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Cyndi Sarnoff-Ross is a licensed psychotherapist with almost twenty years of clinical experience in the fields of clinical psychology and organizational management. She has worked extensively with a wide variety of…
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Does Being Religious Somehow Make You Less Compassionate?
Posted in Healthy Relatio... by Cyndi Sarnoff-Ross on May 15, 2012
The idea that religion is in any way responsible for causing people to be less compassionate is certainly a provocative notion, but based on the results of several studies this may in fact be the case. Those participants, for whom the primary motivation for doing good deeds was compassion, identified themselves as being less religious.
Compassion is generally the emotion people feel when they witness the suffering or pain of others and they are moved to act. It is commonly thought that acts of kindness are inspired by feelings of empathy and compassion but this link, according to the studies, was much stronger in those who were either non- or less religious. For these individuals it is this emotional tie or feeling of empathy that determines whether or not they will act in a charitable fashion.
Those who identified themselves as more religious tended to base their philanthropy on reasons such as doctrine, being part of a community, or even their self-image and reputation. The researchers suspected that those who were highly religious had a stronger moral obligation than those identified as non-religious.
In summary, all of the studies found that those who were identified as non–religious were more likely to be moved into action by an emotional response to another person's suffering. In fact, in one study it was determined that witnessing the suffering of others had a much more profound effect on the behavioral responses of those identified as non-religious than it did on their religious counterparts. Compassion and generosity seemed to be very linked for those who were non-religious.
It is possible that those who are more religious have a more structured notion, based on their religious beliefs, of what is worthy of charitable feeling and consequently donations. Those who are not religious, and are therefore not constrained by preordained religious restrictions, may be more open to immediate empathetic feelings and responses including genuine human need and desperation.
Every person’s charitable responses are unique to them as an individual and what moves us to action varies based on our own experiences and beliefs. Nevertheless, these studies and their results are a good starting place for a discussion about how religion, or the lack of it, informs our decisions regarding how we feel towards others in need.
- Cyndi
Compassion is generally the emotion people feel when they witness the suffering or pain of others and they are moved to act. It is commonly thought that acts of kindness are inspired by feelings of empathy and compassion but this link, according to the studies, was much stronger in those who were either non- or less religious. For these individuals it is this emotional tie or feeling of empathy that determines whether or not they will act in a charitable fashion.
Those who identified themselves as more religious tended to base their philanthropy on reasons such as doctrine, being part of a community, or even their self-image and reputation. The researchers suspected that those who were highly religious had a stronger moral obligation than those identified as non-religious.
In summary, all of the studies found that those who were identified as non–religious were more likely to be moved into action by an emotional response to another person's suffering. In fact, in one study it was determined that witnessing the suffering of others had a much more profound effect on the behavioral responses of those identified as non-religious than it did on their religious counterparts. Compassion and generosity seemed to be very linked for those who were non-religious.
It is possible that those who are more religious have a more structured notion, based on their religious beliefs, of what is worthy of charitable feeling and consequently donations. Those who are not religious, and are therefore not constrained by preordained religious restrictions, may be more open to immediate empathetic feelings and responses including genuine human need and desperation.
Every person’s charitable responses are unique to them as an individual and what moves us to action varies based on our own experiences and beliefs. Nevertheless, these studies and their results are a good starting place for a discussion about how religion, or the lack of it, informs our decisions regarding how we feel towards others in need.
- Cyndi
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"What will other people think if I don't act?" I it not possible to have self guilt?
The difference between dogma and religious guilt can be vast. I contend that "compassion" could be a dogma.
My original point that definitions are the problem with understanding seems to be an agreement between us as I focused on compassion you on religious and now me on dogma. I suppose definitions by original authors need to be provided to understand conclusions.
This is the problem in all politics.
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That is so very true. Providing care promotes an ever greater capacity to experience and express Love.
Guilt as motivation to be compassionate doesn't appear to be an element of this study, again based on information present. Still, I would suspect that those who are steeped in dogma are more likely to have issues with guilt than those who live with fewer mandated behaviors and attitudes.
I believe these studies are used to help those guilted into giving feel better about themselves by claiming compassion. I suppose what is important is to give but glossing over the reality in an attempt to tear down the religious (less compassionate) to build the ego of the other side is not a "compassionate" behavior.
If my premise of the definition of compassion = guilt is incorrect than please square it with the definition on dictionary.com
"Compassion: of a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering."
Guilt in the guise of compassion is also used for nefarious purposes to lull the unsuspecting to give to fake or less than legitimate causes. Something that those with a moral obligation system appears to me to be less susceptible to although all to frequently fooled as well.
So the question should be not who is more compassionate but what methods do the most good for the most people. In addition for the giver there are benefits to their feeling of self worth by giving. Which is more effective, giving out of guilt or giving because your morals tell you it's the right thing to do.
are less susceptible to being motivated by guilt.
Guilt is good if it provides motivation to do good. Unfortunately too often guilt is used as a manipulation by some to do what they may think is good but too often is short sighted like giving a panhandler a dollar rather than volunteering at a soup kitchen or donating to a food bank which is a group activity that a church organization is more likely to perform than a secular group.
Muslim give to the poor but are not compassionate towards women, that are punished,married as children and many times mutilated in a female circumsition.
Christians we had in our Commands and Jesus teaching about compassion, sharing and giving to the less fortunate.
I am a practicing Roman Catholic, was raised to share and give to others, my parents though us that to give is to receive, in my case is true.
I am an American by choice and one quality I admire in this nation is that Americans are very charitable, volunteer and are the first to give.
I true Christian is compassionate. I could not sit there and watch someone suffer. This isn't what my faith teaches.
It can be easy to condemn the drunk person, but there is a chance that they are just one kind act away from turning their life around.
I like to think of it this way, well from a Christian point of view. Jesus lived such a good life, and sets such high standards, that none of us is really that much above anybody else.