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-- Associated Press
PSYCHOLOGY STUDY
Religious People Found Kinder, on 2 Conditions
Religious people are more helpful and generous than others -- but only on two conditions, according to a new study published in the prestigious journal Science.
University of British Columbia psychology researchers Ara Norenzayan and Azim Shariff concluded that religious people act more kindly than atheists on condition that they believe their acts will enhance their reputations among their peers. The second condition is being freshly reminded, in a subconscious way, of the existence of a morally tinged God or supernatural being, the researchers said.
Religious people are inclined, under these conditions, to be more giving and honest than others because their belief in God assumes the existence of an all-knowing "supernatural police" force that monitors their behavior, Norenzayan said in an interview.
But once researchers remove the two conditions, Norenzayan said, "all of a sudden you don't find any differences between the moral behavior of religious people and non-religious."
-- Religion News Service
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Bethesda Church Joins Nationwide Campaign
Worship services and Sunday school have been canceled at Bethesda United Methodist Church tomorrow so members can spend the weekend serving the community.
Doing home repairs for the elderly, cleaning up sections of Rock Creek Park, assembling "flood buckets" for Hurricane Ike victims with bleach and sponges and sending a team to rebuild homes in New Orleans are some of the activities that the 400 church members are engaging in, said the Rev. Jenny Cannon. It is meant to communicate that the church is "more than coming together for worship."
The effort is part of a nationwide campaign called "Don't Go to Church, Be the Church," sponsored by World Vision, a faith-based nonprofit; Zondervan, a Christian publisher; and Outreach, a Christian outreach organization. In its second year, the initiative encourages churches to close their doors for one weekend and help neighbors in need.
About 300 churches are participating this year, according to Faith in Action, the organization coordinating the campaign.
-- Jacqueline L. Salmon
