RELIGION: Like we needed scientists to tell us this?

Religious people are 'more helpful, honest and generous' say scientists

By David Derbyshire
Last updated at 9:13 AM on 03rd October 2008

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Believing in God makes people nicer, a major study has concluded.


After analysing three decades of research, scientists say religion encourages individuals to be more helpful, honest and generous.


But believers acting for the greater good may be doing so to enhance their own reputation among friends and acquaintances, according to the review published today in the journal Science.


A study suggests that religion encourages people to be more helpful, honest and generous
Dr Ara Norenzayan, a psychologist at the University of British Columbia, Canada, said the debate over whether religion improves behaviour has too often been driven by opinion and anecdote. 'We wanted to look at the hard scientific evidence,' he said.

Published research into the links between religion and 'pro-social' behaviour showed that religious and spiritual thoughts reduced rates of cheating in games and increased trust between strangers.


Repeated studies have shown that those who frequently pray and attend religious services report more charitable donations and volunteer work, they said.

Religious people are more likely to take part in volunteer work, according to researchers


Some experts have questioned whether religious thoughts make you behave better - or whether nicer people are more likely to be religious in the first place. But the evidence suggests that fear of an all-powerful presence encourages good behaviour.

In one experiment, volunteers who had been told that a dead student's ghost had been seen in the experiment room cheated less on a test than those who had not.

Children told a fictional character called Princess Alice was watching them were less likely to disobey their instructions.

Other experiments showed that good behaviour is more likely when religious thoughts are fresh in the mind - or when such behaviour boosts someone's reputation.

In one study, volunteers were given the choice of volunteering to raise money for a sick child who could not pay his medical bills. Some volunteers were told they would almost certainly be asked to help - others were told that they were unlikely to be called upon.

'Only in the latter situation was a link between religiosity and volunteering evident,' the researchers report in Science.

Some evolutionary scientists argue that religious faith was important for the survival of early human societies.

Fear of God's judgment encouraged people to work together and help others.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1066784/Religious-people-helpful-honest-generous-say-scientists.html#