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Highly religious people are less motivated by compassion than are non-believers

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screwtape:
Maybe I have misunderstood something, but it seems this is showing a positive impact religion has on people's behavior.  It compels them to be charitable without having to actually care about the people they are helping.  That would be beneficial in societies larger than a hunter-gatherer clan of about 150 people - or 1 monkey sphere. 

If you needed help in a large town or city where the population was not religious, this study says you would need to somehow make an emotional connection with someone to get help.  In a place where people were religious, you would need less of a connection because they are compelled to do it for other reasons.

velkyn:
I think that's a fair assessment, screwtape.  Religion is a great way to manipulate people and it does it with fear and greed.  Still no god needed.

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