Can empathy be learned? Science offers some clues

[guillaumeb]

From the article:

Just how religion plays into our biological impulse for empathy is not yet clear. One study from the University of Chicago shows that religious upbringing is associated with less altruism. Other studies have shown the contrary; a University of Warsaw study found that religious beliefs are positively associated with empathy, as empathic skills are crucial factors for religion......

To develop empathy, Marsh suggested compassion meditation, which involves training oneself to foster and extend feelings of care and compassion to ever-wider circles of people.

To read more:

http://religionnews.com/2017/10/24/can-empathy-be-learned-science-offers-some-clues/

[MineralMan]

1. I was taught it by my parents.

So, yes, it can be learned, I believe.

[guillaumeb]

2. Part of the socialization process I believe.

Humans are social animals, so in my view,anything that promotes unity is an evolutionary advantage.

[Voltaire2]

3. Altruistic behavior is exhibited in many species.

Clearly religion is not.

[guillaumeb]

4. And?

[Voltaire2]

5. We can draw conclusions from that.

Well some of us can.

[guillaumeb]

6. Feel free to draw them and publicly post about them. eom

[Voltaire2]

7. I already did.

[guillaumeb]

8. Where did you do so?

[guillaumeb]

9. A link:

http://www.scienceonreligion.org/index.php/news-research/research-updates/570-animals-may-have-religion

[Voltaire2]

10. JFCOAPS did your read that bullshit?

Or do you just google until something pops up that meets your criteria?

Let me know when there is actual scientific research that is peer reviewed that establishes that non-humans on this planet actually have religion.

[guillaumeb]

11. Still waiting for your link.

It has been a while.

[AtheistCrusader]

12. What a crock of shit.

Look at all the things that you seem to think are the property of religion.

"For one last example of primates possibly exhibiting a reaction to the awe of nature, Gombe baboons perform a “baboon sangha.” Without signal or warning, these baboons sat in silence before a stream with many small pools and simply gazed at the water. They did this for over 30 minutes, without even the juveniles making a peep. Again without signal or warning, they resumed their normal activities.

Schaefer argues that the best explanation for these animal behaviors is that these animals are expressing religious emotion—they are naturally reacting to the mystery and “divinity” around them. "

What WON'T you people take, steal, and claim or make your own? You're not marvin the fucking martian, claiming whatever thing you want as your own by sticking a flag in it.


If another species expresses something like introspection, you don't get to steal that. It's not yours. Its THAT species' expression. Not yours. Maybe you could learn from those primates and have a little introspection about what the fuck things MIGHT mean to OTHER people and species that express them, rather than sticking a label on it and claiming it as your own.