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Thanks Job for your rely and I am going to try and take a look at that book, along with reading some others (I’m making a list right now). Perhaps by end of this fall I’ll have a better understanding of religious vs. non-religious generosity and stinginess profiles.
I have a gut feeling (and I can’t quantify this yet) that it’s deeply rooted in our long human evolution within small tribal bands. I know this isn’t particularly religious-appropriate talk, but evolution left deep tracks on us. Primates seek their identity, sustenance, safety, and accountability within small lifetime clusters that extend beyond immediate family members and have kinship-like ties. Modern industrial life is devoid of these tribal groups, except you can still see it exists in some religious groups and churches. Nothing else provides the primal ‘lifetime belonging in a small tribe’ for us, the modern humans. My gut tells me that charity for other humans (as opposed to charity for nature, or animals, or the arts, or education) the generosity towards your fellow brethren, comes from a deep sense of your belonging within your small tribe. It comes from the experience of trusting each other, of being accountable, and being held accountable by a small group who knows you very well. It comes from knowing they and you, together, will fight enemies to protect your tribe from harm. Like family should. Through good times and bad. They hold you accountable and protect you, too.
Of course we don’t groom fleas & ticks like primates do. LOL. But I’ve always liked that picture of primates who know their own small tribe so well that they enjoy grooming and being groomed. There’s deep trust and relaxation, there. Blood pressure drops. I think that charity and generosity come naturally – out of love and trust.