Highly Religious People Are Less Motivated by Compassion Than Are Non-Believers [View all]

[littlemissmartypants]

Helping someone in need. "Love thy neighbor" is preached from many a pulpit. But new research suggests that the highly religious are less motivated by compassion when helping a stranger than are atheists, agnostics and less religious people. (Credit: © cmlndm / Fotolia)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120430140035.htm

Does Religion Decrease Compassion?
Studies suggest that religious dogma can override our natural tendency toward empathy.

One of the sad and perplexing facts of this world is the millions killed and millions more whose lives are ruined by people justifying their violence by thinking they are acting in a higher cause. The twentieth century was a powerful exhibit of this human failing. The twenty-first is not showing it will be markedly better.

http://www.patheos.com/Pagan/Religion-Decrease-Compassion-Gus-diZerega-05-11-2012.html