超验主体与后危机时代的慈善公益--以美国中镇为案例

Transcendental Philanthropy and Charities in the Post-Crisis Era: A Case Analysis of Middletown, USA

基督教与美国政治社会生活密切相关,它不仅对维系美国社会的道德秩序、缓解社会矛盾、稳定社会结构、推动社会进步影响重大,而且也促进了美国慈善公益事业和基于自愿基础上的公民社会的生成,体现了社会自治。本文基于跨度一年的参与观察,在分析美国中镇的慈善公益与宗教关系的基础上,揭示当下宗教慈善在社会救济、精神安抚以及生命意义引领等方面的作用。可以明确,超验意义上的上帝在美国已被基督徒具体化为经验层面上的希望,它不再是本体论意义上的实体与存在物,而是一种信念,一种精神意志,这在后危机时代显得尤其重要。

There is a close linkage between Christianity and the social and political life in the U.S. Christianity plays a significant role in sustaining social morality, softening societal conflicts, maintaining social structure, and advancing the whole society. In addition, such role extends its impact onto the development of philanthropy and charity as well as the appearance of a civic society （reflecting a sense of self-regulation） based on volunteerism. This paper, based its dis- cussions on one-year long field study through participation and observations in Middletown, USA, provides analysis of the relationship between philanthropy and religion to understand the functions and impact of religious charity work in providing social welfare, spiritual help and the meaning of life. A God, so lively and transcendent, has been personal- ized at the experiential level and became a belief spiritual in life, which proves to be exceptionally important in the post-crisis era.