This has been getting more and more attention lately.
Epigenetics is a growing field and it's awesome to see how meditation (vipassana or mindfullness meditation specifically) can bring about these effects in the short term.
http://www.news.wisc.edu/22370
If your religion, faith, devotion, or self proclaimed spirituality is not directly leading to an increase in kindness, empathy, compassion and tolerance for others then you have been misled.