ABSTRACT
The concepts of charity and philanthropy have had a checkered history. Philanthropy originated in the ancient Greek city-states, particularly Athens, and was part of the concept of citizenship and civic duty. The practice of philanthropy in Rome seems to have been substantially similar to that in Greece. Christianity began as a small Judaic sect in Palestine when that territory was a province of the Roman Empire. It evolved into a worldwide religion with an array of theological doctrines and social organizations that became significantly different from those of Judaism. The increasing worldliness and materialism of the church repelled some parishioners and clergy and gave rise to efforts to rediscover religious concentration through withdrawal into secluded communities known as monasteries. The Church was concerned with the effect of charity on the soul of the donor, a concern that is much less prominent in contemporary society than it was in medieval times.
