Charity

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.

• Charity: as a Christian virtue. 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. This specific sense of agape is particular to Catholic theology.

Charity and Religion

Charity is important to most religions, and is practiced by both religious and secular people and organizations.

• Christianity: the Catholic theologic sense is mentioned above. Most Christian faiths require practitioners to give of themselves as they are able. Mormons are usually said to require to donate 10% of their income to support the church and it's works.
• Sunni Islam: charity is one of the Five Pillars of the religion.
• Judaism: Judaism uses the concept of tzedakah, or righteousness. The theology behind this is quite layered and complex.

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