Alms

A alms (from Greek: ἐλεημοσύνη ( eleēmosýnē ) " compassion, charity " ) is a material gift to a needy recipient without expectation of a substantive consideration of this receiver. It differs from a donation by the motive of compassion with the receiver. Depending on the culture or religion can come up with a charity the expectation of a spiritual advantage, join in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christianity especially the expectation of the forgiveness of sins.

In the religions

The gift of charity is true in many religions as a religious duty.

In Theravada Buddhism, the monks get their livelihood only by alms. The giver would like to thank the recipient, because they may give themselves and fortune, which they regarded as auspicious favor.

In Judaism, the alms-giving is an expression of charity the fulfillment of faith. Christianity also practiced this form of gift. However, in Christianity is the personal attention and connection to the receiver and the solution of private wealth in the foreground. The idea is to be able to earn a reward in the afterlife by the mere administration, has met repeatedly with sharp rejection not only in Protestantism. From the beginning Christianity had in addition to support from church members collections for the church in Jerusalem. The far exceeding the ordinary charity care for those in need was a fundamental train of the earliest communities. Due to changes to the imperial church in the 4th century, however, new challenges come to the church in this area. One of the four original estate of the churches dedicated to the care of the poor.

Consequence of the attitude shown that administration is only part of Christian love demands are, say, from Chrysostom as not simply redeem slaves and left to itself, but only to fund them to learn a craft, so they also would the freedom to live and provide for their families. This mutual connection and responsibility is what Christian love, service differs significantly from the pure alms.

However, in addition also being practiced "non-binding " Be the singular act for a long time. Advocates for the bestowal of alms, and thus also the renunciation of wealth there is in Christianity a long time. John Chrysostom appeared in the 4th century committed in the Catholic Church as well as prayers and pilgrimages were mainly in the period before the second Vatican Council alms important instruments in the drain ( the estate of the - already assigned - sin deserved punishment ) to obtain. See also Panisbrief.

In Islam, the giving of alms ( zakat ) is one of the five pillars of godly life, so a duty. In addition, in the past lived some Sufis ( Islamic mystics ) solely on alms, in their eyes, it defeats the selfishness and covetousness and realizes the unity of all creatures. It is a fasting of the soul, just as the actual fasting is a charity of the body.

In the Indian culture of the potlatches gifts are more than one ( usually, allocated to Anonymous ) alms, but also an important instrument of power, which is limited only by counter-gifts. In Polynesian tradition are also relevant parties with the rich food of numerous guests from their own tribe, but also invited guests from other islands highlights in the annual calendar.

Related parties with invitations and gift exchange rituals, often with quite uninvolved people there are in almost all societies, especially at weddings or funerals. Here, the indirect or direct reciprocity of the gift is often particularly important and is regarded as peacemakers. However, the latter forms of administration are different from the classical definition of alms in that here not of " charity " in need of a gift is donated.

Quotes

• It is said that the poor will enter Paradise five hundred years before the rich. By alms buys you something to the poor of paradise from. - Elias Canetti ( The Voices of Marrakesh )
• Alms spoil the soul of the encoder as the contractor and miss its purpose to all this, because they aggravate poverty. - Fyodor Dostoevsky