A collection of internationally recognized scholars share their views on the topic of the religious roots of social welfare. Their eloquent and insightful presentations create a fascinating study of the development of western attitudes towards social welfare, beginning with classical Greco-Roman and biblical cultures. Contributors: Brenda M. Bolton, Emily Albu Hanawalt, Paul D. Hanson, Susan Ashbrook Harvey, Alexander Kazhdan, Howard Clark Kee, Carter Lindberg, Lester K. Little, Timothy S. Miller, Thomas Riis, Alice-Mary Talbot, and Andre Vauchez.