Religious Basis for Charitable Giving
Definition
The beliefs of many religious faiths encourage charitable activity by its members. The reasoning and origin of this encouragement varies from one group to another, though similarities in the basis for charitable giving emerge. In three Judeo-Christian religious traditions, it is no surprise that the original sources promoting giving are sacred writings and the scripture of the Bible.
Additional reasoning for charitable giving among these groups in America results from the manner in which our nation's history has created specific needs for specific groups. The needs of the Catholic communities varied from those of Jewish congregants and, unsurprisingly, early African American Protestants had many basic and broad needs as they struggled to survive oppression and gain rights.
Important to the discussion of giving, even in a religious context, is the awareness of faith-based language used to refer to similar terms and behaviors in diverse faiths. For example, Christians often use the term " stewardship " when referring to financial giving. Yet, Jews use " tzedakah " to refer to "acts of charity" which include charitable giving (though the literal translation means "righteousness"). A general definition of "charity" is: "A voluntary giving of money or other help to those in need" (Bentley et al., 15).
Historic Roots
Members of the Jewish faith are called to "repair the earth" through giving on various levels, which also include volunteering and monetary gifts. Jewish philanthropy additionally promotes community building. Enactment of the Catholic faith includes charitable acts of kindness to the poor and downtrodden and striving for social justice. Members of the Protestant faith are encouraged to serve The Lord and express their love for Him by serving as He did, by helping the poor and oppressed through service-based activity and financial gifts.
As with many religious denominations in the U.S., Jews, Catholics, and African American Protestants at first established segregated ministry outreach and charitableworks to serve primarily their own communities. Catholics and Jews established hospitals and other charitable organizations to help address the needs of those within their respective communities. Jewish Associations in New York in the early 1900s often addressed specific causes, such as burying the dead, ministering to the sick, and supporting welfare services. In the Ante-Bellum period, Catholics defined social reform in a traditional and broad sense, directing church members to aid the poor, the hungry, and the homeless.
Religious basis for giving by African American Protestants has, historically, been crises driven. Due to social stresses throughout history, from slavery, to northern migration, to poverty, to Civil Rights participation, giving occurred primarily through the Black church to assist victims or address the need of the time. The church provided for the socially and economically distressed through formal and informal giving and volunteering. Health care, education, social services, and political empowerment were major areas of philanthropic need from early times. By 1793, independent black churches in the North began to assume the charitable missions of the Free African Society, agitating for social, political, and economic rights, which at the time were restricted to whites. Religious charitable institutions such as orphanages, schools, benevolent societies, and poor-relief organizations emerged in the Cleveland, Ohio area around the mid-1800s.
Importance
The religious basis for giving has led to both complementary and competing efforts among Protestant, Catholic and Jewish denominations. For example, because many Catholics interpret the bible and calls from the Vatican to work toward social justice, a large number of American Catholics protest the death penalty. This is an example of complementary giving when the church's resources (from many different parishes) are used jointly to spread this message against "state-sanctioned murder." Yet, differences in the interests of one particular congregation to another congregation of the same Jewish faith may create a situation where tzedakah (giving) is being directed toward diverse causes. For example, one Jewish reform congregation may decide to donate funds and volunteer at a local retirement community while another temple sponsors a reading program for underprivileged children. This can be seen as competing efforts.
On a different note, the religious basis for giving could impact how the needs of the larger American population are met if the U.S. government begins giving public funds to congregations. Historically the Constitution of the United States of America established the separation of Church and State, which requires religious organizations to rely completely upon donations for its support and for the support of any of its charitable acts. Yet, the current presidential administration could change how congregations function through the establishment of faith-based initiative funding that would allow public money to supplement a congregation's charitable activities. Also, the reasons for and focus of each faith will affect what needs in society they work to address.
Ties to the Philanthropic Sector
Under the Constitution, voluntarism became the basis of the organization of religious activity in the United States. Since the Constitution separates Church and State, religious congregations became a new sector of society, the philanthropic sector, separate from the government and business (for-profit) sectors. This means that congregations do not need to pay taxes, leaving more money for charitable work and addressing the needs of church or synagogue members. It also removes most governmental restrictions on the types of charitable giving chosen by congregants. Interestingly, well over half of the total yearly financial donations in the U.S. by individuals are given to congregations (Saxon-Harrold, 9). Also, the most generous contributors are individuals who attend a congregation regularly (Ibid., 9).
Key Related Ideas
- Almsgiving
- Charity
- Gemilut chasidim (good deeds - Jewish)
- Mosaic Law
- Redemption
- Reparation
- Sedaqah (voluntary contributions - Muslim)
- Separation of church and state
- Stewardship
- Tzedakah (acts of charity - Jewish)
- Zakah (obligatory giving - Muslim).
Important Related Nonprofit Organizations
- Catholic Charities
- Interfaith Council of Churches
- Jewish Foundation
- National Congress of Churches.
Bibliography
Bentley, Richard, Amelie Weber, and Cheryl Hall-Russell. Religion, Youth, and Philanthropy: An Annotated Resource Guide. Indianapolis: The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, 1999.
Dolan, Jay P. "Social Catholicism," in The Immigrant Church: New York's Irish and German Catholics, 1815-1865. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1975: 195-229.
Du Bois, W.E.B. "Cooperation Among Negro Americans," excerpts. Atlanta: Atlanta University Press, 1907.
Goren, Arthur A. New York Jews and the Quest for Community: The Kehillah Experiment, 1908-1922. Columbia U. Press, 1970.
Hall-Russell, Cheryl and Robert H. Kasberg. African American Traditions of Giving and Serving: A Midwest Perspective. Indianapolis: Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, 1997.
Hammack, David. "Voluntarism in the Early Republic" - Class readings, Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector. Case Western Reserve University, 1998.
Hammack , David. "The Development of Nonprofit Organizations in Cleveland." Case Western Reserve University, Indiana University Press, 1996
Philanthropy and the Black Church, Vol. II. Washington, D.C.: Council on Foundations, 1995.
Saxon-Harrold, Susan K.E., Ph.D., Arthur D. Kirsch, Ph.D., Aaron J. Heffron, Michael T. McCormack, and Murray S. Weitzman, Ph.D. Giving and Volunteering in the United States: Findings from a National Survey, 1999 Edition, Executive Summary. Washington, DC: INDEPENDENT SECTOR, 1999.
This paper was developed by a student taking a Philanthropic Studies course taught at Case Western Reserve University. It is offered by Learning To Give and Case Western Reserve University.