Volunteering as a form of charitable activity of new religious organizations in the Dnipro city: socio-philosophical analysis

Abstract

The article deals with the main forms of neo-religious volunteerism at the territory of the Dnipro region.  The main factors and volunteering principles are conducted with the help of the socio-philosophical approach based on the components of charismatic churches and their charity.  Among the neo-religious formations, the most popular communities are with the greatest amount of believers sure that they are favored with divine charisma or are able to acquire gospel Gifts of the Holy Ghost through ritual practices and integrity. A significant number of neo-religious movements suggests that the need of a modern man in an emotional connection with a numinous increases. Regarding the appearance causes of neo-religious organizations and the surge in the 70-90s of the last century, the main reasons are that a modern person’s life and religious activities become unimportant, rather it becomes an addition to the main types of activity. The mixture of sacred and commercial activities of both neo-religious formations and specific preachers is conditioned by the domination of economic values in the public life, as well as by the legal regulation of the activities of religious communities by the state.

Charitable activity is at the root of volunteering, it has always been acceptable for religious organizations. Researchers mainly focus on the certainty of the essence and fundamental principles of religious charity. Volunteers’ activity is considered as a form of charitable activity which specificity as the basis for volunteering in neo-religious organizations has not been studied yet. Its negative moments have not been studied yet too. Main emphasis is made on the non-state activity which is held without proper sanitary, medical and legal supervision including methods of psychological and physical pressure on dependent people. The work of the centers is not provided by long-term contracts, that is, pure rehabilitation practice is carried out mainly through the manipulative-psychological methods or “on a whim”, apparently, main hope for such organizations is based on belief in God and His help.

Also, it should be noted that there is a volunteer movement called the Golden Age, where older people can hear the word of God, pray for them here, listen to them, say a gentle word to them, and give a package of products. Vaishnav community is another neo-religious phenomenon throughout Ukrainian territory. The charitable and volunteer activities of the Vaishnav organizations in the Dnipro region are being implemented through a series of humanitarian programs. Consideration of the voluntary activity specifics in non-religious organizations (on the example of individual communities of  the Dnipro region) leads to the conclusion that volunteering as a form of charitable activity occupies a significant place in the life of these communities.

Volunteers’ activity of neo-religious organizations generally takes place within the framework of the Law of Ukraine on volunteer activity, while this activity requires further deep research, supervision by the state authorities according to the methods of assistance for the drug and alcohol addictives in order to prevent the violation of human rights.