"Religion makes people nicer"
According to a current article in Science,
"Religious people tend under certain conditions to be more helpful and generous than others because their belief in God assumes the existence of an all-knowing "supernatural police" force that monitors their behavior, says University of B.C. psychologist Ara Norenzayan."
Apparently, this is particularly likely to be true when
1) people believe that others will notice and appreciate their behavior, and
2) people have been recently reminded of their religious tenets.
The second point puts me in mind of the "mani stones" found throughout the Himalayas, on which the prayer "Om Mani Padme Hum" is carved. People say that the stones improve religious merit because whenever someone sees such a stone, they can't help but pray Om Mani Padme Hum when they read it. Therefore, the more common the stones are, the better the religious merit of the people.
I wonder how far this concept can be extended toward being helpful and generous toward other-than-human beings?
"Religious people tend under certain conditions to be more helpful and generous than others because their belief in God assumes the existence of an all-knowing "supernatural police" force that monitors their behavior, says University of B.C. psychologist Ara Norenzayan."
Apparently, this is particularly likely to be true when
1) people believe that others will notice and appreciate their behavior, and
2) people have been recently reminded of their religious tenets.
The second point puts me in mind of the "mani stones" found throughout the Himalayas, on which the prayer "Om Mani Padme Hum" is carved. People say that the stones improve religious merit because whenever someone sees such a stone, they can't help but pray Om Mani Padme Hum when they read it. Therefore, the more common the stones are, the better the religious merit of the people.
I wonder how far this concept can be extended toward being helpful and generous toward other-than-human beings?
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