Philanthropy in the World's Traditions

"The cross-cultural understandings this book provides can do much to help us determine the distinctive shape and form American religious philanthropy might take in the future." —Christian Century "The provocative information challenges the assumptions that philanthropy is a primarily Western or Christian tradition, and it clarifies the need for additional study." —Choice An investigation of how cultures outside the Western tradition understand philanthropy and how people in these cultures attempt to realize "the good" through giving and serving. These essays study philanthropy in Buddhist, Islamic, Hindu, Jewish, and Native American religious traditions and in cultures from Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

Table of Contents:
Introduction. Warren Ilchman, Stanley Katz, and Edward L. Queen, II Part One: Non-Literate/Aboriginal Traditions 1. Reciprocity and Assistance in Precolonial Africa Steven Feierman 2. A Comparative Study in Native American Philanthropy John A. Grim Part Two: Historical/Textual Roots 3. Contextualizing Philanthropy in South Asia: A Textual Analysis of Sanskrit Sources Leona Anderson 4. Generosity and Service in Theravada Buddhism Ananda W.P. Guruge and G.D. Bond 5. The Mahayana Buddhist Foundation for Philanthropic Practice Leslie S. Kawamura Part Three: Philanthropy in Context 6. Philanthropy, the Law, and Public Policy in the Islamic World before the Modern Era Said Arjomand 7. Reflections on Chinese Philanthropy Based on the Case of Famine Relief in Shan-yin County, Shao-hsing, 1640-1642 Joanna F. Handlin Smith 8. A View of Philanthropy in Japan: Confucian Ethics and Education Mary Evelyn Tucker Part Four: Philanthropy and Social Change 9. The Origins of Modern Jewish Philanthropy Derek J. Penslar 10. Mount Holyoke Missionaries and Non-Western Women: The Motivations and Consequences of Nineteenth Century American Missionary Philanthropy Amanda Porterfield 11. Orthodox Christianity, the Nation-State, and Philanthropy: Focus on the Serbian Orthodox Church Miroslav Ruzica Part Five: New Shoots, Old Roots 12. Hindu Philanthropy and Civil Society Mark Juergensmeyer and Darrin M. McMahon 13. Religious Authority, Reform, and Philanthropy in the Contemporary Muslim World Gregory C. Kozlowski 14. From Repression to Revival: Philanthropy in Twentieth-Century Russia Adele Lindenmeyr 15. State Power and the Philanthropic Impulse in China Today Vivienne B. Shue 16. Civil Society and Philanthropy in Latin America: From Religious Charity to the Search for Citizenship Andrés A. Thompson and Leilah Landim Contributors Index