Religious poverty

Among some groups, in particular religious groups, poverty is considered a necessary or desirable condition, which must be embraced in order to reach certain spiritual, moral, or intellectual states. Poverty is often understood to be an essential element of renunciation among Buddhists and Jains, whilst in Roman Catholicism it is one of the evangelical counsels, and taken as a vow among certain religious orders. The way poverty is understood among these orders takes a variety of forms. For example, the Franciscan orders have traditionally forgone all individual and corporate forms of ownership. However, while individual ownership of goods and wealth is forbidden for Benedictines, following the Rule of St. Benedict, the monastery itself may possess both goods and money, and through history some monasteries have become very rich indeed.

In this context of religious vows, poverty may be understood as a means of self-denial in order to place oneself at the service of others; Pope Honorius III wrote in 1217 that the Dominicans "lived a life of voluntary poverty, exposing themselves to innumerable dangers and sufferings, for the salvation of others". However, following Jesus' warning that riches can be like thorns that choke up the good seed of the word (Matthew 13:22), voluntary poverty is often understood by Christians as of benefit to the individual - a form of self-discipline by which one distances oneself from distractions from God.
Millennium Development Goals
Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger by 2015 is a Millennium Development Goal. In addition to broader approaches, the Sachs Report (for the UN Millennium Project) [50] proposes a series of "quick wins", approaches identified by development experts which would cost relatively little but could have a major constructive effect on world poverty. The quick wins are:

  • Access to information on sexual and reproductive health.
  • Action against domestic violence.
  • Appointing government scientific advisors in every country.
  • Basic Income Guarantee
  • Citizen's Dividend
  • Deworming school children in affected areas.
  • Drugs for AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
  • Eliminating school fees.
  • Ending user fees for basic health care in developing countries.
  • Free school meals for schoolchildren.
  • Legislation for women’s rights, including rights to property.
  • Negative Income Tax
  • Planting trees.
  • Providing soil nutrients to farmers in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Providing mosquito nets.
  • Access to electricity, water and sanitation.
  • Supporting breast-feeding.
  • Training programs for community health in rural areas.
  • Upgrading slums, and providing land for public housing.