This article doesn't take into account the ingrained attitudes that come with an institutionalised religion - but I'll get back to that later.

"They do. Religious people of all political persuasions are 40 per cent more likely to donate to charities each year than secular people, and more than twice as likely to volunteer. They are also more than three times more likely than secular people to give each month, and three and one-half times as likely to volunteer that often"

Where do these statistics come from? I'd dispute them, but I'd also be interested to know what constitutes a charity - what I'd really like to see are statistical breakdowns for support into partisan organisations - how many of these donations are for specifically christian charities as opposed to secular ones such as Amnesty international.

As for the tolerance factor:

The far right religious groups that Brooks is telling us are among the more compassionate ones are also the least accepting of other moral codes.

They are the ones throwing up roadblocks for stem cell research. They are the ones opposing abortions - I can understand them having their moral view, what I have a problem with is that view being forced upon others.

I'm tempted to enter into a diatribe into how much violence is religously motivated and how a less religious, if not secular world would be far better, but I've learned that it's about as effective as yelling at the ocean, so I'll just say I disagree with this article and leave it at that.

I agree with Scout,what a ridiculous article, how did OLO let this garbage slip through?

Alchemist "They probably stood outside the churches and asked them as they came out" - the quote I posted earlier from another review of the research suggests that they stood outside places other than christain churches as well (maybe even the odd mosque) and got the same results - my guess is that the central issue is a worldview focussed outside yourself rather than a belief in a particular deity.

The even result regardless of the particular religion involved is a very significant issue for those who see to use the survey results to show that they alone "have the answer".

I look forward to seeing some interesting explanations for that point.

R0bert

Seeing TV images of Israeli soldiers praying to their God before going into battle in Lebanon gave me another reason to keep as far away from organised religion as possible.

Likewise, on the other side of the border, Islamic militants invoke their God daily for justice.

So when the two Gods go into battle, which is the more compassionate? The dogmatism of religion - left and right, Judaic or Islamic, invites intolerance and hatred of others, not to mention outright bigotry. I learned this as a child in South Africa where the Dutch Reformed Church used the bible to justify Apartheid as being God’s word.

It says something of the low standing of modern Christianity that it has to defend itself against secular society, trying to prove that it is more moral, more compassionate.

That said, they have the right to be there. The article should have been printed in OLO, but its logic intellectually shallow in the extreme.

It’s time to move away from hard core dogmatism, both religious and secular

I don't think much is to be gained from putting up any compassion scoreboard.

The only comment I have about the secular left, (e.g. Marilyn Shepherd and company) is that they seem to be so hateful in their 'compassion'. I mean.. outright loathing in words which have that exact meaning is what I read from Marilyn at times.

For me, as one who regularly exposes the religion of Islam as something diabolical, and is often accused of 'hating muslims' I had an experience today which would suggest otherwise.

I went to the County Court 3.3 which is where the 13 terror suspects are undergoing a pre-trial comittal hearing. When I saw them in the dock, and the number of police, the swarms of lawyers, it was quite surreal. I was the only member of the public there for most of the morning apart from a yr 10 girl doing some research.

In the afternoon, it was just me until this jovial character rolled up, to sit next to me. I introduced myself and he also, and he is a brother of one of the accused. My heart went out to this guy and his brother, but I can't really say why as it relates to how accused persons are perceived, which might be a bit dodgy legally.

So, it is possible to hate the sin, but feel compassion for those of differing ideologies, something I don't experience or feel when I'm on the rough end of the stick from the likes of Marilyn and company.

The key to it all is as Jesus said "Don't let your right hand know what your left is doing" (regarding acts of charity/kindness).

The last thing we need is a scoreboard or 'research' to tell us what in reality know one should know about.

this would have to be the worst post ever this author like a weather man standing in a sun shower saying it's not raining.

Alan Grey read your bible it does say not kill. Most of the worlds JC followers are followers of the pope:- which bible do they use. (the old mistranslation is code for we don’t like what is say's so we are going to lie routine will not wash).

It quite clear that many Christians will say they love their fellow man ever as they are spitting hate at gay's single mum's, blacks, Jews, Muslims. So if your say do Christians say they care about people well yes they do, do they follow that up with action no they don't. As we all know actions speak louder then words.