What is your view on charity?

Save them?? I'd rather say we were trying to destroy them. Blood diamonds, slaves...I could easily understand why we Europeans are considered monsters by some. Every state project targeted in helping third world countries, especialy African countries, usually has a very dark side and a cause for profit. Even today. Especially today.

As far as civilian charities and NGO's go, as long as they are truly helping those people, I don't really care if their motives are selfish or fake. I take it that if someone saves lives or helps people in those countries, I couldn't care less if he fancies himself a hero. That is, of course, as long as he's not trying to make any profit from this. As for the Church, as long as it's helpful, then let them do as they please. When they become dysfuctional (like the condom case), then they should be stopped.

When it comes to saving human lives, anything else is simply not important enough for me.

 

Matthew 6

1. Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
3. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4. so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

If you're going to give charity, shut the fuck up about it and don't expect anything back.

 

I completely disagree, I believe that all charity is inherently selfish. People always get something back, whether it's an alleviation of guilt or a feeling of contentment.

 

I get the feeling of contentment back on the odd decade I actually do something. But what I mean is not get tax back, or thanks, or anything where someone else knows you did something.

 

Who cares why you do it? The point is to actually do it. A little baby that dies from food deprivation doesn't care if the guy that gives just a small donation does so because he's a boastful idiot, or if he's indeed a white knight in a shining armour. Charity is about the person that receives aid, not about the person that gives it.

 

My view of charity: help people around me. When they are all helped I can be a philanthropist and save 3rd world countries. It irritates me when people want to send money off to other countries when they wont help the person next door.

This is not directed at anyone here, but if it applies to you - so be it.

 

What if you are only acting charitable when you are completely oblivious as to what extent you are helping? What if in order to be charitable, you need to be totally unconscious of your own do-gooding. How do you accidentally do good, though..

 

I change the quote slightly. Like it?

 

I do like it, actually. It's what I was saying without saying it. haha. Thanks for clarifying.

 

It depends on the situation.

 

Well, if you are going to help others, your needs have to be met to a certain degree already. Trust me. I don't see anything wrong with helping other people.

Africa was depopulated by slavery and is plagued by war and droughts (and AIDS). Trying to help Africa is good, but it would take a monumental effort to change everything that has and is happening there.

 

Familiarity breeds contempt.

 

I think charity is a wonderful thing. It has helped make many great things in this world. I have a problem with it though when I feel obligated to do charity. One reasons why I do not like high schools at all that force students to preform comunity service in order to graduate. Charity is to come from the heart, not to be directed.

And now I must post this :tongue1:
[YOUTUBE]oB0DZTlL9fw[/YOUTUBE]

 

I believe that charity is good and I am all for it. However, people shouldn't be obligated to help if they don't want. My biggest problem with it is when people worry about the starving people in Africa when there are people in our own countries that are starving and uneducated as well. I, however, do want to go over to Africa in the peace corps, so I'm kind of a hypocrite. But charities in general (from helping people in africa to donating to salvation army) I think shouldn't be any type of required thing such as in schools and it should be coming from the heart.

 

Do I hear an echo? Lol if you didn't notice my post :tongue1:

 

It is also mysterious, exciting, and an adventure to go be a do-gooder in other countries. If you do it here people just say "Dont waste your time". If you do it outside the country you get introducd at parties as The Person Who Went to Help the Poor Starving in Africa. It is like a merit badge or something.