Charity

From RationalWiki
(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
(more context)
(quote)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
'''Charity''' refers to the act of donating material resources to assist those who are less fortunate than yourself. As surprising a revelation though it may be to many, it <i>is</i> an important concept in most Abrahamic religions. For example, Catholics are supposed to give 10% of their money to their church (which can decide who to give the money to), and Muslims are obliged to give 2.5% of their salary to charitable causes, whether they be private charities, their own mosque or beggars on the street.
 
'''Charity''' refers to the act of donating material resources to assist those who are less fortunate than yourself. As surprising a revelation though it may be to many, it <i>is</i> an important concept in most Abrahamic religions. For example, Catholics are supposed to give 10% of their money to their church (which can decide who to give the money to), and Muslims are obliged to give 2.5% of their salary to charitable causes, whether they be private charities, their own mosque or beggars on the street.
  
Interestingly, the United States (which has the highest percentage of Christians in any industrialized nation) has a relative poverty rate<ref>Percentage of individuals with equivalised disposable income less than 50% of the median for the entire population. Most recent figures given (2000).</ref> of nearly 17%, compared to the OECD average of 10.6%. Notably [[liberal]] countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands have rates of around 6%.<ref>p. 22 - Income Distribution and Poverty in OECD Countries in the Second Half of the 1990s, Michael Förster and Marco Mira d'Ercole, 2005 [http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/48/9/34483698.pdf]</ref> The United States gives more money to private charity<ref>However, this also includes contributions to religious organizations as well as hospitals and other services that tend to be funded through the tax system in other developed countries.</ref> than any other country, and they are third in the world for monetary and volunteer donations. <ref>Johns Hopkins University, [http://www.jhu.edu/cnp/pdf/comptable5_dec05.pdf ''Philanthropy Across the World'']</ref><ref>[http://philanthropy.com/free/update/2007/05/2007052201.htm ''Private Sources in the United States Provided $95-Billion in Aid Overseas Last Year''] Although, two-thirds of this is foreign-born individuals sending money to friends and relatives in their home countries</ref><ref>[http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=May&x=20070524165115zjsredna0.2997553 ''United States Is Largest Donor of Foreign Aid, Report Says''] More than half of all U.S. assistance to developing countries, $61.7 billion, came in the form of private remittances by individuals living in the United States to their families abroad.</ref>
+
Interestingly, the United States (which has the highest percentage of Christians in any industrialized nation) has a relative poverty rate<ref>Percentage of individuals with equivalised disposable income less than 50% of the median for the entire population. Most recent figures given (2000).</ref> of nearly 17%, compared to the OECD average of 10.6%. Notably [[liberal]] countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands have rates of around 6%.<ref>p. 22 - Income Distribution and Poverty in OECD Countries in the Second Half of the 1990s, Michael Förster and Marco Mira d'Ercole, 2005 [http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/48/9/34483698.pdf]</ref> The United States gives more money to private charity<ref>However, this also includes contributions to religious organizations as well as hospitals and other services that tend to be funded through the tax system in other developed countries.</ref> than any other country, and they are third in the world for monetary and volunteer donations. <ref>Johns Hopkins University, [http://www.jhu.edu/cnp/pdf/comptable5_dec05.pdf ''Philanthropy Across the World'']</ref><ref>[http://philanthropy.com/free/update/2007/05/2007052201.htm ''Private Sources in the United States Provided $95-Billion in Aid Overseas Last Year''] Although, two-thirds of this is "foreign-born individuals sending money to friends and relatives in their home countries".</ref><ref>[http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2007&m=May&x=20070524165115zjsredna0.2997553 ''United States Is Largest Donor of Foreign Aid, Report Says''] "More than half of all U.S. assistance to developing countries, $61.7 billion, came in the form of private remittances by individuals living in the United States to their families abroad."</ref>
  
 
However, some selfish [[Andy Schlafly|dicks]] like to justify their greed by saying that the poverty referred to several thousands of times in the Bible is "spiritual poverty". This might be confusing when compared to such verses as ''For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.'' (Luke 18:25) - surely this doesn't mean that a ''spiritually'' rich man wouldn't enter the kingdom of God?
 
However, some selfish [[Andy Schlafly|dicks]] like to justify their greed by saying that the poverty referred to several thousands of times in the Bible is "spiritual poverty". This might be confusing when compared to such verses as ''For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.'' (Luke 18:25) - surely this doesn't mean that a ''spiritually'' rich man wouldn't enter the kingdom of God?

Revision as of 10:10, 6 January 2008

Charity refers to the act of donating material resources to assist those who are less fortunate than yourself. As surprising a revelation though it may be to many, it is an important concept in most Abrahamic religions. For example, Catholics are supposed to give 10% of their money to their church (which can decide who to give the money to), and Muslims are obliged to give 2.5% of their salary to charitable causes, whether they be private charities, their own mosque or beggars on the street.

Interestingly, the United States (which has the highest percentage of Christians in any industrialized nation) has a relative poverty rate[1] of nearly 17%, compared to the OECD average of 10.6%. Notably liberal countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands have rates of around 6%.[2] The United States gives more money to private charity[3] than any other country, and they are third in the world for monetary and volunteer donations. [4][5][6]

However, some selfish dicks like to justify their greed by saying that the poverty referred to several thousands of times in the Bible is "spiritual poverty". This might be confusing when compared to such verses as For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:25) - surely this doesn't mean that a spiritually rich man wouldn't enter the kingdom of God?

In summary, charity is important, some people are dicks and it feels good to give away money.

Notes and references

  1. Percentage of individuals with equivalised disposable income less than 50% of the median for the entire population. Most recent figures given (2000).
  2. p. 22 - Income Distribution and Poverty in OECD Countries in the Second Half of the 1990s, Michael Förster and Marco Mira d'Ercole, 2005 [1]
  3. However, this also includes contributions to religious organizations as well as hospitals and other services that tend to be funded through the tax system in other developed countries.
  4. Johns Hopkins University, Philanthropy Across the World
  5. Private Sources in the United States Provided $95-Billion in Aid Overseas Last Year Although, two-thirds of this is "foreign-born individuals sending money to friends and relatives in their home countries".
  6. United States Is Largest Donor of Foreign Aid, Report Says "More than half of all U.S. assistance to developing countries, $61.7 billion, came in the form of private remittances by individuals living in the United States to their families abroad."
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Community
Tools
support