believers are more likely to donate to charity

The National Research University Higher School of Economics conducted a nationwide survey, during which it turned out that Russian believers are more likely to donate to charity and participate in the work of relevant NGOs than citizens who do not consider themselves believers. Researchers themselves and representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church find such a correlation natural. However, the difference in the number of believing and unbelieving benefactors is not always great.

According to an all-Russian survey of the population conducted by the HSE Center for Civil Society and Non-Profit Sector Research, 76% of Russians call themselves believers, including 66% identify themselves as Orthodox. The survey involved 2002 people from the urban and rural population aged 18 years and older. According to the results of the study, the majority of respondents declare their belonging to a religion and act in accordance with the Christian values ​​of mercy and helping one’s neighbor. Among the respondents who consider themselves to be of the Orthodox faith, the share of those who had to do charity work is 57%. Among those who do not belong to any of the confessions, this proportion is only 45%.

Charitable donations were made by 56% of Orthodox Russians and only 42% of those who do not consider themselves believers.

Like the rest of the respondents, Orthodox donors most often help sick children (46%) and the elderly (25%), as well as animals (21%) with money. 6% of respondents donated directly to help religious organizations, temples and churches.

Half of the respondents who call themselves Orthodox say they have confidence in most Russian charitable organizations. Among the respondents who do not consider themselves believers, 42% trust charitable organizations. According to the study, Orthodox Christians are more likely to participate in the activities of non-profit organizations: in one form or another, 25% of Orthodox respondents are involved in the work of NGOs, and among respondents who do not consider themselves to be believers, such 20%.

According to Irina Mersiyanova, director of the Center for Research on Civil Society and the Non-Profit Sector, “charity has always played a significant role in the history of Orthodoxy”: “As the results of this and previous studies show, belonging to a religion contributes to a more active manifestation of a person’s altruistic aspirations. Orthodox respondents, more often than those who do not consider themselves believers, note that helping the needy is one of the key values ​​in their lives, and the more important religion is in a person’s life, the higher the likelihood that he will participate in charitable activities and volunteering.”

“For an Orthodox person, love for one’s neighbor is an expression of love for God. It is impossible to imagine one without the other,” says Bishop Panteleimon, chairman of the Synodal Department for Charity, “In the terrible 20th century, the Soviet authorities tried to deprive the church of the opportunity to engage in charity, but, thank God, over the past 30 years there have been more people who have perceived the need for active mercy . This ministry is gradually being revived – hundreds of charitable organizations and initiatives have appeared in the church.

Pavel Korobov