Why are people of faith more generous than non-believers?

Question

It is a fact. Christians are more generous. Republicans are more generous. The non-believers (typically Democrats) are cheap and don't give. They are the ones who demand that the government take money away from us and help those in need. Unfortunately, government doesn't do anything very well. So what's the answer? Why are believers so generous and non-believers such cold hearted cheapies?

In Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism (Basic Books), Arthur C. Brooks finds that religious conservatives are far more charitable than secular liberals, and that those who support the idea that government should redistribute income are among the least likely to dig into their own wallets to help others.

Some of his findings have been touched on elsewhere by other scholars, but Mr. Brooks, a professor of public administration at Syracuse University, breaks new ground in amassing information from 15 sets of data in a slim 184-page book .

I love the criticisms and anger. Where are the facts to contradict what I asserted? I produced a book which is the result of research. Come up with something besides the foolishness I'm reading. Got facts? Or just venom?
Thought so.

The comedy continues.
Lots of hate, venom and namecalling, but NOBODY has contradicted the FACT. Thanks for the entertainment. It's fun to see you fathless misers twist in the wind and grasp at straws. You lack FACTS and FIGURES so you bluster.

ERI, you must be proud. Donating money to an organization which rips unborn, innocent humans from their mom's uterus and dismembers then murders them. How compassionate!!

Answer 1

Christians are taught to be happy with what God has given them in life. Sure some Christians have nice things, but its not the most important thing to them. They are happier with the way they feel when they know they are helping others. A person who doesn't have faith in Jesus taking care of them will hold on to their money and possessions because that is what they think is going to save them.

Answer 2

you know, your facts could indeed be all that and a bag of chips.....

or not. just because it is written up, doesn't make it true.
there are lots of books that people like to quote from, that have questionable validity.

so how 'bout this...? why don't you try practicing what you are preaching here?
Are you familiar with the concept of being generous of spirit?
You could set a fine example of the very thing you are interested in proving, by demonstrating it! That would actually be meaningful.

You won't get the same rush you get with all the provocation of "venom", but if you stick with it, it will grow on you. There are much more meaningful ways to offer compassion, other than digging into your wallet.

food for thought......

Answer 3

" Why are people of faith more generous than non-believers?
It is a fact."
That's a bunch of baloney. There is no one more tight-fisted than a bunch of rich republicans who want to keep every dime they make and not give anything to the poor.
I really couldn't care less what some self-serving book on how generous christian conservatives are has to say on the matter- that stuff always has an agenda and always ends up with exactly the conclusions that its audience expects.

If you are in fact so generous, start sending me 10% of your income. I'm 100% sure I need it more than your pastor does.
To clarify what I think of thithing. You are supporting a particular organization and most of that money does not support the poor. That is not generosity. If you are giving directly to the poor, that is generosity.

Answer 4

I'm sorry, but while I am a Christian, I don't agree with your theory about this. One can't generalize people in this manner. I can't speak for the religious beliefs of Bill Gates, but he and his wife are among the most generous people around. They donate millions of dollars to worthwhile causes because they have the ability to do so and they are caring and decent people. Same with Oprah Winfrey and a host of other celebrities who may or may not be people of faith.

As for Republicans versus Democrats, I am a Republican, yet I have noticed that it is the Democrats that introduce legislation which provides for government-funded programs to help people - far more than the Republicans.

On a final note, my ex-mother-in-law was a pastor's wife. While my ex-father-in-law was alive, he would give the shirt off his back and his last dollar to help someone. He was a Christian man who lived his faith by example. His wife on the other hand, a woman who claimed to be holy and righteous, was so stingy that she not only would refuse to share, even from her abundance, but was seen taking food for herself out of the church's food pantry because of her greed (she hoarded food).

One can't judge others stereotypically this way. It is unfair and inaccurate. You have to look at individuals - not groups, because groups are made up of individuals. Each individual, whether someone of faith or not, whether Republican, Democrat or otherwise, is going to give as they see fit and their generosity will match their hearts - not their faith or political ideologies.

Answer 5

I'm sure it's easy to give charity as a Christian since the government favors you and gives you tax breaks that nn-Christians are not allowed to get.

http://www.positiveatheism.org/writ/charity.htm

"Meanwhile, just as in the case of schools and hospitals, these religious-affiliated charitable organizations enjoy special advantages. Virtually all of them own land and other untaxed properties. In many cases, they enjoy streams of income from these assets as well as other unrelated activities, all of which are also untaxed. This represents a large subsidy from Christians and non-Christians alike, even for those religious organizations that do not receive outright grant monies from the taxpayers."

Answer 6

My experience has been exactly the opposite. I personally not only give large amounts to charity but occasionally do volunteer work as well and many of the other volunteers are atheists as well. I suspect your study is deeply flawed. There is a lot more to charity than being extorted by money grubbing churches or dishonest TV evangelists.

Answer 7

That's one of the most moronic things I have ever read on this site.

First of all most democrats are "believers" too, did you know that?

Do you think anyone would have to use tax money to help the poor if the republicans were doing such a fine job of it on their own?

Have you ever heard of bill Gates? Want to compare what he has given away with any of your "generous" believers?

Answer 8

Umm, if you look at it, you'll notice that they are counting church donations in that. Most liberals don't belong to churches that demand you turn over 10% of your salary.

Besides, although I do donate a good portion of my salary to orgnaizations, most of them don't count as charities - like the ACLU, Doctors Without Borders, The National Center for Science Education, and Planned Parenthood. I want my donations to go to more than handing out bibles.

Answer 9

Wow, this is quite the generalization.

One could be cynical and say that Christians are only proportionally more generous in as much as they expect a heavenly reward for their good deeds.

". . . cold-hearted cheapies"? Perhaps you should focus on developing a more charitable attitude?

Answer 10

Maybe because conservatives think that makes them pious and more favorable in the eyes of God? Liberals realize there are much more effective ways of contributing to society than just donating money.