Zinnia Jones: Dan Savage is right about the Bible
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Monthly Archives: May 2012
Aphorism: On Christian Charity
By Madison S. Hughes (05.01.2012)
Churches in general and the Catholic Church in particular, are nothing more than organized tribal cults. They give to their respective tribes, as would any primal tribe; however, these modern-day mendicants mooch off of their secular brethren through tax-exemptions and other Christian privileges purposefully to give back to their primal tribes. They give not out of a sense of compassion to their fellow human beings, but out of a sense of community to their fellow limited and literal-minded tribe members.
What Have We Gained (And Lost) In The Two Years Since Obamacare Was Enacted?
Source: MoveOn.org
Conversion
Religion has a way of dulling the mind and removing color from one’s life. Not true religion necessarily. Often the religious mindset causes a fundamentalist mindset. Colorful diversity becomes black and white homogeneity.
Source: nakedpastor.com
Highly Religious People Are Less Motivated by Compassion Than Are Non-Believers
“Love thy neighbor” is preached from many a pulpit. But new research from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that the highly religious are less motivated by compassion when helping a stranger than are atheists, agnostics and less religious people.
[…]
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.”
[…]
“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 said.
Always Question Authority 