Global Conscious Living: Is morality derived from religion?

I have often heard from students and other adults alike that morality is directly derived from religion.

From experience and scientific studies, this hypothesis untrue.  The overwhelming objective evidence for this is displayed in the global community.  How else can one explain such a variety of cultures, religions and societies being able to come together peaceably most of the time, with strikingly similar value systems?

In Spiritual Evolution: How Science Redefines Our Existence, we discuss how scientific evidence suggests that personal spiritual practices (meditation, reflection, prayer, etc.) can lead to a more compassionate and thus more empathetic mindset.  This effect has been shown to be not related to any specific culture, religion or belief system.  This powerful discovery directly invalidates the views of religious fanatics who promote divine favoritism for a “chosen few.” In fact, if everyone could harness a bit more compassion in their day to day decision making, the world as a whole would become a better place though global human behavioral changes.

This movement of changing from within to change the world is embraced by increasing numbers of global consciousness groups.  The Institute for Noetic Sciences (IONS) scientifically studies and tests interconnectedness, mind-matter interactions and healing effects.  The Shift Network promotes unity ideals and global consciousness evolution.  The Global Consciousness Project, based at Princeton University, studies the effects of global human attention and intention on measurable random generators across the world.  These groups and a multitude of other researchers at universities across the globe are contributing to a mountain of evidence that suggests the following pivotal insights.

1. We are all interconnected in ways we do not fully understand.
2. Our thoughts and intensions affect the world around us.
3. We have a moral responsibility to the entire planet.

If all people were guided by these insights regardless of what government they are part of, what religious practice they observe and what corporation they work for humanity could avoid many of the self-destructive and self-serving decisions made by such entities.  Tenzin Gyatso, 14^th Dalai Lama summarized this point well when he said, “Love and Compassion are necessities, not luxuries.  Without them, humanity cannot survive.”