Religious and racial violence continues to erupt around the world. In Nigeria, Islamic militants have killed or kidnapped hundreds of men, women and children and torched homes of people of different faiths. In Syria and Iraq, Shiites and Sunni Moslems are killing and beheading each other. In Canada, Australia and East Africa, Moslem fanatics have mounted attacks on non-believers.

“Research suggests that generosity is hardwired into our brains,” according to new research from Simon Fraser University in Canada (Wall Street Journal, December 24, 2014; NPR, December 24, 2014).