Tag Archive: overview

Philanthropy in India

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in India Tags: ,

By Laurie Gray

When looking at philanthropy in different countries it becomes evident that the reasons why citizens choose to give financial and of themselves can be extremely diverse. However, countries goals with these actions of giving and helping those within their society are quite similar.

While looking at philanthropy within India’s culture, it is important to understand that much of the actions done by citizens are focused primarily on their religious choice. Much of the India’s religion, like Hinduism and Buddhism are Read the rest of this entry >>

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Kanyadaan

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in India Tags: , ,

By Kavita Dogra

Surrounded by bright colours, Bollywood tunes, a crowd of people and loads of food a Hindu wedding can be an overwhelming experience. Everyone is dressed in elaborate traditional clothing; and there is an incredible feeling of joy and excitement in the air that is welcoming for anyone attending. At a typical Hindu wedding similar to most others the bride is the center of all attention but not just for one day. There are about 4 events but some of these events like Mehndi (Henna) and Sangeet (Music) are combined into one and done separately on each side. Read the rest of this entry >>

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Sai Baba of Shirdi and Anna Dana

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in India Tags: , ,

By Katherine Gibbons

In Indian society one of the most common forms of giving is anna dana, the sharing of food with others. This is part of one’s religious duty (dharma) and is a tradition started by the Sai Baba. Sai was an Indian, considered to be a saint by Hindu and Muslims. Sai encouraged charity and the importance of sharing with others. He said: “if any men or creatures come to you, do not discourteously drive them away, Read the rest of this entry >>

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The Story of Asoka

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in India Tags: , ,

By Coleen Crncich

Buddhism in India would not be complete without including the story of the great emperor Asoka who reigned over the largest empire in India up to that time. (c.265-238 B.C.E.)

“The legend associated with the emperor goes that his birth had been predicted by Buddha.” Asoka grew to be a gifted warrior and statesman which angered his elder brothers who worried that he would become the next emperor. His oldest brother Prince Susima, convinced his father, Emperor Bindusara, to send Asoka away to Read the rest of this entry >>

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Philanthropy in Islam

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in Middle East Tags: ,

By Melissa Pimenta

Islam is the second largest religion in the world and still growing. There are five pillars which are obligatory acts of worship: The Testimony of Faith, Prayer, Giving Zakat, Fasting the Month of Ramadan, and The Pilgrimage to Makkah. (Leslie, 2010)

The third pillar is Zakat which means “purification” and “growth”. Giving zakat means “giving a specified percentage on certain properties to certain classes of needy people”. It is required that every year 2.5% of one’s wealth is given away to the poor and needy. (Pennington, 2009) This may be in form of gold, silver, Read the rest of this entry >>

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The Role of Philanthropy in the Islamic Tradition

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in Middle East Tags: ,

By Emily Hoffpaiur

Giving is an important part of religious practice in the Islamic tradition. The fact that there are two different forms of giving, one that is obligatory (zakat) and one that is voluntary (sadaqa), shows that philanthropy is highly valued in Islam. Both forms of charity are a way of balancing out social inequalities, or in other words “part of an effective social apparatus to ensure distributive equity and social justice” (Ansari, 1992).

In Islam, almsgiving should be done out of religious commitment rather than compulsion. Muslims are always striving for communities based on submission and service, “working for a more just world, not just a personal path to Read the rest of this entry >>

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The Distribution of Wealth in Islam

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in Middle East Tags: ,

by Kyla Brierley

“Compassion, social justice, sharing and strengthening – these are all encompassed in the Quranic articulation of the ethical concept of charitable giving.” As giving and moral values became fundamental elements in the growth of Muslim practice, charitable giving and the process for collecting and distributing these monies soon became institutionalized, and giving in the form of zakat was created. Zakat is a method of obligatory giving, in which one must give a minimum 2.5% per lunar year of their total wealth. Read the rest of this entry >>

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Zakat

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in Middle East Tags: ,

By Marco Bianchi

Zakat, or Zakaah, is the one of the Five Pillars of Islam called “alms giving.” “Alms giving” refers to the donating of a percentage of one’s wealth to other poor Muslims. Zakat is not given to the government, but to the individual communities, which then dispense the money and goods collected fairly. It is generally collected from Muslim individuals who have become adults, based on a Read the rest of this entry >>

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Ubuntu: A South African perspective of philanthropy

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in South Africa Tags: , , ,

By Ann Kearns

Ubuntu is an indigenous South African philosophy that recognizes there is an interconnection between all people and no one person exists in isolation. Every interaction with a person is an opportunity to explore our humanity (Kamwangamalu, Nkonko M. (1999). Ubuntu in South Africa: a sociolinguistic perspective to a Pan –African concept.) At the core of this philosophy is the desire for all persons to live a life that can bring positive change to other people in their family, community, village, city or country.

The history of ubuntu was not scribed like the Torah, etched like Egyptian hieroglyphics or written like the Bible. It is indigenous Read the rest of this entry >>

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Revolution and Fundraising in Russia

sduncan post on January 28th, 2013
Posted in Russia Tags: ,

By Jennifer Scott

Russia has experienced shifts and changes historically when it comes to philanthropy. Russia‘s growth in charity over the past 3 years has been one of the highest growing countries in the world (schmida). Russia adopted English views of philanthropy historically but the transition to socialism and changes Russia adopted over time has created a distinct and continuously changing view of philanthropy.

During the 11th to 17th in Russia’s main form of dealing with the dispossessed was in the concept of almsgiving. Read the rest of this entry >>

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