1. Altruism/Behavior
1.1. This paper conducted a study examining adolescents from 6th to 12th grade enrolled in a Protestant school in Canada. Researchers looked at how their modest lifestyle affected altruism. Results showed that faith maturity/individual perception of relationship to God + other people was a meaningful indicator of adolescent altruistic belief and behavior. However, while intrinsic religiously and doctrinal orthodoxy has a correlation with positive views towards altruism, but INVERSELY associated with actually altruistic behavior. This paper adds to my research as it is a mixed method study, and gives a holistic view.
1.1.1. Religiosity, Altruism, and Altruistic Hypocrisy: Evidence from Protestant Adolescents by Ji, Chang-Ho C; Pendergraft, Lori; Perry, Matthew (Mixed Methods)
1.2. While this article does not focus specifically on altruism and morality, a section of the article looked at how religious and secularism affected criminal behavior. While some studies have show that religion inhibits criminal behavior, others have found that religiosity does not have a SIGNIFICANT effect on inhibiting criminal behavior. By examining numbers, Zuckerman stated that murder rates are lower in secular nations and HIGHER in more religious nations. This is an important paper as it not only connects to Zuckerman's other body of work, but it gives an alternate perspective to my topic.
1.2.1. Atheism, Secularity, and Well-Being: How the Findings of Social Science Counter Negative Stereotypes and Assumptions by Phil Zuckerman (Quantitative)
1.3. This paper addresses the stereotype that priming religion is known to increase moral behavior and moral sensitivity, priming science might be expected to have the opposite effect. However, through studies, the researchers found that the results were opposite: science priming actually increased moral sensitivity. Researchers used scenarios such as rape, care/harm, and secular authority to come to that conclusion, stating that secular institutions motivate prosocial behavior as much as religion This study will help my own research, as I could used this study when discussing altruism.
1.3.1. When Science Replaces Religion: Science as a Secular Authority Bolsters Moral Sensitivity by Yilmaz, Onurcan; Bahçekapili, Hasan G (Mixed)
1.4. These researchers used three different settings: a synagogue, a fitness class, and a local music performance to see what affect it would have in promoting altruism in secular and religious people. They came to find that religious settings have a pivotal role in arousing high levels of pro-sociality, even in secular people. They also discovered that secular subjects display levels of altruism and trust that are similar to those of their religious counterparts in all three settings. This adds to my research, as I can discuss the important of social settings.
1.4.1. Do Religious Contexts Elicit More Trust and Altruism? An Experiment on Facebook by Ruffle, Bradley J.; Sosis, Richard H. (Quanlitative)
1.5. Although this is is a magazine article, Cornwall makes some good points. There was a study conducted examining 1170 children, religious and non-religious. While religious people do have higher levels of charitable action, findings concluded that secularization of moral discourse does not reduce human kindness, it actually increases it. Cornwall also examines other studies looking at altruism. This is a good asset to my research, as I could use the studies in this article.
1.5.1. "Nonreligious Children are more Generous" by W. Cornwall (Qualitative)
2. Parenting
2.1. The Child-Mind and Child-Religion by C. Press (Qualitative)
2.1.1. This paper comes from a religious point of view. It is very different from many other articles I have read, as although it is from religious perspective, it gives a somewhat secular "answer" to the commonly asked question: how should one raise their child with religion? Press states that a child should not be pushed into a religion; they should be able to make their own decision. Children should not be TAUGHT the Bible, but should use the Bible for their spiritual development. This article is an important asset to my research, as it is an "unconventional" article that has some interesting points.
2.2. Kids, You Make the Choice: Religious and Secular Socialization among Marginal Affiliates and Nonreligious Individuals by Thiessen, Joel
2.2.1. Thiessen conducted a study looking at religious and secular parenting and how they raised their kids. Results showed that BOTH secular and religious parents agree that children should be able to form their own opinions regarding religion. This article will aid my research, as it shows both a religious and secular parenting style.
3. Principles of Secularism
3.1. This study not only shows how secularization affects politics, but it also gives an in-depth introduction to secularism. Vernon describes secularity from two perspectives: derivative and reductionist. This journal article will aid my research paper, as I now am able to look at secularization from two different perspectives, creating a deeper analysis.
3.1.1. The Secular Political Culture: Three Views by R. Vernon (Qualitative)
3.2. This journal article's aim is to teach the public the basis of secularism. It not only discusses morality and secularism's relationship, but it also addresses a lot of misconceptions. This was one of the first articles I read. Although it is quite old, being published in 1871, it's ideas are still applicable to today's world. This paper gave me a clearer idea of what secularism truly is, which is crucial for my introduction.
3.2.1. The Principles of Secularism by G. Hoyoake (Qualitative)
3.3. Unlike many of the articles I've read (which write from either a religious or secular perspective), this paper writes from a psychological perspective, focusing purely on factors that influence moral development. The paper begins examining how morals are developed; there is a section later on in the paper that looks at how supernatural factors can affect one's moral development. This paper can help my research, as it I can come the lines of which religious and secular people develop their morals.
3.3.1. Morality and the Belief in the Supernatural by C. Press (Qualitative)
4. Holy Grail Books!!!
4.1. Living the Secular Life: New Answers to Old Questions by Phil Zuckerman
4.1.1. This book was the first piece of work that I read. Zuckerman examines all aspects of secular living, looking at parenting, global issues, secular societies etc. This book address a gap in the knowledge: there has been little to no research on now secular parents directly affects child morality. This is my "go-to" book; I reach for it whenever I have a question, or when I'm looking to expand my knowledge on the topic