Religious Giving

Religious Giving PDF

Author: David H. Smith

Publisher: Indiana University Press

Published: 2010-04-06

Total Pages: 220

ISBN-13: 0253004187

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Religious Giving considers the connection between religion and giving within the Abrahamic traditions. Each contributor begins with the assumption that there is something inherently right or natural about the connection. But what exactly is it? To whom should we give, how much should we give, what is the relationship between our giving and our relationship to God? Writing for the introspective donor, congregational leader, or student interested in ways of meeting human needs, the authors focus on the philosophical or theological dimensions of giving. The contributors' goal is not to report on institutional practices, but to provide thoughtful, constructive guidance to the reader -- informed by a critical understanding of the religious traditions under review.

Religious Giving and the Invention of Karma in Theravada Buddhism

Religious Giving and the Invention of Karma in Theravada Buddhism PDF

Author: James Egge

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-12-16

Total Pages: 204

ISBN-13: 1136859152

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Demonstrates that Buddhists appropriated the practice, vocabulary, and ideology of sacrifice from Vedic religion, and discusses the relationship of this sacrificial discourse to ideas of karma in the Pali canon and in early Buddhism.

Sacrifice in Religious Experience

Sacrifice in Religious Experience PDF

Author: Albert I. Baumgartner

Publisher: BRILL

Published: 2018-09-24

Total Pages: 337

ISBN-13: 9004379169

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This book presents revised papers delivered at the 1998 and 1999 Taubes Minerva Center for Religious Anthropology conferences. The papers from the 1998 conference discuss the role of sacrifice in religious experience from a comparative perspective. Those from the second conference examine alternatives to sacrifice. The first theme has been much elaborated in recent scholarship, and the essays here participate in that on-going inquiry. The second theme has been less explored, and the goal of this volume is to stimulate examination of the topic by offering a set of test cases. In both sections of the volume a wide variety of religious traditions are considered. The essays show that in spite of the inclination we may sometimes have to consider sacrifice part of the idolatrous past, long overcome, it remains a persistent and meaningful part of religious experience.

Money Matters

Money Matters PDF

Author: Dean R. Hoge

Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press

Published: 1996-01-01

Total Pages: 268

ISBN-13: 9780664256876

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Presenting the findings of the largest and most incisive study of factors influencing church giving in America ever done, this book details information from 625 churches and their members and offers surprising conclusions about member contributions. Also provided is an in-depth exploration, with relevant case studies, of 12 successfully funded churches.

Passing the Plate

Passing the Plate PDF

Author: Christian Smith

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2008-09-29

Total Pages: 284

ISBN-13: 0199714118

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Passing the Plate shows that few American Christians donate generously to religious and charitable causes. This eye-opening book explores the reasons behind such ungenerous giving, the potential world-changing benefits of greater financial giving, and what can be done to improve matters. By illuminating the social and psychological forces that shape charitable giving, Passing the Plate is sure to spark a much-needed debate on a critical issue.

Giving to God

Giving to God PDF

Author: Amira Mittermaier

Publisher: University of California Press

Published: 2019-02-05

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13: 0520300823

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Giving to God examines the everyday practices of Islamic giving in post-revolutionary Egypt. From foods prepared in Sufi soup kitchens, to meals distributed by pious volunteers in slums, to almsgiving, these acts are ultimately about giving to God by giving to the poor. Surprisingly, many who practice such giving say that they do not care about the poor, instead framing their actions within a unique non-compassionate ethics of giving. At first, this form of giving may appear deeply selfish, but further consideration reveals that it avoids many of the problems associated with the idea of “charity.” Using the Egyptian uprising in 2011 and its call for social justice as a backdrop, this beautifully crafted ethnography suggests that “giving a man a fish” might ultimately be more revolutionary than “teaching a man to fish.”

Generating Generosity in Catholicism and Islam

Generating Generosity in Catholicism and Islam PDF

Author: Carolyn M. Warner

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2018-05-10

Total Pages: 315

ISBN-13: 1108570135

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Using an innovative methodological approach combining field experiments, case studies, and statistical analyzes, this book explores how the religious beliefs and institutions of Catholics and Muslims prompt them to be generous with their time and resources. Drawing upon research involving more than 1,000 Catholics and Muslims in France, Ireland, Italy, and Turkey, the authors examine Catholicism and Islam in majority and minority contexts, discerning the specific factors that lead adherents to help others and contribute to social welfare projects. Based on theories from political science, economics, religious studies and social psychology, this approach uncovers the causal connections between religious community dynamics, religious beliefs and institutions, and socio-political contexts in promoting or hindering the generosity of Muslims and Catholics. The study also provides insight into what different religious beliefs mean to Muslims and Catholics, and how they understand those concepts.

Making Sense of God

Making Sense of God PDF

Author: Timothy Keller

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2016-09-20

Total Pages: 338

ISBN-13: 0525954155

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We live in an age of skepticism. Our society places such faith in empirical reason, historical progress, and heartfelt emotion that it’s easy to wonder: Why should anyone believe in Christianity? What role can faith and religion play in our modern lives? In this thoughtful and inspiring new book, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller invites skeptics to consider that Christianity is more relevant now than ever. As human beings, we cannot live without meaning, satisfaction, freedom, identity, justice, and hope. Christianity provides us with unsurpassed resources to meet these needs. Written for both the ardent believer and the skeptic, Making Sense of God shines a light on the profound value and importance of Christianity in our lives.