Faith

Atheists vs. Theists: Are Non-Believers Really More Compassionate?

Atheists vs. Theists: Are Non Believers Really More Compassionate?

Earlier this month, The Blaze featured research that indicates that atheists are more driven by compassion than their religious peers.

The study, published in the July 2012 issue of “Social Psychological and Personality Science,” is certainly controversial. Yesterday, one of the academics behind the study further explained the results that have some individuals — particularly the faithful — scratching their heads.

(Related: Are Atheists More Inclined to Help Their Fellow Man Than Religious People?)

Here’s what we initially reported about the study:

“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,” [study co-author Robb] Willer said. “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 repetitional concerns.” [...]

“…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 alleged.

While atheists may jump for joy over the prospect that they are seemingly more compassionate than believers, more research is needed to understand this disparity. As in all human behavior findings, there are likely factors that are unseen laying at the root of religious peoples’ giving — factors that will need deeper exploration.

On Russia Today’s “The Big Story,” hosted by Thom Hartmann, compassion and giving among people of faith and non-believers was on the agenda yesterday. Dr. Emiliana Simon-Thomas, the science director with the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California at Berkeley, joined Hartmann to more deeply examine and explain the research.

Here’s how she framed the information that her team uncovered about compassion, the faithful and non-believers:

“It doesn’t necessarily tap into a difference between religious people and non-religious people with regards to how much compassion they feel. Rather it points out the fact that when you try to prompt people with compassion…in the moment…they’re more likely to behave in a pro-social or generous or cooperative way.

On average, the religious people were overall more cooperative than the people who were non-religious. It’s just that when you try to prompt the feeling or the idea or thoughts about compassion, this was more moving or more influential to the behavior to the people who were less religious.”

Still confused? What she’s saying here is that religious people are kind and giving, but that they aren’t as swayed by in-the-moment pleas and occurrences that are fueled – or centered upon — compassion. Simon-Thomas continues:

“It just seems like if people feel that they are religious on a day-to-day basis, their compassion seems to be a little bit more — sort of ingrained all the time rather than something that comes on in a specific moment.

So when we try to invoke compassion in a specific moment, they’re not as moved by it…they’re cooperative, they’re generous regardless of whether we have tried to tap into compassion — whereas people who are low on religion seem to be much more influenced by a moment of compassion being brought on.”

Watch the commentary on RT, below:

While atheists may see this as a victory in terms of their compassion levels, believers could argue that atheists are more prone to being duped or tricked based on emotionally-driven appeals. As we stated in the original piece, more research is needed to properly understand — and to corroborate — these paradigms.

Comments (77)

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  • NoneSoBlind
    Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:37am

    I don’t usually comment, but did anyone notice that in the test the givers were GIVEN money. Surely it is easy to give with OPM, you don’t have to earn it, just feel good!
    See how much folks give when THEIR cash is on the line. Might work out differently.
    PAX

    Report Post » NoneSoBlind  
  • mcsledge
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:57pm

    Does apathy and ammorality represent compassion? Not a chance in hell!

    Report Post » mcsledge  
    • TheChepe
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 4:10pm

      Does apathy and amorality represent compassion? Apathy? We don’t have apathy. We Atheists are about others. We do help others. We‘re not apathetic to other’s pain. But like religious people, we can’t help everyone. There are Christians who see starving children in Africa, but turn their nose on it and pretend that it doesn’t exist. That’s apathy. So both sides are guilty. And we don’t have an indifference to morality. We just don’t care about YOUR morality. Because YOUR morality often ends up being shoved down our throats. Like when you hear of people who aren‘t Christian or don’t follow Christian doctrine that are having sex before marriage, you people say they’re “living in sin” and “being immoral.” They’re not. If they don’t follow your doctrines, they aren’t. But by saying that they are, you’re pushing YOUR morality on them. Judging them on YOUR idea of what‘s moral and what’s immoral. And that‘s why we don’t care about YOUR “morals.” You can have them, go ahead, have at it hoss. You can believe in them as much as you want. Just stop trying to push it onto others. And I know you’re going to throw the “So stop telling people not to kill and steal?” line. You know what we mean. We mean those morals like “premarital sex” “masturbation”, etc. Notice I capitalized “your.” Know why? To show you that it’s YOUR morality, not everyone elses. Morality is subjective, not objective. Except for not killing and stealing. Those are the only objective o

      Report Post »  
    • IONNES
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 7:45pm

      @TheChepe

      First let me start by agreeing with you. There are apathetic people on both sides (theistic and atheistic). This is very true. We should all strive to be better when it comes to concern for our fellow man. However, the mere fact you would have concern for someone on the other side of the planet makes no logical sense from the atheistic perspective. You can claim to have morals (and I’m sure you do) but those morals are illogical. If there are no objective morals (accept for murder and theft like you said, and I’ll get to those in a minute) then why have them at all? Have you taught your children not to lie (assuming you have some)? Why? It might benefit them to lie. Have you taught them not to cheat? Why? If they cheat on a test they might get into a better school that will allow them to get a better job in the future.

      Also, part of your moral code seems to be that it is wrong to try to spread your moral code (Christians shouldn’t say that premarital sex is wrong). However telling them that they shouldn’t spread their moral code (or as Christians would argue, God’s moral code) you are, in effect, spreading your own moral code (or attempting to). If I can’t tell you that you shouldn’t sleep around, you can’t tell me I shouldn’t tell you to sleep around. Otherwise you’re a hypocrite.

      Lastly, why is murder universally amoral? Why is stealing? If atheism is true then all that really matters is the survival of your own gene

      Report Post » IONNES  
  • gman4691
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:24pm

    The exercise of compassion, as with other emotions, should be tempered with wisdom and discernment. Many times, spur of the moment compassion does more harm than good.

    Report Post »  
  • Windsong
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:19pm

    If given a choice to be a name-calling, hateful, destructive and violent atheist, or a Christian who volunteers their time and money to try to improve the lives of thousands, well, I’ll take Christianity any day. Since peaceful atheists aren’t standing up and speaking agaist the hateful crimes being commiitted by their fellow atheists, I have to believe that they all think alike. The respect level has gone way down for atheists. I won’t stand with hatred and violence, even though they seem to believe it’s their right to destroy property and threaten individuals for their beliefs.

    Report Post »  
    • sick6james
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:32pm

      Thinking all of atheists are like these fools in the news protesting religious houses of worship is similar to saying that ALL Jews are good bankers or ALL Christians hate mongering Bible thumpers. The angry religion hating atheists you see in the news are basically our version of the thieving fake pastors swindling money out of their church-goers or the Westboro Baptist Church: THEY ARE FAKES! I’m still convinced the atheists reported on in the news are commies and their religion is governmental power over everyone.

      Now, the biggest issue I have with the study mentioned above, is whether or not these “atheists” were politically maligned in such a way that they have no problem spending someone else’s money on something they sympathize with. I‘ll bet you’d see them as either registered democrats or hell, even registered socialists/communists (or occupiers). I agree, Christians are the most charitable group in the world, and that hasn‘t stopped me from making donations to Christian charities or Christian children’s hospitals. I don’t need a religion to make moral decisions, nor do I need religious doctrine to stand along side each and every one of you to defend your religious rights or any other rights that are being trampled by our government and even our peers. You may disagree with my views on faith and I may disagree with parts of your religion, but I’ll be damned if I will be held at such a low standard based on fools reported on in the news.

      ANYONE but O

      Report Post » sick6james  
    • K Chad Roberts
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 3:34pm

      I am an atheist, and I most certainly do speak out against the people who supposedly represent atheists. Atheism isn’t an organization, it doesn’t have the checks that organized religion does. It’s only natural that the face atheism gets is one of extreme ideas from bigoted individuals. Don’t fall for the trap. I may reject the idea of God, but I am a better ally for social and fiscal conservatism than most Christians are. There’s no reason to single out atheists as an immoral group, when many of us argue most of the points you do.

      Report Post »  
  • texasbeta
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:41pm

    How is this a story? Of course non-religious people are more kind than religious people. It is simple logic. Non religious people are good for the sake of being good, while religious people are good because someone else told them to do so, and they fear the boogeyman of being in Hell if they don’t. You do it out of fear, while I do it because I actually care about people. Also, you have a history of using your religious dogma to pretend you have justification for actions that are actually bad to people and the world, like slavery, the Crusades, divine right of Kings, etc…while, non religious people are forced to just use logic, which results in a more kind way of treating one another. Ironic huh?

    Report Post »  
    • disenlightened
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:17pm

      …dream a little dream…maybe you can convince your little sister of this, but it’s not working with adults…and eventually even she‘ll think you’re full of it.

      Report Post » disenlightened  
    • tearin4242
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:31pm

      You have completely misunderstood the science. What the author is saying is that those who consider themselves religious are ALWAYS kind and generous so they act in that same manor when there is a plea for compassion. Therefore, when you are graphing the results you get nearly a strait line. On the other hand non religious people only seem to act kind when there is a plea for compassion so when graphed you get spikes when the intervention is applied.

      Also, I am kind not because of some boogyman. I am kind because I have a desire to be like my father. Faiths who attempt to scare people into submission are wrong. To be more specific any faith who calls themselves Christian and attempts to scare people is not christian. If this is your experience with Christian faiths, then I am very sorry.

      Report Post »  
    • Warpspeedpetey
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:18pm

      By stating that “good” exists, you admit that there is a moral law you use to tell good and evil apart. When admitting there is a moral law you admit that there must be source of that moral law. Either you are admitting to a belief in G-d, or you are saying that “good” is what you decide it is. In that case there is no such thing as “good” because you could apply the word “good” to contradictory actions. That would make your statement logically meaningless in the formal sense. Yet you posted it, believing it has meaning. Therefore you are not an atheist.

      What was that about applying logic? ROFL

      Further, atheists murdered more than a 100 million people in the last century.

      Report Post »  
  • ApostolicIlx
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:10pm

    Funny! When I read the initial article, I had to go to the research. After reading the research, I came to the same conclusion earlier this month and posted it on the Blaze, and Huffington Post. It’s nice to get the confirmation from the source though. LOL

    Report Post »  
  • Silversmith
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:59am

    The way this reads to me is that the religious i.e. those living within a spiritual context, are more consistently compassionate. While those who are not living within a spiritual context are capable of compassion but do not live it consistently and are more prone to demonstrate it in reaction to a situation or event.

    Personally, I prefer consistency.

    Silversmith

    Report Post » Silversmith  
    • Locked
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:04am

      “The way this reads to me is that the religious i.e. those living within a spiritual context, are more consistently compassionate. While those who are not living within a spiritual context are capable of compassion but do not live it consistently and are more prone to demonstrate it in reaction to a situation or event.”

      Pretty much exactly it. Only thing I’m wondering is if the study excluding tithing or donations during church services. I could easily see people counting those as their donations, thinking “Well, the church does good work, and I donate to the church, so…” But usually the majority of tithes go to the church itself, not charities.

      I’d really like it if someone more familiar with the study could answer whether these types of donations were excluded.

      Report Post »  
  • Joe Schmuck
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:05am

    They must be better in every way. Actually Perfect in every way if they have no need for Jesus.

    Me, I’m broke in many ways. Personally, I need Jesus.

    Report Post » Joe Schmuck  
  • Carol1955
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:51am

    Could it be that many followers of Christ take their charitable giving very seriously and plan out in advance the way they will handle their giving? This is what we do and while we do have some spontaneous giving, the bulk of our giving is planned on a yearly budget. This type of giving would not be reflected well in this study.

    Report Post »  
  • marybethelizabeth
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:29am

    The religious are too full of themselves to have any compassion. As an example:

    Ask any coffee shop waitress what the worst shift to work is and they will tell you the Sunday after church crowd.

    They demand extra service and are the worst tippers.

    Report Post » marybethelizabeth  
    • Alessandre
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:21am

      Where? Which people? I go to brunch & tip 15 – 20% depending on service in TX, DC & NYC. Do the same if I’m traveling elsewhere. Tip even more if the service is exceptional. And then there are thse of the party who always double check the tip & add a bit more – they recall their experiences as waiters & waitresses. And when a service charge is automatically added, we nearly always tip extra because we are more concerned w/ tipping than w/ checking the bill.

      Perhaps the waitresses you know don’t offer adequate service, are in an economically depressed area of the country or are just encountering people who either haven’t much money, haven’t learned to tip properly or are stingy – there are stingy people in the Church too. If you make such blanket statements, then please add at least a bit of evidence to back it up. Or, are you, perhaps, in the food service industry & not receiving adequate tips?

      PS: I do not tip unless table service is provided or counter servers go out of their way to help me & am insulted by the practice of a tip cup on every counter. Tips are reserved for those who provide service beyond assembling food or dishing it out.

      Report Post »  
    • 4truth2all
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:20am

      Total …bs

      Report Post »  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:27pm

      Hey Marybeth,

      What about all the people that go to services on Saturday?

      You made that whole thing up, didn’t you?

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • marybethelizabeth
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:33pm

      The worst shift is the Sunday morning shift, because the churchgoers don’t tip and complain and demand extra service.

      The waitresses don’t complain about Jews after synagogue, no matter what your prejudices tell you.

      Report Post » marybethelizabeth  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:37pm

      @MARYBETH

      I take it that you are not aware of the fact that MANY, MANY Catholics now go to Church on Saturday.

      Have been for MANY years now.

      Come on now, be honest, you just made all that crap up, didn’t you?

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • mcsledge
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 4:00pm

      Those shopping on the Sabbath are a poor representation of Christians. They have failed to comply with the Law of the Sabbath. If they fail to comply with a simply law like the Sabbath, what other commandments do they fail to obey? These qualify more as hypocrits than representatives of their faith.

      Report Post » mcsledge  
  • ex_nihilo
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:15am

    I believe these verses from Matthew 5 explains it:

    44“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47“If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

    Our actions flow from obedience and righteousness — it isn’t just something we do to make ourselves feel good.

    Report Post » ex_nihilo  
  • Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:14am

    Is there an echo in here? I could have sworn this story had already been covered on The Blaze.

    Report Post » Lesbian Packing Hollow Points  
  • Git-R-Done
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:09am

    That’s very stupid to take an action based on only feelings.

    Report Post »  
  • macpappy
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:04am

    I think that folks that don’t have a higher power to pray too, or blame things on see a person in need and reacts without the assumption that God will provide. The Christians in particular tend to look upon the down trodden as deserving of their place in life because they are Godless.
    The non-religious do not make these distinctions.

    Report Post » macpappy  
    • Centurian
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:03am

      Oh, how wrong you are. There you sit, typing away making grossly wrong generalizations.
      ”
      The Christians in particular tend to look upon the down trodden as deserving of their place in life because they are Godless.”

      How wrong is the above statement. Christians are driven by compassion, not some form of suppression, as you think.

      There are numerous Christian organizations in my are that work exclusively with the poor and forgotten. One in particular, gives the homeless and poor a place to sleep, food, clothing, and help with their education, even giving classes to help them with obtaining a GED or helping with college work.

      This past Sunday, as Treasurer and Deacon at my church, we helped someone by paying their electric bill. Our church has an active food pantry, and we have several men in the church who go about the community, helping the widows and others, who need work done on their home or to your yard, and we charge nothing for this service. We have built porches, rewired houses, and even changed lightbulbs for the elderly. We perform outreach programs into our community, helping people where to find public assistance or where to go to get medical assistance.

      Churches perform many vital services and functions for the community. All because we don’t tout it and brag about it, doesn‘t mean we aren’t involved in the affairs of all men.

      Report Post » Centurian  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:32am

      If you say so.
      Look, I know how great churches are and how much they do. I only donate to churches that have food banks, and the Salvation Army because of the mission they serve. It is the individual Christian that is the pious ones. Collectively they do great things, individually; not so much.

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • Alessandre
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:16pm

      @MacPappy – how many individual Christians do you know? Do you know the Christian man in NYC who pas the rent for two single mothers every month? Do you know the individual Christians who paid my bills for 5 months when my insurance company dragged its feet over paying out the policy I’d been paying for for years? Do you know the woman who always carries food in her bag to feed homeless people she meets? Who are these individual Christians you know?

      Have you walked beside the woman who has given her last dollar to a homeless person? Have you stood w/ her as she counsels a homeless man & then gives him enough to buy a ticket to the shelter run by a community that exists to serve the poor? Have you followed those who buy Christmas gifts for children or spontaneously pay for a prescription when a person in front of them can’t afford the meds he/she needs? Have you stood next to the woman as she writes a cheque that will give the man who had no family or savings a decent burial?

      I know individual Christians who have done all these things & many more w/o ever asking, ‘are you Christian?’. You’re obviously running w/ the wrong crowd. There are Christians who don’t help individuals as well as those who do. But you might want to remember, all those things the Church does have been paid for by individual Christians giving their money to help those in need. So why do you insist individual Christians don’t give to individuals in need?

      Report Post »  
  • jujubeebee
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:54am

    Please don’t waste my taxpayer money on these studies!

    Report Post »  
  • jujubeebee
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:52am

    And we are supposed to believe these studies because????????????
    Studies like this are never accurate. The data can be manipulated.

    Report Post »  
    • SoNick
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:13am

      of course, studies are never reliable when you disagree with their findings! So what’s the alternative? Listening to the voices inside your head? To your gut feeling?

      Report Post »  
  • Individualism
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:52am

    Yes Atheists have not mass murdered people or conquered people’s land because of some spiritual nonsense.

    Report Post » Individualism  
    • Git-R-Done
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:05am

      So the communists in power weren‘t atheists and didn’t force people to be atheists?

      Report Post »  
    • PineTreePatriot
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:18am

      You’re right, they’ve murdered even more for political reasons such as Marxism.

      Report Post » PineTreePatriot  
    • Individualism
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:40pm

      all the communists had a religion before they got into power.

      Report Post » Individualism  
    • Theodwulf
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 5:20pm

      Communists are NOT religious, they are atheists by nature..Faschists MAY tolerate some religion as long as it doesn’t interfere with love of the State..FAR More people have been butchered by politcal movements advocating socialism/marxism than ever by any and all religious movements that have ever existed. Those are the facts.

      Lying to the Blaze crowd is fine, but , please , for the LOVE of GOD stop lying to yourself

      Report Post » Theodwulf  
  • tzion
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:51am

    I could have told this word for word when the article came out. In fact I pretty much did. It’s all in how you portray the data. One could just as easily say that the data shows that religious people don’t have to feel compassionate in order to be charitable with many atheists do. The results are interesting, unsurprising, but weren’t clearly expressed. Being somewhat familiar with how these studies are generally conducted, I was able to see past the surface, speculative representation and see what really being said. Most people probably wouldn’t see that.

    Report Post »  
  • jrhenline
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:51am

    Compassion is a purely personal reaction. It has no connection to theist beliefs or non beliefs. The intent of these types of “studies” is divisive.

    Report Post »  
  • Dougral Supports Israel
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:30am

    I don’t pay any attention to studies like this. Social subjects are very much undefined. How exactly, is compassion measured? Does everyone define it the same way? If not, how does the person conducting the study account for the differences and prevent it from skewing the study?

    I believe a lot of this stuff is concocted to push a certain social point of view (hint: leftist).

    Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:17am

    I don’t see it mentioned in the article or the study… but did the study count tithing or church donations as charity? I imagine that could skew the study quite a bit as well. Granted many churches will use some of their donations to help the outside community, but the majority usually goes to running the church itself and putting on church-specific events.

    Just curious if anyone’s read further into it and knows the answer, thanks!

    Report Post »  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 8:57am

      I am not sure I would count tithing as charity, as you are expected to pay 10% . It would seem more like paying union dues than charity. Regardless of how it is spun a church is not a charitable organization. However, were it not for churches charitable donations would probably be half of what they are.
      When I donate, I only donate to the Salvation Army, and to the churches that have food banks.
      So, if tithing is not charity, the work that the church does with it’s tithings certainly charitable.

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • Centurian
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:23am

      @MACPAPPY,

      Why don’t you admit it: you hate religion. Like many out there, your perception of Christianity has been formed by liberal theology and ignorant media outlets (such as MSNBC).

      Tithing is asked of us as Christians, but is not demanded of us. Why? Because Christianity stresses individual freedom (known as free will). God made all mankind with the ability to make choices. We are not automatons. As such, tithing and charitable giving is between themselves and God. So when a person gives their tithing, it is done freely (not true with a union).

      Also, as part of the Southern Baptist Convention, a portion of each month’s tithe is sent in to the SBC, where it is used for numerous programs.

      Just one of these programs is the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team. This team has helped, and is still there, in New Orleans (Katrina), tornadoes, and as far away as Haiti and the Asian tidal wave disaster from a few years back.

      Please check these out:
      http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/09/us/09baptist.html?pagewanted=all

      And this is just the beginning of our services we provide FOR FREE to the community and to nations world wide.

      So before casting such accusations, please make sure you have your information correct.

      Report Post » Centurian  
    • Locked
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:36am

      @Centurian

      I know you were replying to @Macpappy, but don’t you see the issue with equating tithing with donating? It would be similar to saying “I pay my HOA dues, and we do a yearly food drive for Thanksgiving, so it’s donating.“ Or ”I pay club membership and we helped out at a homeless shelter, so it’s donating.”

      Now, donating to, say the Catholic Charities, or an affiliate program of the SBC that focuses solely on community outreach would definitely qualify as pure donations. But I see tithing as more for the church, not necessarily the needy. Hence why I’m wondering if the survey excluded or included tithing as donations.

      Report Post »  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:37am

      @Centurian
      Your turn to be wrong. I sir am a staunch Constitutionalist, and as Conservative as I can be without going back in time. My thoughts are my own, and were propagated by reading thousands of books, hundreds of hours of conversation, and 55 years of experience.
      Religion is the tool used that keeps poor people from killing the rich people.

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • Centurian
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:00pm

      @Locked

      I can see where you are coming from, but let me explain my take on the tithing. Does the Bible mention that Christians should tithe: yes. Do some churches demand that all members of the church tithe: yes.

      But here is where I believe we may be looking at this differently. First, no church has the right to demand a Christian tithe. The entire notion of freewill is the very basis for the Bible. Man has a choice to make: either accept Christ as personal Lord and Saviour, or don’t. Tithing is also a freewill decision.

      And while I can see where you make a valid point between tithing and donating, you must also remember that the church is not open just on Sundays. The church is a vital building in the community (at least in mine) where people can come to find help. This has happened many times, and I have personally helped several people in the community.

      If a person perceives a church as just a place of worship, then they are incorrect. Thus, those who tithe do more than just keep the lights on. They help keep the doors of the church open to the community.

      Now, I will admit one thing: I have seen churches out there that act more like country clubs than places of worship. These are the ones who treat tithes like union dues. This is NOT according to Christ’s teachings. If a church has not outreach programs, I would also state that that church is not following Christ’s teachings.

      Report Post » Centurian  
  • InMAbutNotLiberal
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 7:59am

    Just the crimes committed by non-believers against believers compared to the opposite is enough to debunk this study.

    Report Post »  
  • PapaPatriarch
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 7:48am

    I turn away bums asking for money all the time in this neighborhood. The older i get the more cynical I am. I give to my church who i know will use it responsibly. If you want “Impulse charity” It better be pretty darn good. Charity can ruin or hurt some people, they can’t handle it, give a bum 100 U.S dollars and he might be dead on overdose by morning. If taxes were lower I thinnk we would ALL be doing more charity, but it would go to causes I believe in, not to the welfare lines.
    If i don‘t know the person well I won’t help anyone anymore, there are too many scammers, we should be responsible for who we let in our wallet.

    Report Post » PapaPatriarch  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:11am

      Thank you sir, I think this post right here explains it perfectly. See, christians have too many perconceived notions about the down trodden. Bums, he says. Please sir, tell me in your christian mind when does a man graduate from poor, out of work, homeless…..to bum; in your most charitable eye?

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • PapaPatriarch
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:30am

      @CRAP
      Right off wiki = “SlangButtocks
      A term which is frequently, but not exclusively, pejorative, referring to a lazy person. By extension, extended to beggar. See also slacker, a generally ironic and humorous variant.”

      Report Post » PapaPatriarch  
    • Centurian
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:32am

      @MACPAPPY,

      I happen to also be careful in my giving. In my area, there are numerous people who portray themselves as poor (or bums, as the person stated) to receive pity from passerbys. Police have ran numerous people off of freeway exits or from shopping malls who were found to be scamming and/or becoming a public safety concern, such as stepping into traffic.

      It seems to me by your postings that you are more concerned with slamming Christians that making solid, valid points.

      Again, our church is open to ALL people, regardless of their financial situation or current state.

      Report Post » Centurian  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:49am

      @Centurian
      Sorry if I came off as Christian busting, that is not my intention. My intention is to respond to individual statements form persons I assume are looking for feedback from the post they make. I do not hide the fact that I am agnostic, nor the fact that I will jump all over a stupid statement or idiot idea.
      With an open mind, my opinions are not far flung, but mainstream free thinker attitudes about all things spiritual.

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:58am

      @PapaPatriarch
      Ouch, you called me crap. How intellectually mature you are.
      Then to add injury to insult you quote Wikipedia to me. Please sir, (I assume you are an adult by your nomenclature, not by your response) if you are going to use a reference media, use a real one.
      Try Encarta, and you will see my point.

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • Centurian
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:12pm

      @MACPAPPY,

      Please accept my apology, then, if you truly do not hate religion.

      I simply get the impression from your postings that you do, and from how some Christians act today, I can see where you can walk away from religion with sarcasm and doubt.

      But here is my take on all of this: somehow, somewhere, people having gotten the idea that if a person is Christian that they do not stumble and do not make mistakes, and as such, when someone who professes to be a Christian messes up, people scream hypocrisy. In all honesty, I am one of these people. I mess up on a daily basis. I make stupid mistakes. But my faith makes me try harder not to do the same mistake again.

      So when people publish reports such as this, I take it with great skepticism because I have seen and read too many articles and reports that slander and misrepresent the Christian church. Too many times, the press seems to take sadistic glee with trashing Christ and Christians.

      Granted, we make great targets at times. And scandals such as the Catholic Church pedophilia scandal, does not help our cause.

      We, as a church, must take responsibility for all of the bad that we have done.

      But in all fairness, the media and others must also recognize the good that the church does. But it will not.

      Never in my lifetime have I seen such as rush to destroy the Christian church as I see now.

      So when I read postings that pose my faith in a bad light, I feel compelled to defend it.

      Report Post » Centurian  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:46pm

      @Centurian
      Just as you say. I am an agnostic, and I treat the Constitution kinda like you treat the Bible, of course I don‘t pray to it’s creators. However, you are right the attack that the left has launched on just Christians is an abomination of justice and an attack on our Constitution.
      As opposed to the basic tenants of Christianity as I am, I will be one with you to fight for the constitutional rights affored you. This is one agnostic that would fight for your right to be Christian, reguardless of what I believe about it.
      See, I don’t see this as much as an attack on your religion as an attack on the Constitution.

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • PapaPatriarch
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 5:56pm

      If it isn‘t your name you don’t have to answer to it anymore….

      Report Post » PapaPatriarch  
  • disenlightened
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 7:44am

    so…religious people are naturally kind and compassionate, but you have to whip the non-religious into a frenzy to get them to part with a buck.

    Report Post » disenlightened  
  • kaydeebeau
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 7:37am

    So as I read this, it would seem that for a non-religious person to be compassionate, the non-religious must know you first ….“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,” Where as the inverse would seem to be true that religious people are just compassionate without a pre-condition?

    Report Post » kaydeebeau  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:13am

      the pre-condition christians have is the belief in Jesus as son of God, savior of mankind. If you don’t believe that you will not get a christians charity.

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 9:39am

      Actually, because Christians believe and follow the teachings of Jesus, we are charitable to anyone (especially the least of these) whether we know you personally or not. There is no pre-condition.

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:41am

      If that is your experience in life, I stand corrected.

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • Centurian
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:43am

      @MACPAPPY

      “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.” Matthew 25:35

      “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.” Luke 4:18

      “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” Luke 14:13

      “Cornelius stared at him in fear. What is it, Lord?’ he asked. The angel answered, Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.’” Acts 10:4

      “Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.” 1 Timothy 5:3
      ________________________
      Should I go on? We make no precondition on those in need. Not once did Jesus ask if the person in need was Christian. Romans 3:22-24 states: “This righteousness is given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

      In another words, we are all sinners, and the only thing that separates me from the beggar or homeless on the street is very little. I, like those who are downtrodden, am a sinner. We are to care for our brothers and sisters.

      Its called compassion for the less fortunate.

      Report Post » Centurian  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:08pm

      @Centurian
      I was raised in a Methodist Childern’s Home, with every comfort that could be afforded me, including a college education. I am thankful to this day for the generosity and Christian Charity I was shown.
      However, I can attest very well the “conditions” of that charity.
      Every scripture you qouted above was written to make the poor feel that one day it would be their day. But it will not. The meek will never inherit the world, you just tell them that to keep them from killing you.

      Report Post » macpappy  
    • JBanon
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:15pm

      You hit the nail on the head. If you are an atheist, your view of the world is that their is no God, and therefore your moral compass depends on what you feel. It’s not that atheists have no morals, they’ll tell you that you are wrong as quickly as anyone else. Having been made in the image of God like the rest of us, they have a conscious and feel like they should be good to other people and often are. An atheist knows it’s rude to be a noisy neighbor and generally acts accordingly just like believers do.
      However, logically, if there’s no God than their is no such thing as right and wrong, as all of our actions are just the fates of atoms bouncing around. Nevertheless, atheists can’t shake the feeling that somethings are right and must resort to circular reasoning to explain why people ought to be good when challenged. To loosely quote CS Lewis: “Why should I be unselfish?-Because it’s good for society. Why should I care about society? -Because one ought to be unselfish.”
      Because their is no logical argument for being good or compassionate under a materialistic world-view, atheists aren’t moved to help because they “ought” to. Rather, they help when their feelings tell them the should.
      However, if you believe in a God that calls things good and bad, you believe that doing good doesn’t depend on your feelings of the moment.

      Report Post »  
    • macpappy
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:31pm

      @JBanon
      An astute argument, but I don’t believe that logically having no God means not knowing right from wrong. It would defenitly change those things that are considered right and wrong. Knowing God does nto ensure that your moral compass is pointing North either. Just ask any Muslim.

      Report Post » macpappy  
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