Global Poverty Dialogue Analysis

Global Poverty Dialogue

Kaitlyn and Hannah are two philosophy students that have just learned about the epidemic that is global poverty. They are both deeply troubled with how they should approach the topic. The two girls decide to sit down at The Old Factory for coffee and discussion about their ideas on global poverty.

The Conversation

Kaitlyn: I’m so glad that Professor Jensen decided to include this topic in our class curriculum. I hear about global poverty all the time at church, but I’ve never approached it from an academic angle.

Hannah: I agree. I just followed a twitter account that is all about getting the facts and statistics about poverty out there. Did you know that there are 1 billion children living in poverty? Or that diarrhea

He wants people to cut back on luxurious practices in order to fulfill the needs of others.

Kaitlyn: So, this is like a classic wants versus needs kind of thing. It sounds as though Singer is taking a utilitarian stance on global poverty.

Hannah: What makes you think that Singer is a Utilitarian?

Kaitlyn: He talks a lot about the needs of others and doing things that result in the most happiness. For example, Singer says that a certain amount of money, let’s say $50, would create more happiness in the life of a child overseas than in my own life here in the United States.

Hannah: That amount of money doesn’t seem like much to me. It could buy me a new pair of jeans or maybe eight cups of coffee from Starbucks.

Kaitlyn: That’s true. But think of how much good $50 could do for a family overseas. It could provide food, clothes, clean water, or an education to children that could die without it.

Hannah: I never thought of it that way. That money would bring about more happiness or well-being to those people overseas than it would for

Does Christianity have a place for charity?

Hannah: The answer to that seems quite obvious to me. Yes, of course Christians should be charitable and help those in need. As Christians, we are supposed to strive to be more Christ-like. Jesus’s ministry in the New Testament gives us instructions and examples on how we are supposed to approach this idea.

Kaitlyn: What are some specific examples found in the Bible of charity?

Hannah: Jesus says in Matthew 5 to give to those who ask and to not turn away from those who want to borrow from you. There’s another example in Matthew about charity. I studied it for one of my nursing classes. It is found in Matthew 25. It’s all about how every time we clothe a person without clothes, feed the hungry, house the homeless, or take care of the sick we are actually doing it to God. God wants us to see Him in people that are in need and to act as His hands and feet to help them.

Kaitlyn: I really like that example. Jesus does a lot of healing and giving throughout is ministry and all of that can be considered charity.

Hannah: That’s right. If we are striving to be more Christ-like, charity should be a part of our lives, just like it was for