Are highly religious people less compassionate?

A new study suggests non-believers are more likely than the faithful to be generous when they see a stranger in need

Religious people may be more apt to follow doctrinal beliefs than to be driven by compassion to help others in need.
(Image credit: Courtesy Shutterstock)

Here's a new study that might not go over well in church: Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, say atheists and agnostics are more likely than highly religious people to show compassion for strangers. Are the faithful really less generous than non-churchgoers? Here, a brief guide:

Why do researchers think non-believers are more generous?

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