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I'm starting to reach the conclusion that empathy does not come naturally for many and they need to be taught or shown. This would explain why religions formed, to teach empathy via morals.
Has anyone seen similar posturings anywhere?

powder 8 Aug 14
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The dedicated followers of Ayn Rand are a perfect example.

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At some level empathy is inate. Animals possess some degree of empathy, if not they will eat their babies.

Current research shows, those raised by atheists are more empathetic. Older research suggests higher degrees of intelligence yields higher degrees of empathy.

Religions likely formed to cope with death. It is a mechanism to cope with the sorrow from the death of loved ones and a comfort for some gripping the reality of their immortallity.

Religion teaches obedience and humility.

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Its seems also to e prevalent with Libertarians. Rand Paul for instance appears to be void of empathy. The Libertarians I've met on the site equally seem to fit the description. They would as soon let someone suffer as long as nobody touches what they think is due them.

@powder

Probably also wrong.

@Heathenman

I don't think so.

@t1nick

Okay. Maybe I am wrong.

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Sometimes empathy gets in the way of good judgement, and definitely affects making hard decisions about the lives of others....so lacking empathy can sometimes be a bonus.
How do you measure 'degree of empathy' .... what level is 'right'
I am unclear of your argument that religion, based on moral teachings, formed to make people more empathic ... instinctively seems like a deeply flawed assertion.

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Having studied the Bible for too many years I can look back now and say that from my study I find little morality within its covers and what is in there would tend to stifle empathy. There are exceptions like the golden rule but I would say they are exceptions and not the rule.

gearl Level 8 Aug 14, 2019
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I have read the opposite that empathy is an evolutionary trait we inherited, with exceptions like sociopaths and psychopaths.

@powder why more so for the me generation than the generation before the civil rights and womens rights movements... if anyone needed to be taught empathy it was old(er) generations.

@powder yes but they did not extend empathy to minorities or women soo I don't think the increased materialism reduces empathy per se... especially since millenials have to work 2-3 jobs just to get by 😟

@powder but the white colonialists did not apparently. thanks to them denying rights to women or visible minorities who they deemed what was it? 3/5ths of a person? If that is not absence of empathy, than what is?

I think there are some studies that suggest empathy is an evolutionary tool which promotes collectivism and tribalism, which in turn creates social cohesion and belonging. Ergo, the collective survival of the many. But I might be making that up!

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No...I can’t concur with you on the idea that religion was formed in order to teach empathy via morals. Some people do have less empathy than others...however this is completely unrelated to whether they are religious or not. In my opinion, morality and empathy are both human characteristics, and were undoubtedly innate in humans before religion was invented, some people are just less moral or empathetic than others.

@powder Control...plain and simple. It’s a list of rules.

@powder Alas, the majority seem to it appears.

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