I'm very religious and conservative in some ways and I think I also qualify as compassionate. I give about 5% per year to my church and probably another 0.5% to other charities (mostly local food banks). I'm probably exactly the kind of person this book (which I haven't read) attempts to praise.
I'd guess that about 1/10th of the church donation ends up being spent on what most people would call charity and the other 9/10ths gets spent on ministry.
So I'm therefore giving about 1% of my income to "charity" but probably getting credit for 5.5% because Brooks (and others) lump that ministry giving into the figure.
Obviously I believe that that ministry giving is super important because I'm very religious, but I think that using ministry giving to claim that religious people are more compassionate is silly.
Christianity isn't a contest about who's nicer, and as a Christian I do not want to be compared to some "other" who isn't as "compassionate" according to Brooks or anybody.
This book is very likely just conservative propaganda that drives motivated reasoning.
Also, according to Jesus himself, bragging about kind acts defeats the whole purpose.
So all my respect goes towards religious (and non-religious) organizations that do the actual charitable work in the background, getting barely any recognition (or donation). And shame on those who hijack the good will of people, especially in the name of God.
Comments
I'm very religious and conservative in some ways and I think I also qualify as compassionate. I give about 5% per year to my church and probably another 0.5% to other charities (mostly local food banks). I'm probably exactly the kind of person this book (which I haven't read) attempts to praise.
I'd guess that about 1/10th of the church donation ends up being spent on what most people would call charity and the other 9/10ths gets spent on ministry.
So I'm therefore giving about 1% of my income to "charity" but probably getting credit for 5.5% because Brooks (and others) lump that ministry giving into the figure.
Obviously I believe that that ministry giving is super important because I'm very religious, but I think that using ministry giving to claim that religious people are more compassionate is silly.
Christianity isn't a contest about who's nicer, and as a Christian I do not want to be compared to some "other" who isn't as "compassionate" according to Brooks or anybody.
This book is very likely just conservative propaganda that drives motivated reasoning.
Also, according to Jesus himself, bragging about kind acts defeats the whole purpose.
So all my respect goes towards religious (and non-religious) organizations that do the actual charitable work in the background, getting barely any recognition (or donation). And shame on those who hijack the good will of people, especially in the name of God.