Tax breaks and 'healthy' guilt provide enough
incentive for most charitable donations. People give an average of £12.93
a month, according to a new report by the Charities Aid Foundation - less
than 1 per cent of the average monthly wage.
But for the believer, upwards of 10 per cent
is more appropriate, given before the bills are paid, not after. A recent
survey by the Evangelical Alliance (EA), which represents the view of
1.3 million Christians, found 18- to 35- yeard-old churchgoers gave £51
a month on average, four times as much as non-believers.
The Christian practice of tithing has parallels
in all the world's main religions. While each form is different, giving
money as well as service remains an act of worship for Jews, Christians,
Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus.
Reverend Malcolm Duncan, head of church life
at the EA, says: "If your faith has not impacted your wallet, one
must question the depth of your faith. Yet giving should be done not out
of obligation, but from heartfelt engagement with the world."
Rabbi Shindler, director of rabbinic liaison
at the Chief Rabbi's Office, goes further: "What we earn and have
can be taken as a statement of who we are. Tzedakah (the Jewish form of
tithing) helps us retain a sense of humility, of what our real value is
in our relations with others."
Money is not the root of all evil, it seems -
but the love of money is. For the modern-day believer, giving money is
seen as a way of doing God's works in the world. Dr. Zaki Badawi of the
Muslim College in London says: "We believe money should not be an
aim in itself, but a means. Zakat is there for the community to apply
for."
While exact amounts are difficult to quantify,
tithing and similar practices are the lifeblood of many charities. The
Red Cross, Christian Aid, Tearfund, Sewa International and Jewish Aid
rely heavily on faith-inspired giving.
Reverend Duncan says it goes beyond giving to
charity: "There is an invisible economy that pays for a myriad of
community projects, all funded by regular committed giving of UK Christians."
And zakat (the muslim equivalent of tithing) is responsible for supporting
public services such as schools and hospitals.
While religions don't advocate giving money as
a means of improving their own prosperity - Bimal Krishna Das, general
secretary of the National Council of Hindu Temples, says the Bhagavad-Gita
guides Hindus to 'give without expectation of return' - many believers
claim to have seen an improvement in their finances while tithing.
Reverend Duncan relates his personal experience:
"As a result of tithing, our financial security has strengthened
and we are in a position to give more than before."
Perhaps a rich man can pass through the eye of
the needle, then. Professor Harmindar Singh, founder of the Sikh Divine
Fellowship, says: "You can be a millionaire, provided you achieve
it by honest means and share your wealth."
JD Rockefeller tithed more than half a billion
dollars in his lifetime, offering critics a standard reply: "God
gave me the money."
While believers tend to give more, most faiths
advise against reckless giving. With that in mind, regular, systematic
giving is the healthiest approach to faith-inspired giving. And this is
healthy for the seeker, says Shindler: "Giving every days is better
than one annual cheque. Then it will impact your psyche."
It's healthy for the Treasury too, says Badawi:
"Zakat is designed to help the poor, but it also helps the economy
by keeping money in circulation."
Giving whatever you believe
Christian Tithe v. & n. From the Old
English teotha meaning a tenth. A tenth of annual produce or income formerly
taken as a tax for the support of the church. Voluntary.
Muslim Zakat, meaning increase, or purification,
was made compulsory from the second year of the Hidra, the Muslim lunar
calendar. Muslims give Zakat at 2.5 per cent a year on all income, and
after the Ramadan give an amount about equal to the price of a meal. Zakat
is enshrined in Muslim law.
Jewish Tzedakah, meaning 'doing the right
thing' or 'charitable giving.' When the Rabbis came to quantify how much
Tzedakah to give, they advocated Ma'aser, meaning a tenth part. Voluntary,
yet embedded in Jewish culture and scripture.
Hindu The Vedic tradition guides Hindus
to give according to their ability and position - which for a family man
would be up to 50 per cent. Voluntary.
Buddhist 'Right livelihood' and 'right
action' on the Buddha's eightfold path guide Buddhists in their relationship
with money.
Sikh The Sikh Code of Conduct advocates
that 10 per cent of income should be given to charity. Voluntary.
The author (Nick Kettles) is happy for this article
to be republished by anyone who wishes to do so, as long as they acknowledge
where it first appeared www.observer.co.uk
. Would you please however first contact to inform him where and when
it will appear.
Nick Kettles is a freelance journalist.
His credits include The Times, The Observer and The Independent.
His interests include consciousness and meditation, personal growth,
new science, health and complimentary medicine. Having previously
worked extensively in the personal growth field, he has a keen awareness
of the need to clearly communicate the benefits of the many therapies
on offer. Nick can be contacted at
or via his website www.newmythcreate.com
