Are Religious Conservatives More Generous Than Secular Liberals?

Question

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse University professor Arthur C. Brooks is about to become the darling of the religious right in America -- and it's making him nervous.

The child of academics, raised in a liberal household and educated in the liberal arts, Brooks has written a book that concludes religious conservatives donate far more money than secular liberals to all sorts of charitable activities, irrespective of income.

In the book, he cites extensive data analysis to demonstrate that values advocated by conservatives -- from church attendance and two-parent families to the Protestant work ethic and a distaste for government-funded social services -- make conservatives more generous than liberals.

The book, titled "Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism" (Basic Books, $26), is due for release Nov. 24.

When it comes to helping the needy, Brooks writes: "For too long, liberals have been claiming they are the most virtuous members of America"

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/204/story_20419_1.html

So much for the whole "Christianity is the most evil force on earth" argument.

If you read the article....

It goes on to say that this is completely regardless of income.

It also says they tend to give more of their time to organizations.

Answer 1

Those results were also published in this month's Scientific American. Briefly stated, religious conservatives are more charitable, in terms of dollar donations, than secular liberals. But the claims about who is and isn't "virtuous" are facile and very shaky conclusions. And the seeds of the problem are contained in your own rendition of the issue.

By your own words, a conservative finds it "distasteful" if a "government-funded social service" feeds a person. Why? Because this might cause the recipient to think he's entitled to be fed, gratis? Because the conservative resents being forced to give his money to do something he would otherwise do in private anyway? Because the very idea that government does anything is anathema? Where exactly is the "virtue" in hating to pay one way but paying in another? If the liberal is willing to pay higher taxes for the "government-funded social service," does that enter into the equation of "generosity?" What is the actual differential in the 2 types (tax Vs charity) and its effect?

Methinks there's still a bit to think over before we canonize conservatism.

Answer 2

To the extent this study is accurate (remember the 'prayer heals' Columbia University study fiasco from a few years ago?) I would suspect that the difference relates more to the influence of church leaders and church communities on charitable giving than it does to the innate generosity of churchgoers.

From my viewpoint, his statement that "for too long, liberals have been claiming they are the most virtuous members of American society" somewhat undermines his credibility. Don't conservatives also claim to be the most virtuous members of American society? Aren't there other sorts of virtues beyond giving to charity? Isn't charity basically a churchy sort of concept to begin with?

What about other forms of generosity, like the amount of employee wages and benefits secular liberal employers pay as opposed to religious conservative employers. Who is more likely to choose low-salary/high social benefit careers? Who participates in the Peace Corp? Not saying those things necessarily tilt liberal, but they are alternate generosity metrics that this study on charitable giving does not address.

Answer 3

No way. The religious conservatives are the termites of this nation. The secular liberals, I suppose would be more generous but in many cases the religious liberals and secular conservatives would be more generous than both the religious conservatives and secular liberals.

Answer 4

Probably because religious conservatives tend to be in a much higher tax bracket (meaning they make a helluva lot more money) than most secular liberals. Therefore they have more to give.

Answer 5

And once again, I'm too poor to be a Republican.

I guess the hours spent volunteering in the places that use said money mean nothing since I'm a secular liberal.

Answer 6

Yeah, and Conservatives use a lot more money on war too. In fact, they have a multi trillion dollar debt. Isn't money the root of all evil? Damn, you conservatives confuse me with hypocrisy left and right.

Answer 7

You are trying to prove a point, not ask a real question. Therefore, I will give you the point that you are trying to prove a point and not give you a real answer.

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

That's not too surprising to me, actually. But, thanks for the info.

BTW, it says "irrespective of income" - end of 2nd paragraph.

So, no peoples, it's not because they're richer.