Philanthropy & Christianity: France

Travel to France to explore the influence of Christianity on the practice of philanthropy in various communities.

Seminars and site visits to a wide array of places central to the development of the philanthropic tradition with a Christian influence. Philosophical tenets from Gospels and from the writings of St. Benedict, Gregory the Great and others from the Christian tradition provide clues to understanding the role of Christianity in the formation of societal expectations around philanthropic giving and receiving. Students will also be encouraged to examine and discern the ultimate purposes of philanthropy in our daily lives through a series of service-learning experiences.

This course will examine the influence of Christianity on the development of philanthropy from early Christianity through the twenty-first century. Philosophical tenets from Gospels and from the writings of St. Benedict, Gregory the Great, Aquinas, Luther, Ignatius, Catherine of Siena and others from the Christian tradition provide clues to understanding the role of Christianity in the formation of societal expectations around philanthropic giving and receiving. Students will also be encouraged to examine and discern the ultimate purposes of philanthropy in our daily lives. Travel through France to explore firsthand the influence of Christianity on the practice of philanthropy in various communities. The course will fulfill Engaging the World, Core 3 requirement and double count as an elective for Nonprofit minor, Political Science major or Catholic Studies major.

What students have to say:

I attended your Philanthropy and Christianity Study Abroad course at Seton Hall University and it changed my life. I loved your lectures. I still have the journal that recorded the many historical sites we explored, and my name tag issued at the conference. The site visits and learning activities helped me to gain an understanding of the purposes of philanthropy. Having the opportunity to attend the International Society for Third Sector Research (ISTR) conference sparked my interest in policy, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), sustainable development, and labor relations.