)
7. Liberals see a poor or disabled person and say, "There but for the grace of God go I..."
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:14 PM
May 2012

Conservatives say, "God made me better because I am more deserving."

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
17. Or if they don't believe in God at all,
Tue May 1, 2012, 08:05 PM
May 2012

"there but for fortune go I". My favorite saying. It rules my life and I know it is true.

KansDem

(28,498 posts)
8. I know atheists who are more "Christian"...
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:21 PM
May 2012

...than many Christians.

nobodyspecial

(2,286 posts)
12. I'm one myself
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:32 PM
May 2012

People are often surprised that I have no belief in a deity. To me, it is the final stage in moral development. You are compassionate just for the sake of it, not because of fear of retribution or in hopes of a heavenly reward.

 

BlueJazz

(25,348 posts)
9. Gee....I wonder if this will be on the news tonight.?
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:28 PM
May 2012

No,,They'll have some story about a person who beat cancer and how prayer "cured" them.

Lawlbringer

(550 posts)
11. What news are you watching?
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:32 PM
May 2012

As crappy as US mainstream news is, I've never EVER seen a story like this. Maybe they'll get into how they prayed alongside like...chemo or radiation or while a family member was in surgery. Never prayer alone.

PassingFair

(22,434 posts)
15. Ok, how about survivors of tornadoes....
Tue May 1, 2012, 06:29 PM
May 2012

Talking about how "blessed" THEY are, while bodies are being
pulled out of the home next door...

Lawlbringer

(550 posts)
24. If the survivors say they're blessed
Wed May 2, 2012, 09:28 AM
May 2012

that's interchangeable with lucky. Doesn't matter if it was God, luck, right place right time, chance, or whatever. They're expressing their relief that their kids are still sucking air. That's also what the news is reporting on. I've never seen an in depth story on the "power of prayer" without it being overwhelmingly skeptical.

The day I see the news lauding prayer healing, or talking about how it does anything except provide some sort of mental relief or placebo effect (not actually being healed by prayer), is the day I throw my TV out the window.


Although, I should probably do that anyway.

PassingFair

(22,434 posts)
28. Never the less...I see it on the news all the time.
Wed May 2, 2012, 10:09 AM
May 2012

They may be expressing their "relief", but what I hear is

"God must have been looking out for ME",

and the unspoken
"God must have really had it in for my neighbors".

Lawlbringer

(550 posts)
32. Meh, they can believe what they want.
Wed May 2, 2012, 11:15 AM
May 2012

I was just pointing out that the news doesn't do stories on the power of prayer.

 

BlueJazz

(25,348 posts)
22. Southern news
Tue May 1, 2012, 10:07 PM
May 2012

Lawlbringer

(550 posts)
10. It's easier to judge on a case by case basis.
Tue May 1, 2012, 05:29 PM
May 2012

Most people who follow religion treat the Bible as fact rather than parable are the type to get mad at Bill Nye for saying that the moon doesn't produce light. Those are the kind who listen to their religious leaders and think that whatever THOSE people say are absolute truths, and will hate. But if those people were even remotely literate, and would stop trying to read the freaking KING JAMES version so they can actually understand what they're reading, they'd realize that the Christian PHILOSOPHY is the same as any other religion, just a way to get people to get along with each other, which is a cause I can get behind. Even if I don't follow the religion itself.


I also know probably just as many Athiests as I do...Thiests...and I gotta say, both sides are equally as selfish. In fact, the Atheists (my wife included) preach against religion as much as the Thiests preach for it, which is compassionate from one POV vs disrespectful from the other. I feel kinda in the middle of things because I honestly don't care either way and get squawked at from both sides.


As I said before, it's probably better to make the call once you get to know a person, because prejudging anyone isn't very compassionate at all =oP

Namvet67

(111 posts)
27. Nothing wrong with preaching against superstition and holy "ghosts"...it's called education
Wed May 2, 2012, 10:08 AM
May 2012

Let's say you're a senior in high school and one of your classmates tells you he can't wait for Santa....there's no way you can let that pass. He'd be laughed out of school....someone would have to educate him as to why his view was wrong...for his own sake.In your heart you know it would be the best thing to do so that he could function in school and life.Someone would explain why his view that Santa comes bringing gifts is wrong......it might as well be you or me that tells him

Lawlbringer

(550 posts)
30. If he's gotten to 17 years old
Wed May 2, 2012, 11:13 AM
May 2012

he's already indoctrinated and would lash out at anyone who questions his beliefs.

Personally, I say let him. If it keeps him from snapping (same as the freedom to drink, smoke, do drugs, or eat shitty foods) then it's not hurting. My biggest problem with religion is, as I stated before, the zealots who don't even follow the basic tenets of the religion itself! Some people wouldn't have the basic common sense not to steal, or push someone off of a subway platform. But if their belief in Santa, or God, or Karma, w/e, keeps them in check, it's all up to the individual. Those who corrupt their respective words of God, whether they're Islamic "Fundamentalists" or "Christian" hatemongers, they're sullying the basic message of either. "Love thy neighbor." Three words, which if those morons would live their lives actually following their religion, we wouldn't have such a fight about Gay rights, Civil rights, Gender rights, etc. "it's none of my fucking business what you do, but I'm happy if you're happy."

I agree, that sometimes it's more helpful to steer people on the right path, but if that person resists, it's less about compassion and falls in line with the early missionaries "civilizing" the natives. Better to just be happy with the end result rather than micromanaging every little detail on the journey.

My kids, for instance. I'm hoping that what I teach them sticks, and that they have enough of a head on their respective shoulders to do the right thing without any sort of promise of reward (other than satisfaction at helping someone), but if they decide to join a particular religion, as long as it's nonviolent and nonaggressive in nature (I think that religion isn't bad, people are) then that's their decision and I'm happy for them. Just so long as they have the facts and aren't influenced by something someone tells them.

The same could be said about political affiliations. The Republican party of today is vastly different from prior generations, and while it might represent many values which are anathema to me, the message they're spreading today is because of negative influence by a select few. I like to make that analogy to Religious affiliation/identification because I'm sure that any religious founder would be horrified to see the crimes committed in their name, same as a Republican like Lincoln would probably shoot himself in the head if he saw the way the Republicans were acting now.

Lawlbringer

(550 posts)
31. Sorry if the post seemed disjointed
Wed May 2, 2012, 11:14 AM
May 2012

Multitasking while having a conversation with someone on a forum makes it hard to keep track of thoughts.

PassingFair

(22,434 posts)
14. Most atheists I know are less likely to be hypocrites, too.
Tue May 1, 2012, 06:27 PM
May 2012

And less likely to bother about what goes on in their neighbor's bedrooms.

rainbow4321

(9,974 posts)
20. +10000
Tue May 1, 2012, 08:47 PM
May 2012

Oh, yes. NOTHING makes me grind my teeth more than when my "Christian" co-workers stand around in a group and praise God, quote the bible, talk about how "Christian" they are and how blessed they all are, how horrifed they are when fellow worshipers have "misbehaving children" in church...and then in the next breath (day after day) turn around and trash other people using HORRIBLE, hateful language...sometimes their targets are people who were standing around with them doing the praising, etc...those targets just happen to be off that day.
Whenever they do the whole hypocrisy thing, the phrase that pops into my mind is one I have seen here and elsewhere on the 'net: "standing in a church no more makes you a Christian than standing in a garage makes you a car".

I say this knowing that every mainstream religion has these kind of hypocrites....it just happens that the people I work claim to be Christians.

Odin2005

(53,521 posts)
18. In other news, water is wet.
Tue May 1, 2012, 08:39 PM
May 2012

We help people because we want to help people, not because it gets us to heaven.

RUMMYisFROSTED

(30,749 posts)
19. Any word on Lowly Religious People?
Tue May 1, 2012, 08:45 PM
May 2012

Flatpicker

(894 posts)
23. Makes sense
Tue May 1, 2012, 10:16 PM
May 2012

Life becomes nicer once you realize that you can be moral without needing to reference a book about it.
They also don't have to do something compassionate because they believe that it will help themselves in the afterlife. They do it because it's the right thing to do.

ScreamingMeemie

(68,918 posts)
33. Locking.
Wed May 2, 2012, 11:29 AM
May 2012

This is not Latest Breaking News material, as it is an analysis piece. Feel free to repost in Good Reads or Religion. Thank you.

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