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Title: Religious kids are harsher and less generous than atheist ones, study says
Source:
The Oregonian
URL Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/faith/201 ... ious_kids_are_harsher_and.html
Published: Nov 5, 2015
Author: Melissa Binder
Post Date: 2015-11-05 20:11:30 by Willie Green
Keywords: None
Views: 6152
Comments: 33
When it comes to teaching kids the Golden Rule, Sunday school might not be the best bet. A new study in the journal Current Biology found children in religious households are significantly less generous than their non-religious peers. At the same time, religious parents were more likely than non-religious ones to consider their children empathetic and sensitive to the plight of others. It's a common assumption in the United States that faith goes hand-in-hand with goodness. The Pew Research Center reported last year that 53 percent of Americans think it's necessary to believe in God to be moral. Americans overwhelmingly elect Christian representatives, and they distrust atheists. This study challenges those attitudes. It was the children in non-religious homes most likely to be generous toward a stranger. The longer a child had lived in a religious home, the stingier he was compared to his secular peers. Here's how the study worked: researchers asked kids to play a game which required them to decide how many stickers to share with an anonymous peer from the same school and similar ethnic group. In their report, the researchers noted it was important for the anonymous stranger to be similar to the child so that other biases didn't get in the way. Researchers also measured how children perceived interpersonal harm and what degree of punishment they thought was appropriate. Religious children judged others' actions as meaner and more deserving of punishment than kids in secular homes. The study concluded that in this way religious children tend to come across as more judgmental, while also being less altruistic. Nearly 1,200 children from the U.S., Canada, Jordan, Turkey, South Africa and China participated. Most of the kids came from Christian, Muslim or non-religious households, with a small number from Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu and agnostic homes. Their ages ranged from 5 to 12. Poster Comment: Religion makes kids judgemental and mean-spirited.
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#1. To: Willie Green (#0)
Religious kids can recognize sin and depravity and dare to speak about it. Yeah, they are just evil kids and should be reprogrammed. /s/
There are two types of religiosity. One is to be able to recognize sin in others and dare to speak about it. Second is to be able to recognize sins in oneself, and dare to confess them and to mourn over them. In the New Testament the healthy first type are called pharisees who do not need physician, the second sick ones were the tax collectors, harlots, thieves and others who came to Christ to be cured. When the second type converts to the path of righteousness they should guard themselves from the pride through meekness, mercy, humility and memory of their own sins. If they fail to do that they will fall down from the divine ladder of ascent: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
#14. To: A Pole (#4)
One is to be able to recognize sin in others and dare to speak about it. Second is to be able to recognize sins in oneself, and dare to confess them and to mourn over them. In the New Testament the healthy first type are called pharisees who do not need physician, the second sick ones were the tax collectors, harlots, thieves and others who came to Christ to be cured. When the second type converts to the path of righteousness they should guard themselves from the pride through meekness, mercy, humility and memory of their own sins. If they fail to do that they will fall down from the divine ladder of ascent: Well said. God Bless.
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#4. To: Don, Deckard, out damned spot, Willie Green, TooConservative, redleghunter, Vicomte13, GarySpFc, Pericles (#1)
Religious kids can recognize sin and depravity and dare to speak about it.
Replies to Comment # 4. There are two types of religiosity.
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