Charity Defined

I was researching how other sources define Charity and found that the Oxford English Dictionary's definition of the word is based off of historical texts. These texts shape the definition of the word, rather than provide a definition for the texts to follow. As for what the OED cites,

1. Christian love: a word representing caritas of the Vulgate, as a frequent rendering of in N.T. Greek. With various applications: as a. God's love to man. (By early writers often identified with the Holy Spirit.) (Oxford English Dictionary)

This is the websites first definition listed. This definition obviously has religious connotation. Yet, if you search down the page, the definition becomes more modernized. Such as,

2. a. Without any specially Christian associations: Love, kindness, affection, natural affection: now esp. with some notion of generous or spontaneous goodness. (Oxford English Dictionary)

This definition is widely known and more acceptable than the prior definition. It isn't necessary that you be Christian in order to be charitable.

I compared this definition to another that I found on the online Cambridge Dictionary. According to their online reference, Charity is defined as thus;

Charity - a system of giving money, food or help free to those who are in need because they are ill, poor or have no home, or any organization which has the purpose of providing money or helping in this way

She does a lot of work for charity.

People tend to give to give money to charity at Christmas time.

Proceeds from the sale of these cards will go to be given to local charities.

UNICEF is an international charity.

They did a charity performance on the first night, to raise money for AIDS research.

(Cambridge Dictionary Online)

In comparison to the definition provided by the OED, Cambridge provides an even more modern definition. The common person would most likely associate Charity with this definition today. Even the example sentences are up to date.

How has the original definition, or the oldest definition, and the latest definition change over time? Do you think that altering the definition of charity changes people's behavior towards and with charity?

Works Cited

“Charity.” Cambridge Dictionaries Online. Online ed. Cambridge UP, 2009. Web. 12 Dec. 2009. .

“Charity.” Def. 2 a. http://dictionary.oed.com.ezproxy.caldwell.edu:2048/‌cgi/‌entry/‌50036948?single=1&query_type=word&queryword=Charity&first=1&max_to_show=10. OED Online ed. Oxford UP, 2009. Web. 12 Dec. 2009. .