I Can’t Sleep - Charity | Relaxing Bedtime Reading for Sleep

Episode Date: July 30, 2020

Ease into rest with this calm bedtime reading on charity, a peaceful way to quiet the mind and ease insomnia. Benjamin’s soothing voice explores the history, meaning, and cultural role of charity, from ancient traditions of giving to modern organizations that support those in need. His gentle cadence transforms a timeless human value into soft, fact-filled narration that helps reduce stress and anxiety. This is not whispering or hypnosis—just calm storytelling and education designed to ease sleepless nights. Press play, close your eyes, and let reflections on charity carry you into peaceful dreams. Want More? Request a Topic: https://www.icantsleeppodcast.com/request-a-topic Ad-Free Episodes: https://icantsleep.supportingcast.fm/ Shop Sleep-Friendly Products: https://www.icantsleeppodcast.com/sponsors Join the Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/myhGhVUhn7 This content is derived from the Wikipedia article on Charity, available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license. Read the full article: Wikipedia – Charity. Happy sleeping! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're listening to a Glassbox media podcast. What if I told you that most of the modern day self-help advice you've been hearing could actually make you worse? The key to a better life isn't about feel-good gimmicks that sound catchy. The Mentally Stronger Podcast gives you access to a licensed therapist who shares science-backed tools that will actually change your life. Hi, I'm Amy Morin, psychotherapist, mental strength trainer, and international best-selling author. In each episode, we cover research-back strategies, like how to stop relying on willpower and start creating habits for lasting change. And the five mental strength-building exercises you can do from your couch. I also speak to world-class experts like Dr. Nicole Kane, who shares how to permanently heal anxiety by addressing the root cause.

With over 200 episodes in our catalog, this podcast is for you if you're ready to crush self-doubt, conquer challenges, become stronger than ever with therapist-approved strategies that can change your life. Listen to Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin, wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to the I Can't Sleep Podcast, where I read random articles from across the web to bore you to sleep with my soothing voice. I'm your host, Benjamin Boster. Today's episode is from a Wikipedia article titled, Charity. The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need as a humanitarian act. There are a number of philosophies about charity, often associated with religion.

Effective altruism is the use of evidence and reasoning to determine the most effective ways to help others. Etymology. The word charity originated in late Old English to mean a Christian love of one's fellows, and up until at least the beginning of the 20th century, this meaning remained synonymous with charity. Aside from this original meaning, charity is etymologically linked to Christianity, was the word originally entering into the English language through the old French word charit, which was derived from the Latin caritas, a word commonly used in the Vulgate New Testament to translate the Greek word agape, a distinct form of love. Over time, the meaning of charity has shifted from one of Christian love

to that of providing for those in need, generosity and giving, a transition which began with the old French word charite. Thus, while the older duet rhymes and King James versions of the Bible translate instances of agape as charity. Modern English versions of the Bible typically translate agape as love. Practice. Charitable giving is the act of giving money, goods, or time to the unfortunate, either directly or by means of a charitable trust or other worthy cause. Charitable giving as a religious act or duty is referred to as alms giving or alms. The name stems from the most obvious expression of the virtue of charity, giving the recipients of it the means they need to survive.

The impoverished, particularly those widowed or orphaned and the ailing or injured, are generally regarded as the proper recipients of charity. The people who cannot support themselves and lack outside means of support sometimes become beggars, directly soliciting aid from strangers encountered in public. Some groups regard charity as being distributed towards other members from within their particular group. Although giving to those nearly connected to oneself is sometimes called charity, as in the saying charity begins at home, normally charity denotes giving to those not related with filial piety

and like terms for supporting one's family and friends. Indeed, treating those related to the giver as if they were strangers in need of charity has led to the figure of speech as cold as charity, providing for one's relatives as if they were strangers without affection. Most forms of charity are concerned with providing basic necessities such as food, water, clothing, health care, and shelter, but other actions may be performed as charity, visiting the imprisoned or the homebound. ransoming captives, educating orphans, even social movements. Donations to causes that benefit the unfortunate indirectly,

such as donations to fund cancer research, are also charity. With regards to religious aspects, the recipient of charity may offer to pray for the benefactor. In medieval Europe, it was customary to feast the poor at the funeral and return for their prayers for the deceased. Institutions may commemorate benefactors by displaying their names, up to naming buildings, or even the institution itself after the benefactors. If the recipient makes material return of more than a token value, a transaction is normally not called charity. In the past century, many charitable organizations have created a charitable model in which donators give to conglomerates give to recipients.

examples of this include the Make a Wish Foundation. John Cena holds the title for most wishes granted by a single individual with over 450 wishes, and the World Wildlife Fund. Today, some charities have modernized and allow people to donate online through website such as just giving. Originally, charity entailed the benefactor directly giving the goods to the receiver. This practice was continued by some individuals, for example, CNN Hero, Sal Demicheli, and service organizations such as the Jase's. With the rise of more social peer-to-peer processes, many charities are moving away from the charitable model and starting to adopt this more direct donor to recipient approach.

Examples of this include global giving, direct funding of community development projects, and developing countries. Donors choose for U.S.-based projects. Pure Charity, Kiva, funding loans administered by microfinance organizations in developing countries, and Zadisha, funding individual microfinance borrowers directly. Institutions evolved to carry out the labor of assisting the poor, and these institutions, called charities, provide the bulk of charitable giving today in terms of monetary value. These include orphanages, food banks, religious institutes dedicated to care of the poor, hospitals, organizations that visit the homebound and imprisoned, and many others. Such individuals allow those whose time or inclination does not lend themselves to directly care for the poor to enable others to do so, both by providing money for the work and supporting them while they do the work. Institutions can also attempt to more effectively sort out the needy from those who fraudulently claim charity.

Early Christians particularly recommended the care of the unfortunate to the charge of the local bishop. There have been examinations of who gives more to charity. One study conducted in the United States found that as a percentage of income, charitable giving increased as income decreased. The poorest fifth of Americans, for example, gave away 4.3% of their income, while the wealthiest fifth gave away 2.1% in absolute terms. This was an average of $453 on an average income of $10,531, compared to $3,326 on an income of $158,38,38. Studies have also found that individuals who are

religious are more likely to give money to charitable organizations, and they are also more likely to give more money than those who are not religious. Among those individuals are members of American religious communities, about whom the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding conducted a recent study regarding philanthropic and charitable giving. A study found that American Muslim donation patterns, when it comes to charitable giving, aligned mostly with other American faith groups like Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish communities, but that American Muslims were more likely to donate out of a sense of religious obligation

and a belief that those who have ought to give to those who do not. A study also found that most American faith groups prioritize charity towards their own houses of worship when it comes to monetary donations and then other causes. Muslims and Jews contributed more than other religious groups to civil rights protection organizations, while white evangelical Christians followed by Protestants and then Catholics were the most likely to make charitable contributions to youth and family services. Criticism A philosophical critique of charity can be found in Oscar Wilde's essay,

The Soul of Man Under Socialism, where he calls it a ridiculously inadequate mode of partial restitution. usually accompanied by some impertinent attempt on the part of the sentimentalist to tyrannize over the poor's private lives, as well as a remedy that prolongs the disease of poverty rather than curing it. Wilde's thoughts are cited with approval by Slova Jezizik and the Slovenian thinker adds this description of the effect of charity on the charitable. When confronted with the starving child, we are told, for the price of a couple of cappuccinos, you can save her life. The true message is, for the price of a couple of cappuccinos, you can continue in your ignorant and pleasurable life, not only not feeling any guilt, but even feeling good for having participated in the struggle against suffering. Slavage Zizek, 2010, Living in the End of Times

Frederick Engels, in his 1845 treatise on the condition of the working class in England, points out that charitable giving, whether by governments or individuals, is often seen by the givers as a means to conceal suffering that is unpleasant to see. Engels quotes from a letter to the editor of an English newspaper who complains that streets are haunted by swarms of beggars, who try to awaken the pity of the passers-by in a most shameless and annoying manner. by exposing their tattered clothing, sickly aspect, and disgusting wounds and deformities. I should think that when one not only pays for the poor rate, but also contributes largely to the charitable institutions,

one had enough to earn a right to be spared such disagreeable and impertinent molestations. The English bourgeoisie Engels concludes, is charitable out of self-interest. It gives nothing outright, but regards its gifts as a business matter. Makes a bargain with the poor, saying, If I spend this much upon benevolent institutions, I thereby purchase the right not to be troubled any further, and you are bound thereby to stay in your dusky holes,

and not to irritate my tender nerves by exposing your misery. You shall despair as before, but you shall despair unseen. This I require. This I purchase with my subscription of 20 pounds for the infirmary. It is infamous this charity of a Christian bourgeois. The Institute of Economic Affairs published a report in 2012 called Sock Puppets, How the Government Lobbys itself and Why, which criticized the phenomenon of government's funding charities, which then lobby the government for changes which the government wanted all along. Needs-based versus rights-based debate.

Increasing awareness of poverty and food insecurity has led to debate among scholars about the needs-based versus the rights-based approach. The needs-based approach solely provides recipients what they need, not expecting any action in response. Examples of needs-based approaches include charitable giving, philanthropy, and other private investments. A rights-based approach, on the other hand, includes participation from both ends,

with the recipients being active influences on policies. Politically, a rights-based approach would be illustrated in policies of income redistribution, wage floors, and cash subsidies. Mariana Chilton, in the American Journal of Public Health, suggests that current government policies reflect the needs-based approach. Chilton argues this leads to a misconception that charity is the cure for basic needs in security. This misconception drives the government to avoid welfare reform and instead to rely on charitable organizations and philanthropists.

Amelia Barwise of the American Journal of Public Health supports children, argument by describing the consequences of philanthropy. Using an example of Michael Bloomberg's donation of $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins University for student debts, farwise questions the most effective use for this money. She lists one motivation of philanthropy as to avoid paying federal taxes, so the donor may be recognized for their generosity and send their earned money to, organizations they are passionate about. Barweis therefore implies that Bloomberg's actions resemble this reason, since he has saved $600 million in federal taxes and donated the money

to his alma mater. Furthermore, this non-politicized idea of philanthropy and charitable giving is linked to the government's approach to poverty. Barweis discusses that Americans have an innate distrust of the government, causing them to favor private and depoliticized. actions such as charity. Her research finds consequences of philanthropic actions and how the money can be used more effectively. First, Barwise states that since philanthropy allows for tax evasion, this decreases opportunities for welfare policies that would support all low-income workers. Furthermore, philanthropy can diminish the institution's mission and give more power and influence to the donor.

acknowledging these consequences of philanthropy and the diminishing of public funding, Mariana Chilton offers solutions to the rights-based approach. Chilton argues that the government should adopt a more rights-based approach to include more people in their policies and significantly improve basic needs in security. She calls the government accountability an increase of transparency, an increase of public participation. and the acknowledgement of vulnerability and discrimination caused by current policies.

She argues for increased federal legislation that provides social safety nets through entitlement programs, recognizing SNAP as a small example. Chilton concludes with a list of four strategies to a national plan. One, increased monitoring system to assess threats to food insecurity. 2. Improved National, State, and Local Coordination. Three, improve accountability. And four, utilize public participation to help construct policies. Philosophies

Charity in Christianity In medieval Europe, during the 12th and 13th centuries, Latin Christendom underwent a charitable revolution. Rich patrons founded many leprets preseria and hospitals for the sick and poor. New confraternities and religious orders emerged with the primary mission of engaging in intensive charitable work. Historians debate the causes.

Some argue that this movement was spurred by economic and material forces, as well as a burgeoning urban culture. Other scholars argue that developments in spirituality and devotional culture were central. For still other scholars, medieval charity was primarily a way to elevate one's social status and affirm existing hierarchies of power. Sadaka and Judaism. In Judaism, Sadaka, a Hebrew term literally meaning righteousness but commonly used to signify charity, refers to the religious obligation to do what is right and just. Because it is commanded by the Torah, and not voluntary, the practice is not technically an act of charity.

Such a concept is virtually non-existent in Jewish tradition. Jews give Sadaka, which can take the form of money, time, and resources to the needy, out of righteousness and justice rather than benevolence, generosity, or charitableness. The Torah requires that 10% of a Jew's income be allotted to righteous deeds or causes. regardless if the receiving party is rich or poor. Sakat and Sadaka in Islam. In Islam there are two methods of charity. One called Sakat, the other is called Sadaka.

Sakat is one of the five pillars upon which the Muslim religion is based, where 2.5% of one's saving is compulsory to be given as Sakad per Islamic calendar year. provided that the saving is beyond the threshold limit, called Nisab, usually determined by the religious authority. Sadaka is voluntary charity or contribution. Sadaka can be given using money, personal items, time, or other resources. There is no minimum or maximum requirement for Sadaka. Even smiling to other people is considered a Sadaka.

Dana in Indian religions. The practice of charity is called Dana or Deana in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. It is the virtue of generosity or giving. Dana has been defined in traditional text state Krishna and Manage as any action of relinquishing the ownership of what one considered or identified as one's own and investing the same in a recipient without expecting anything in return. Karnah Mahabali and Haryashandra are heroes also known for giving charity. The earliest known discussion of charity as a virtuous practice in Indian texts is in Rigveda.

According to other ancient texts of Hinduism, Dana can take the form of feeding or giving to an individual in distress or need. It can also take the form of philanthropic public projects that empower and help many. Dana leads to one of the perfections. This can be characterized by unattached and unconditional generosity, giving and letting go. Historical records such as those by the Persian historian Abu Rahan al-Biruni, who visited India in early 11th century,

suggests Dana has been an ancient and medieval era practice among Indian religions. Effective altruism Effective altruism is a philosophy and social movement that uses evidence and reasoning to determine the most effective ways to benefit others. Effective altruism encourages individuals to consider all causes in actions and to act in the way that brings about the greatest positive impact based upon their values. It is the broad evidence-based and cause-neutral approach.

that distinguishes effective altruism from traditional altruism or charity. Effective altruism is part of the larger movement towards evidence-based practices. While a substantial proportion of effective altruism has focused on the nonprofit sector, the philosophy of effective altruism applies more broadly to prioritizing the scientific projects, companies, and policy initiatives which can be estimated to save lives, help people, or otherwise have the biggest benefit. People associated with the movement include philosopher Peter Singer, Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskowitz, Kari Tuna, Ben Dalo, Oxford-based researchers William McCaskill,

and Toby Ord, professional poker player Liv Borei, and writer J.C. Reese Anthis. There are two books in Christian literature that talk about charity in a different form. First Corinthians chapter 13 from the Holy Bible and Moronite chapter 7 from the book of Mormon. First Corinthians. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling symbol. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long and is kind. Charity envious not. Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Does not behave itself unseemly. Seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked.

Thinketh no evil. Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Beareth all things. believeeth all things, hopeeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth. But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail. Whether there be tongues, they shall cease. Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child. I understood as a child. I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three. But the greatest of these, is charity. Maroni chapter 7. And Charity suffereth long and is kind, and envieth not.

And is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoices not iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeeth all things, endureth all things. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity ye are nothing, or charity never faileth. Wherefore cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail.

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever. And whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love which he hath bestowed upon all those who are true followers of his son Jesus Christ. That ye may become the sons of God, that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

That we may have this hope, that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.