So, religious acts send a potent signal to others that they're ready and willing to contribute to their communities.

Their communities. Their religious communities. Their own churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, etc.

In rural India, perhaps those communities are one and the same. Temple, village, communal needs. All the same in a homogeneous community.

But in multi-religious or multi-cultural communities, I would argue that members of churches (using church to include any place of religious observance) would look out for their own before they would for others in their civic community facing their own challenges.

I know, we've seen examples of communities that do reach out across race/creed/color boundaries, but in 2016 I would argue that this is more rare than we would like to believe.

Hell, look at Trump in Louisiana. Rather than contributing to the Red Cross or another non-sectarian group, he gave money (almost certainly not his own) to hatemonger Tony Perkins.

Yes, there are exceptions. And maybe I'm spending too much time reading about trump and his ilk, who wouldn't piss on a democrat if he was on fire.

And before everyone piles on, yes, I realize there are good people and good charities and decent communities. But when you see the racism and misogyny, I think you can understand where I'm coming from.

But that's what communities are: people that are tied together by a common culture and set of interlocking relationships, supporting one another.

Just what what happens when somebody accuses a Muslim. IF there's any way to absolve the Muslim, the "Muslim community" will side with him. It's the same for Asian communities (subcommunities, it would take a special circumstance for the Filipino community to suddenly side with the Taiwanese or Vietnamese community). It's the same for black communities. Often for Latino communities.

___________ Lives Matters reflects this. The focus is on _____________. It pre-empt that--even worse, to take that notoriety exposure and use it for another group (which experiences losses, as well), is offensive. In fact, notice how "the community" is used. It's not necessary to state which community; it's understood.

Ideology-based communities work the same way. They're not special except that, like religious communities, belonging is a choice and not something imposed from without.

Can also be construed as tribalism.