madeleine wrote:"First, as regards the republican period, Roman charity was invariably given with either political or ego-driven motives, connected to ambitions for friendship, political power or lasting reputation. Second, charity was almost never earmarked for the most needy. Third, Roman largesse was not religiously derived, but rather drawn from personal, or civic impetus. Last, Roman charity tended to avoid any set doctrine, but was hit and miss in application."
The word charity, being rooted in the Latin caritas, means loving-kindness towards all others. This is the Christian meaning of charity, which means, charity flows from unconditional love, not ego-driven motives, ambitions, political power, reputation or fear.
Except that's not why people really give - not even Christians. I'll see if I can dig up that article later.
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.
Roman charity was sometimes distributed to the poorest. The Annona (grain dole) meant that every citizen of Rome no matter how poor could get bread or at least discounted bread (depending on time period). Julius Caesar found it too costly and removed it. The motive for this largesse was still not charity though. It was to win popular support and prevent rioting.
"Surely he knows that DCP, The Nehor, Lamanite, and other key apologists..." -Scratch clarifying my status in apologetics "I admit it; I'm a petty, petty man." -Some Schmo
madeleine wrote:"First, as regards the republican period, Roman charity was invariably given with either political or ego-driven motives, connected to ambitions for friendship, political power or lasting reputation. Second, charity was almost never earmarked for the most needy. Third, Roman largesse was not religiously derived, but rather drawn from personal, or civic impetus. Last, Roman charity tended to avoid any set doctrine, but was hit and miss in application."
The word charity, being rooted in the Latin caritas, means loving-kindness towards all others. This is the Christian meaning of charity, which means, charity flows from unconditional love, not ego-driven motives, ambitions, political power, reputation or fear.
Except that's not why people really give - not even Christians. I'll see if I can dig up that article later.
I agree that is not why most people give, but that is the teachings of Jesus Christ, and also the message of the Cross. God's Charity towards mankind.
Most people give because it makes them feel good. True Charity is for the love and benefit of the other person, not oneself. Thus the teaching, no greater love than to lay down your life for another.
Peace.
Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction -Pope Benedict XVI
madeleine wrote: I agree that is not why most people give, but that is the teachings of Jesus Christ, and also the message of the Cross. God's Charity towards mankind.
Most people give because it makes them feel good. True Charity is for the love and benefit of the other person, not oneself. Thus the teaching, no greater love than to lay down your life for another.
Peace.
There is no such thing as "true charity." It's a fiction. But the real kind works well enough in a pinch.
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.
Buffalo wrote: There is no such thing as "true charity." It's a fiction. But the real kind works well enough in a pinch.
I'm sorry you believe that.
Peace.
Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction -Pope Benedict XVI
Buffalo wrote: There is no such thing as "true charity." It's a fiction. But the real kind works well enough in a pinch.
I'm sorry you believe that.
Peace.
Why's that? We've evolved to feel empathy. We're 100% physical beings. We operate on certain motivators, and they do their job well. There's nothing to feel sorry about. It's great to be a homo sapien. :)
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.
Buffalo wrote: Why's that? We've evolved to feel empathy. We're 100% physical beings. We operate on certain motivators, and they do their job well. There's nothing to feel sorry about. It's great to be a homo sapien. :)
Viewing human life, itself, not our activities, as an exchange of commodities is sad. But, not surprising.
I don't have any desire to adopt your views.
Peace.
Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction -Pope Benedict XVI
Buffalo wrote: Why's that? We've evolved to feel empathy. We're 100% physical beings. We operate on certain motivators, and they do their job well. There's nothing to feel sorry about. It's great to be a homo sapien. :)
Viewing human life, itself, not our activities, as an exchange of commodities is sad. But, not surprising.
I don't have any desire to adopt your views.
Peace.
I don't need to adopt fictions in order to feel good about life on planet earth. I don't care if love is a physical response, or if we give because it stimulates our esteem/pleasure centers. That doesn't make it any less real. Inventing some sort of phony baloney spiritual explanation for what comes naturally is so unnecessary. I used to think it was necessary, but when I dropped all that I discovered how extraneous it is.
Parley P. Pratt wrote:We must lie to support brother Joseph, it is our duty to do so.
Even conservatives can embrace charity. William F. Buckley proposed doing away with all food subsidy programs and making four basic ingredients, powdered skim milk, lard, bulgar wheat and dried beans available to the poor and wealthy alike. He noted that you could make a quite tasty fry bread from the first three ingredients. I thought I would mention this since some view conservative politics as a religious substitute.
Buffalo, you are most definitely not an idiot. If you are too strong for the opium of the masses, then perhaps you might like some bulgar wheat instead.