"Doing good is good for you!

Nearly every religious tradition affirms service to others as an essential responsibility of its adherents. Alms-giving, for example, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Tikkun olam, or repairing the world, describes the sacred duty of the Jewish faith community to work for the good of society as a whole. Christians follow the example of Jesus who washed his disciples' feet -- the task of a servant -- and told his followers to do likewise. Ba'hais teach that service to humanity is of equal spiritual value as prayer."