I was startled by a recent analysis of per capita charitable contributions by state. Massachusetts, with the fourth highest personal income in the country, ranked last in charitable contributions. Mississippi, forty-ninth in income, ranked first in actual dollars contributed. Mississippians gave, on average, about forty percent more to charity than did their Yankee cousins! Converted to percentage of income contributed to charity, the disparity was even greater.  Another fact emerged: Wealthy people tend to give more to secular charities than to religious institutions. Poorer families give mostly to religious institutions and their social ministries. 

What's going on? Are lower income families more generous or more religious? Do rich people see more direct benefit to their well-being from…