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Final Exam - Exam
Course: Philanthropy and Christianity (CORE 3641)
15 Documents
Students shared 15 documents in this course
University: Seton Hall University
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What are the theological roots of charity and the philosophical roots of philanthropy in the Judeo-Christian
Tradition? Please write 2-3 paragraphs.
Charity has been described as a theological concept throughout the readings and videos we have
covered in the course. Charity has been mentioned in the Old Testament- Book of Deuteronomy. In this,
individuals are told to give a portion of their produce and share it with the less fortunate members of their
community such as widows and hungry children. It has also been mentioned in the Gospels. In both John
and Mark, the importance of loving thy neighbor as thyself is made clear. It is even stated that there is no
greater commandment than this. Loving each other as God has loved us is of th utmost importance and a
fundamental concept of charity.
Charity was seen as very important in Judaism as well. Isaiah 58:7 states that it is an obligation to clothe
the naked, take the outcast into one’s home and feed the hungry. In this way, charity was essential and
imperative for anyone to consider themselves as a true believer and follower of Judaism. By making
charity an obligation, it was a method of identifying justice being met.
Philanthropy is based more on a philosophical approach. This originates from a Greek tradition. In this
tradition, known as “euergetism”, donations of wealth were usually made in the forms of community-
oriented things such as town facilities and other gatherings. This was done as opposed to giving to the
poor individuals themselves. Many people were benefactors of enterprises such as the theater at the
time. This concept of giving is still very much present in society today and commonly seen with celebrities
and other rich professionals.
What is one concrete example of charity and one concrete example of philanthropy that most
impressed you from the course material, and why? Please write 2-3 paragraphs.
A concrete example of charity that stood out to me was
A concrete example of philanthropy that impressed me was Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa is known for
her philanthropic work all over India. Her foundation, Missionaries of Charity, is still active in India and
across the globe. They focused on improving the lives of members of the poor predominately in the city
of Kolkata. They created homes for the abandoned, children and the sick and dying. They had centers for
people with Hansen’s disease, which is more commonly known as leprosy. The most important thing to
note about all these efforts is that there was no discrimination involved in who received aid. In India, the
caste system has played a major role in deciding the amount of relief and care and social status an
individual possesses and has access to. Members of the lower castes were not given the same treatment
as members of the higher castes. This led to a dramatic increase in poverty levels around India. Mother
Teresa’s efforts were directed to support the members of the lower caste who couldn’t help themselves.
In quotes of hers, she said that she wished for these people to know that they are loved children of God,
even if it is just for a little while. Her pure desire for all to feel the love of God is what stood out to me
and made this one of the most impressive examples we covered throughout the course.
