Comments on: Motivations for altruism http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/07/10/motivations-for-altruism/ A Community for Anyone Interested in Mormonism. Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:52:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: aerin http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/07/10/motivations-for-altruism/comment-page-1/#comment-70391 aerin Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:53:51 +0000 http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=682#comment-70391 I don't know about believers' motivations. I'm also not sure about the second claim - that atheists are less likely to give to charity. Is that the case? What about people who are not self-identified as atheists, not active in any religion, and who still give to charity? Who gets to count them? And what is considered charity, anyway? Non profits? Educational institutions? Churches? Mosques? Do taxes count as charity, if part of the taxes go to the greater good? I suppose I see them (spiritual belief, active church membership and charity) as unrelated. Although, perhaps it is easier to give a 10% tithe when you attend a religious service regularly or have a specific holiday where you are counseled to donate a specific percentage of your income to charity. Humans are inclined toward the path of least resistance, after all - if you're not attending a religious service regularly to remind you to contribute, perhaps it's more difficult to remember to contribute. Personally, I think that tax laws are actually much more likely to explain charitable giving. Not that there aren't truly generous people, but the fact that many people give right before December/the new year for tax purposes is telling. I think for some, that is much more of an indicator of charitable giving than religous beliefs. I don’t know about believers’ motivations. I’m also not sure about the second claim – that atheists are less likely to give to charity. Is that the case? What about people who are not self-identified as atheists, not active in any religion, and who still give to charity? Who gets to count them? And what is considered charity, anyway? Non profits? Educational institutions? Churches? Mosques? Do taxes count as charity, if part of the taxes go to the greater good?

I suppose I see them (spiritual belief, active church membership and charity) as unrelated.

Although, perhaps it is easier to give a 10% tithe when you attend a religious service regularly or have a specific holiday where you are counseled to donate a specific percentage of your income to charity. Humans are inclined toward the path of least resistance, after all – if you’re not attending a religious service regularly to remind you to contribute, perhaps it’s more difficult to remember to contribute.

Personally, I think that tax laws are actually much more likely to explain charitable giving. Not that there aren’t truly generous people, but the fact that many people give right before December/the new year for tax purposes is telling. I think for some, that is much more of an indicator of charitable giving than religous beliefs.

]]> By: Hellmut http://latterdaymainstreet.com/2009/07/10/motivations-for-altruism/comment-page-1/#comment-70381 Hellmut Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:08:07 +0000 http://latterdaymainstreet.com/?p=682#comment-70381 John Locke argued that government could tolerate any religion except for atheism. Without the fear of god, there would be no accountability and barbarism would overwhelm civilization. Lately, there is a considerable body of research from game theory to evolutionary biology and neurology that indicates that religion is build on a foundation of goodness rather than the other way around. Cooperation can be explained in terms of tit for tat. Mammals fare better with cooperation than with conflict. Others suggest that the golden rule is hard wired into our brains. While I am skeptical about the neurological claim, it becomes increasingly clear that human beings do not need promises of transcendent bliss to be good. John Locke argued that government could tolerate any religion except for atheism. Without the fear of god, there would be no accountability and barbarism would overwhelm civilization.

Lately, there is a considerable body of research from game theory to evolutionary biology and neurology that indicates that religion is build on a foundation of goodness rather than the other way around.

Cooperation can be explained in terms of tit for tat. Mammals fare better with cooperation than with conflict. Others suggest that the golden rule is hard wired into our brains.

While I am skeptical about the neurological claim, it becomes increasingly clear that human beings do not need promises of transcendent bliss to be good.

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