Read a seminal article by Allan Luks in the October 1988 Psychology Today that describes the “helper’s high” – a sense of calm and enhanced self-worth – observed in a study of more than 1,700 women involved regularly in helping others. Altruism functions like exercise but has some advantages over it, Luks suggests.

Read a 2003 Boston Globe article on studies linking altruism to better health and stress reduction.

Read an October 2004 Science & Theology News article on evolutionary theory and altruism.

Read a 2011 article from the International Journal of Person Centred Medicine by Stephen Post, which reviews studies showing a correlation between well-being, happiness, health and longevity of people who are emotionally and behaviorally compassionate.

The Islamic Circle of North America is a grass-roots organization working to establish Muslim identity and cohesiveness and to further good works. It has traditionally been an immigrant-led organization. It provides religious instruction and public education, youth programs, social services, disaster relief and services to the homeless. It has a presence in every major city […]

Congregation Or Atid, a Conservative synagogue in Richmond, Va. conducts a “Switch Day,” when members take the shifts of Christian volunteers at nearby Beth Sholom Nursing Home.

Since 1990, Cedar Village, a retirement and nursing home in Mason, Ohio, has held a “Mitzvah Day” every Dec. 25, in which Jewish staff members volunteer to work for Christian staffers. Contact Rachel Festenstein, director of marketing and community outreach.

Rick Hemphill is spokesman for the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Colorado Springs, Colo. Since 1884, the alliance has been evangelizing, starting churches, educating Christian church leaders and offering medical care in Africa.