| Interesting comments about charity. I think there is "bad" charity and there is "good" charity. "Bad" charity creates dependence and does not prepare people to feed themselves. "Good" charity helps people to help themselves in the future. "Good" charity also alleviates present period suffering without creating future period dependence. For example, an orphanage seems like a great example of alleviating suffering of orphans while preparing orphans to become self sufficient in the future. A scholarship to go to school helps smart kids that couldn't otherwise afford to go to a great school to get an education that helps them be a more positive force in society. Don't you think this is "good" charity? "Good" charity also has the added value of transforming the heart of the giver. Even if there is no huge benefit to society (e.g. just helping out 1 person) it can provide benefit to one's one character development, which is ultimately I believe more important as accumulating wealth and power. Anyway, I think you probably agree with these ideas, I just think the statement "I don't believe in charity" is too much of a blanket statement because there are lots of types o charity. |