Difference between revisions of "Charity"

Revision as of 19:38, May 11, 2007

Charity has several meanings, from the commonly used and understood, to the abstract and technical.

Charity, as used most commonly, refers to generosity, especially the giving of time or resources without the expectation of Earthly reward. The noun refers to an institution that engages in such behavior. ^[1]

Charity: as a Christian virtue.^[2] This is enumerated among the Divine virtues by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13. It is the greatest of the three, included with hope and faith. In this sense, charity refers to a Divinely infused love, unlimited and directed toward Man and toward God.

Charity is important to most religions.

Libertarians struggle with the concept of charity, sometimes justifying it as a indirect form of acting in one's self-interest.

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-Charity is the selfless giving to others, without any hope of reward.  Various religions have incorporated charity into their doctrines, as in treating charity as an act dependent on divine grace.
+'''Charity''' has several meanings, from the commonly used and understood, to the abstract and technical.
+*''Charity'', as used most commonly, refers to generosity, especially the giving of time or resources without the expectation of Earthly reward.  The noun refers to an institution that engages in such behavior. <ref>http://mw1.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/charity</ref>
+*''Charity'': as a Christian [[virtue]].<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09397a.htm</ref>  This is enumerated among the Divine virtues by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13.  It is the greatest of the three, included with [[hope]] and [[faith]].  In this sense, charity refers to a Divinely infused love, unlimited and directed toward Man and toward God.
+Charity is important to most religions.
 [[Libertarians]] struggle with the concept of charity, sometimes justifying it as a indirect form of acting in one's self-interest.