There is a group of motivated individuals who gather regularly at several, sometimes many, locations in every single town and city across America. They subject themselves to long lectures about ethics, morality, justice and philanthropy. They pledge themselves to private action, public action and political action. They collectively give something like 1/3rd more money (income adjusted, per person) to philanthropic organizations - _excluding_ donations they give to their own organization and gatherings. They welcome newcomers freely.

They are evangelical Christians. Go figure. Seems like 'compassionate conservatism' isn't what is needed to somehow correct a deficit in the public spirit of evangelicals. Compassionate liberalism, on the other hand ... maybe all the secular liberals need to be herded into weekly lectures on philanthropy, ethics and morals, to make them more socially responsible.

Used to rely at least on getting replies from degsme. Now I can be correct, informative, and provocative, and get no responses at all. No fun! =P

Oh, indeed? The evangelical Christians you're describing are obviously quite different from the Southern Baptists I remember growing up. When they gathered it was for the purpose of hearing about ways to improve their own personal relationship with Jesus. When they tithed it was either to build bigger and more impressive churches with better sound systems and fancier pipe organs or to fund foreign missionaries. The homeless down the street were miserable sinners who got squat.

Their version of private action was to spy more effectively on their sinful neighbors and spread the news more widely about their sins. Their political activity was confined to squabbling among themselves until the congregation eventually split into two new churches. (To be sure, that was preferable to their current political meddling.)

In short, they were mean-spirited, self-centered and self-righteous. If they're so very different now, you'd have to say they've evolved. Except that they don't believe in evolution.