Religion is Good for Self-Control

Based on a report published in the upcoming issue of the Psychological Bulletin, religious belief and piety promote self-control (see For Good Self-Control, Try Getting Religious About It in the NY Times, as well as the original study).

So self-proclaimed heathen and non-believer NY Times science columnist John Tierney wonders whether he should start going to church. The article's authors are careful to point out that faking it probably won't result in the desired effect. Studies have found that true believers gain benefits from attending services but non-believers who follow the same practice do not. However, researcher Michael McCullough suggests that public involvement with an organization that has strong ideals can provide secularists with a similar result. "People can have sacred values that aren’t religious values,” he said. “Self-reliance might be a sacred value to you that’s relevant to saving money. Concern for others might be a sacred value that’s relevant to taking time to do volunteer work."

Here's a place that provides that opportunity: The Ethical Culture Society. And guess what? It's religious about it.