The Seba library treats Charity in 9 passages, across 7 authors (including Pascal, Blaise, James, William, Frank, Arthur W.).
The sole object of Scripture is charity. Everything that does not lead to this sole good is figurative.
Pascal argues that charity is the singular hermeneutical and theological end of Scripture, rendering all other content symbolic preparation for this supreme directive.
, Pensées, 1670thesis
charity regenerates its objects. These saintly methods are, as I said, creative energies; and genuine saints find in the elevated excitement with which their faith endows them an authority and impressiveness which makes them irresistible
James argues that charity, as a fruit of saintliness, is a creative social force that transforms rather than merely restrains, surpassing the reach of worldly prudence or force.
, The Varieties of Religious Experience Amazon, 1902thesis
charity turns into domination: the nice make the needy dependent upon them… recognition of suffering as abundance is one pillar of a charity that is not domination but reciprocity.
Frank argues that charity without mutual acknowledgment of need becomes a power relation, and that genuine charity must be grounded in reciprocity and the recognition of universal lack.
, The Wounded Storyteller: Body, Illness, and Ethics, 1995thesis
Let me pass next to the Charity and Brotherly Love which are a usual fruit of saintliness, and have always been reckoned essential theological virtues
James introduces charity as an essential constituent of the saintly character, logically arising from the theological conviction of divine fatherhood and human brotherhood.
, The Varieties of Religious Experience Amazon, 1902supporting
The saint may simply give the universe into the hands of the enemy by his trustfulness. He may by non-resistance cut off his own survival.
James critically examines the limits of saintly charity, acknowledging that in hostile environments, trustful non-resistance may be strategically disastrous rather than redemptive.
, The Varieties of Religious Experience Amazon, 1902supporting
he also believed that charity and loving-kindness were the most important of the mitzvot.
Armstrong situates Jesus within a Pharisaic ethical tradition in which charity and loving-kindness constitute the supreme commandments of religious practice.
, A History of God, 1993supporting
Of all the predictors to charitable causes, attendance at weekly religious services is the strongest.
Pargament marshals empirical evidence that religious practice is the primary sociological predictor of charitable giving, while questioning whether such behavior reflects genuine altruism.
, The psychology of religion and coping theory, research,, 2001supporting
Charity, 61, 147, 176. See also Love
Cassian’s index cross-references charity with love, indicating their near-synonymy within his monastic theological framework.
, Conferences, 426aside
we do not like being subsidized by charitable sources, nor would we care to be taken care of by any of the large foundations or churches.
Wilson’s resistance to charitable dependency reflects an early AA principle of self-sufficiency, distinguishing the fellowship’s mission from institutionalized philanthropic structures.
, Writing the Big Book The Creation of A A , 2019aside