Can't help that the religion which emphasises compassion and selflessness has become unpopular.
That said, it's the inevitable outcome of a more heterogeneous society.
That said, it's the inevitable outcome of a more heterogeneous society.
Some of the cruelest, most selfish, and least compassionate people I have known have also been deeply religious; and some of the kindest, most loving, and most caring people I have known have also been deeply religious.
I don’t think that the popularity of religion really has much to do with it either way.
More likely its that those who claim to follow such a religion frequently act opposite to its purported teachings. Particularly when they are both rich and powerful. Sets the example that you tell people you are compassionate, but then act in a fully selfish way - its the proven route to success.
That said, if non-cognitivism is true (and I believe it is), one can never deduce a canonical ethics, including one having properties like compassion, either. Biopsychosocial self-regulation is IMO the more interesting angle for looking at human behavior and practiced ethics...
Things like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocal_altruism
The author of this piece is Jewish, btw.