Hear how global concepts of charity have not typically included care for the poor in the way we would esteem today.

Hear how Jesus challenged the absence of true charity toward the poor and needy, while radically suggesting that all races were equal in a world where they were not.

Hear how early followers of Jesus began to care for widows, orphans, the disabled, unemployed and imprisoned – even with the risk of death, in contrast to all around them.

Hear how Christian charity in the first Century quite remarkably continued even when the Christian community was being persecuted and killed.

Hear how the concept of Christian charity spread throughout the Roman Empire in a very short space of time following the conversion of Emperor Constantine (272-337AD).

Hear how, through the darkest days of Church power-abuse in the Crusades and Inquisitions, Christian charity shone a light so bright that it drew the continued following of the people.

Hear about concepts of charity within Māori culture to their own people which displayed the same seeds of thought Christianity has suggests we apply to all people.

Hear about the rise of the Clapham Group in England, who spawned a new era in thinking on charity, with 233 charitable organisations established in a short time-frame, directly shaping the thinking and values of our society today.

Hear a comparison of concepts of charity within world religions – in recognition that while all have a concept of charity, what they advocate for is significantly different.

Hear Indian philosopher Vishal Mangalwade’s assessment of Hindu concepts of charity, with contrasts to those of ‘Christian’ society today.

Hear some of the similarities and difference between Buddhist concepts of charity and those of our own society today.

Hear about the generosity levels of the world’s most generous nation – America, and of the connection between levels of generosity and religious belief.

Hear the results of a study on the world’s most generous nations, and where New Zealand places in the list.

Hear the results of a Victory University of Wellington study that revealed the continuing connection religious beliefs have to levels of charity within our own nation today.