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Most atheists I have met are either doing it for attention or to be hip, or just angry at the world, so I have never really been able to talk to one about there feelings. I am obviously a "religious" person, but I tend to think I have at least a wee bit of altruism in me. It is true that many good organizations are based in religion, but correlation does not mean causation. Most people are religous in some way or another, so it is bound to be true that many organizations are faith based. Most presidents are tall, does that mean tall people are naturally better at being the president? Of course not. And most CEOs are men, does this imply men are intrinsically better at business? Not at all, it does suggest that we have some views culturally that make is easier or more likely for men to get to that position. Religon can be a cause for being kind to others, but I dont think it is a prerequisite. I think it would be hard to find someone who actually had to be informed through religion to be altruistic. I think a lot of it is natural. More and more we find that the state is the source of help for those of lesser means. At the same time, we see more and more segregation of church and state. So while there is a correlation between less church and more helping of the poor, I doubt any of us would say one causes the other. I hope this makes some sort of sense. I am more comfortasble with the spoken word than the written.
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