著者

稲場 圭信

出版者

東京大学文学部宗教学研究室

雑誌

東京大学宗教学年報 (ISSN:2896400)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.16, pp.27-42, 1999-03-31

---

This article will deal with the correlation between voluntary activities and religion in terms of altruism. In the United Kingdom there are over five-hundred thousand voluntary organizations, and among them about 170,000 are registered charities. The charitable purposes of these organizations are altruistic and classified under four headings : the relief of poverty, the advancement of education, the advancement of religion, and other purposes beneficial to the community. Although it received only indirect mention in the preamble of the Statute of Elizabeth I (the Charitable Uses Act 1601 ),the advancement of religion has always been considered a charitable object. Indeed, the very concept of charity is essentially religious in origin. Thus, charitable activities and religions have traditionally been strongly related. After surveying the literature on altruism, we shall consider the social dimension of these voluntary activities and their significance. There after we shall take a general view of the system of charities in the United Kingdom and its history. In the rest of the article, we shall discuss the correlation between religions and voluntary activities in terms of altruism from various standpoints. The discussion will refer to the meanings of altruism and charitable activities to religious people. Finally, this article will illustrate the differences and affinities between voluntary activities of religious people and those of non-religious people.