从互惠到利他——宗教改革时期基督教济贫观念的变化

From Reciprocity to Altruism:View Changes of Christian Poor Relief during Reformation

宗教改革时期的济贫改革是近代欧洲社会福利制度发展过程中的重要环节。基督教的济贫观念在这个时期发生了显著变化,从传统的以互惠为主要特征的功利性救济观转为以强调爱,即上帝之爱和基督徒之爱为主要特征的利他性救济观。救济不再是为救赎准备条件的手段,而成为责任和义务,是基督徒身份的主要标志。宗教改革与这种观念的形成关系密切。

Poor relief reform during the Reformation is an important step for modern Europe towards a welfare system society. In fact, the Christianity attitudes towards poor relief or almsgiving change dramatically during this period. Altruistic views featured with charity, i. e. love of God and love of brother, takes the place of traditional utilitarian ones which emphasized the reciprocity between the giver and the given. Poor relief is no longer a condition for the final salvation, but a duty and main feature of true Christian. The formation of this view has much to do with the Reformation.