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Having been a Christian for over 30 years who was involved in many different denominations that range from Presbyterian to Pentecostal and almost everything in between, I can say without reservation that the ultimate goal of most Christian social programs are to convert people to the Faith. I'm not saying this is a bad thing because a lot of good is done in the process, but there is almost always a hook either hidden or open. Many if not all Christian shelters, orphanages, etc. require Church service attendance.

The Fundamental type churches are aggressive about converting people to their particular brand of Christianity and all forms of charity are for the sole purpose of conversion of the "lost". The more liberal churches tend not to be so aggressive and have more of a live and let live attitude. When these "liberal" Churches do charity it is more for the sake of those who need help than for the growth of the Church, although if you would like to become a part of the church you more than welcome.

From a Buddhist perspective this type of giving has very little merit associated with it. Giving without any attachment is the way to gain merit. Even the desire for merit is to be avoided. IMO, because of this, Buddhist charity tends to be more personal and individual.

I have included a link below to the Buddhist Peace Fellowship web site. It is worth checking out. There are Buddhists that are committed to being socially engaged. The thing to remember is that The Buddha's purpose in teaching is the liberation of all beings. Buddhist organizations are not that different from Christian in that their goal is the liberation of all beings where Christian organizations goal is the conversion of all people. These two points of view are totally different in intent and outcome, but it could be argued that both are working with an agenda.

This is their Mission Statement.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF), founded in 1978, is to serve as a catalyst for socially engaged Buddhism. Our purpose is to help beings liberate themselves from the suffering that manifests in individuals, relationships, institutions, and social systems. BPF's programs, publications, and practice groups link Buddhist teachings of wisdom and compassion with progressive social change.

We strive to:

Offer a public witness, through our practice, for peace and protection of all beings
Raise humanitarian, environmental, and social justice concerns among Buddhist communities
Bring a Buddhist perspective to contemporary peace, environmental, and social justice movements
Our practice of contemplation and social action is guided by our intentions to:

• Recognize the interdependence of all beings
• Meet suffering directly and with compassion
• Appreciate the importance of not clinging to views and outcomes
• Work with Buddhists from all traditions
• Connect individual and social transformation
• Practice nonviolence
• Use participatory decision-making techniques
• Protect and extend human rights
• Support gender and racial equality, and challenge all forms of unjust discrimination
• Work for economic justice and the end of poverty
• Work for a sustainable environment


http://www.bpf.org/