I've noticed lately that a lot of the "heartwarming" stories I read have a common thread: religion. People do good things not because it makes objective sense, but because their faith compels them to do the right thing. I'm sure plenty of non-religious people do great things too - but I wager the percentage is higher for those who are devoted to something "higher than themselves". (I say this as a person who is, at b…
According to the book Enlightenment Now, the difference isn't faith. It is being involved in a community organization, which churches happen to be.
Religious people who do not go to church are no more likely to volunteer than non-religious people. Non-religious people who are involved in community organizations are no less likely to volunteer than religious ones.