Charity

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This article refers to the act of selfless giving. For an article on charitable organizations see Charities. For an article on the Greek mythological figures, see Charites.

Image:Van Dyck - Charity.jpg Charity, meaning selfless giving, is one conventional English translation of the Greek term agapē.

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Religious charity 3 Charity fundraising on the Internet 4 Notes 5 See also

Etymology

In the 1400, charity meant 'the state of love or simple affection which one was in or out of regarding one's fellows; an occasion or body of people seeking to embody that state; the love of god, in both directions.' The fraternity was the embodiment of this ideal. In 1700, it meant 'an optimistic judgement about the good intentions of others; an act of benevolence towards the poor or needy; an institution erected as a result of such an act.' This according to Bossy.¹

Religious charity

Charity is a central part of most of the world's religions. In Christian theology, for example, it is one of the three theological virtues, meaning loving kindness towards others; it is held to be the ultimate perfection of the human spirit, because it is said to both glorify and reflect the nature of God. In its most extreme form charity can be self-sacrificial. The act of giving money, goods or time to such a charitable trust or other worthy cause is described as charity or charitable giving. In Sunni Islam this is called Zakat, and is one of the five pillars upon which the muslim religion is based. Charity is also used as a forename, intended to evoke the idea that one so named is a giving person.

Charity fundraising on the Internet

With the advent of the Internet a new form of charity fundraising has come up where the person wanting to donate can do so for free by clicking on a banner ad displayed on a particular website. The sponsors then give a specific amount to the website every time a person clicks on their banner. The website subsequently donates the money collected for charitable causes. For more, see Click-to-donate site.

Notes

1. John Bossy, Christianity in the West 1400-1700 (Oxford 1985) 168.

See also

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• World Heritage Programme: Castle preservation Worldwide.
• Charitable trust
• Charity Commission
• Community Organizations
• GiveMeaning
• GlobalGiving
• The Malian Foundation
• Tzedakah
• Charity in Hinduism, Dan
• Charity fraudbg:Благотворителност

de:Benefiz es:Caridad fr:Charité it:Carità ja:チャリティー nl:Liefdadigheid no:Veldedighet