Study: religious children are less generous and more judgmental

[Aroura]

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.

There is a link to the actual study in the article.

News Article

Study

I guess I'm not surprised by the judgmental part.  I mean, it seems that is what Abrahamic religions do heavily focus on. Sin, sin, sin! Who is sinning?  Are you sinning?  You were born a sinner. Etc.

This is a worldwide study, so not just an American phenomenon. Can't blame the stingy Republicans for this result.  So what do you suppose actually causes religious kids to be less generous?  Is this just a product of religious people tending to be more conservative, and less religious people tending to be more progressive, and progressive people tending to be more generous?  

In any case, an interesting study.

[Chad32]

The abrahamic religion sets up an us vs them mentality. We're all sinners, but the one who worship god are getting to heaven. Everyone else is going to hell, so why bother with them? If they won't convert, then don't throw pearls before swine.

It's ironic that often the ones who think they're more moral are actually less moral, because of how closed off they are.

[mediocrates]

I can't say I find this all that surprising.  The most judgmental people I have ever known were christians (isn't there text in their book that tells them not to do that?) 

[Jackalope]

I can't say I find this all that surprising.  The most judgmental people I have ever known were christians (isn't there text in their book that tells them not to do that?) 

We had a guy here - and I shit you not - who, when I pointed out that bit to him, claimed that Jesus personally told him he could ignore that part.

[Minimalist]

Just like their fucking parents.  What a surprise!

[mediocrates]

I can't say I find this all that surprising.  The most judgmental people I have ever known were christians (isn't there text in their book that tells them not to do that?) 

We had a guy here - and I shit you not - who, when I pointed out that bit to him, claimed that Jesus personally told him he could ignore that part.

HAHA! Not the most creative way to wiggle around that one!  

How about this one...

Now that is very different from telling someone that they shouldn't dare to call anything wrong. In fact, such reasoning will ultimately lead to calling evil good and good evil. This is because evil cannot be called evil, since such labeling is judgmental. Good is considered evil, because those who are endeavoring to do good by calling something else wrong, are guilty of judging. How could any court of justice operate if all judgment without exception were considered wrong? All criticisms of anything would have to be withheld on the basis that such critiques are judgmental in nature.

source: http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/meyer/060429

[Reforged]

As a religious child I was both extremely generous and extremely judgmental.
I looked down on others for not aiming for the same ridiculous standard.

That being said if I still had an inner child I would pay to be put into a temporary coma so I could meet him in a dream and slap his chubby little face till it was red raw.

[abaris]

We had a guy here - and I shit you not - who, when I pointed out that bit to him, claimed that Jesus personally told him he could ignore that part.

Why would that surprise you? Right now, this very day, we've got a guy on the lose, claiming to be the son of god.

[Jackalope]

Good point.

[robvalue]

To be fair, he's offering more evidence than Jesus did. At least he is writing something down in his own lifetime.

Interesting! This doesn't surprise me either. Thanks for the info