Religious Teachings On Community Service

A Jewish Teaching on Service (Isaiah 58:6-8)

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

A Muslim Teaching on Service (Surah 93)

I call to witness the early hours of morning, And the night when dark and still, Your Lord has neither left you, nor despises you. What is to come is better for you than what has gone before; For your Lord will certainly give you, and you will be content. Did He not find you an orphan and take care of you? Did He not find you perplexed, and show you the way? Did He not find you poor and enrich you? So do not oppress the orphan, and do not drive the beggar away, And keep recounting the favors of your Lord.

A Jain Teaching on Service (from Tattvarthasutra 5.21)

Rendering help to another is the function of all human beings.

A Baha'i Teaching on Service (from Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 84)

One amongst His Teachings is this, that love and good faith must so dominate the human heart that men will regard the stranger as a familiar friend, the malefactor as one of their own, the alien even as a loved one, the enemy as a companion dear and close.

A Christian Teaching on Service (Matthew 25: 34-40)

Then the king will say to those at his right hand, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?" And the king will answer them, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."

A Hindu Teaching on Service (from Bhagavad Gita 3.10)

At the beginning, mankind and the obligation of selfless service were created together. "Through selfless service, you will always be fruitful and find the fulfillment of your desires": this is the promise of the Creator....

A Sikh Teaching on Service (from Guru Granth Sahib, page 286)

"The individual who performs selfless service without thought of reward shall attain God's salvation."

A Humanist Teaching on Service (Margaret Mead -- Anthropologist)

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

A Buddhist Teaching on Service (from Itivuttaka 18)

If beings knew, as I know, the fruit of sharing gifts, they would not enjoy their use without sharing them, nor would the taint of stinginess obsess the heart and stay there. Even if it were their last bit, their last morsel of food, they would not enjoy its use without sharing it, if there were anyone to receive it.

Comments

[writerkate]

10:31 PM on 03/16/2011

Thanks to whoever compiled this wonderful, far-reaching set of quotations from so many different religions!

[tamazul]

11:22 AM on 03/16/2011

Here are some more bible principles on charity work:
"do not "toot your horn" when making gifts of mercy as do the hypocrites." "Let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing." - Jesus Christ, ( MATTHEW 6:2-8)

[billhodges]

11:19 AM on 03/16/2011

Pulpit of Hate 2011: Rev. Wright Admits Black Liberation Theology and Socialism, Even Marxism Sound the Same, Capitalism Is a Demon, Attacks Beck, Palin, Racist Tea Party, US and Christians Support for Israel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI3V1OisAUg&feature=player_embedded

[Let Y Be Any Other Man]

04:01 PM on 03/15/2011

I believe that there is some good in any religion, and denying so is foolish. Many of such institutions, everywhere in the world, do a lot of charitable work, specially tending for the poor and seeking economic justice.

If only my former church (clerics, bishops and laymen) was more focused in helping those in need and not in denigrating my homosexuality, perhaps I wouldn't have walked away from Catholicism.

[KDMac]

10:25 AM on 03/16/2011

Hope you found another church that not only focuses on good works, but also doesn't judge people.

[Let Y Be Any Other Man]

10:47 AM on 03/16/2011

Thank you for your kind wishes. However, for the time being, the only reason I have to enter any church is to accompany my mother and loved ones in special ceremonies.

[chipchuck]

10:32 AM on 03/18/2011

Let not your heart be troubled. Continue to help others, and you will be filled with happiness. The Kingdom is not in those buildings or beholden to those men.

[Lisa Dungate]

03:23 PM on 03/14/2011

Similar to the Golden Rule, I am not surprised to read that the core value "community service" is also shared amongst many of the world's religions. It takes spiritual courage to reach out a hand and help another, but people need not only practice being of service as part of a particular religious faith or church membership. Though being associated with a particular faith often offers the inside scoop on volunteer opportunities, local volunteerism efforts and organizations are plentiful in every community (just Google "volunteer opportunities in" and enter you community name and the world will open for you). My co-author and I are writing about the kind of emotional, social, intellectual, physical, spiritual and moral courage it takes to be of service to our children and in our communities. We are Jennifer Armstrong, children's book author, and Lisa Dungate, PsyD, parenting coach. Please check us out at http://www.lionswhiskers.com and submit your story about the kind of courage you have shown in being of service in your community, what your particular faith may have taught you about the humanitarian and giving/receiving nature of service, and/or what you are trying to teach your children about being a charitable human being.

[homer winslow]

01:25 PM on 03/14/2011

A republican teaching on service.

Hey you have stuff. I want it. Give it now!

[rhurc4]

10:21 AM on 03/15/2011

You definitely have that backward!

[KDMac]

10:27 AM on 03/16/2011

More like "this is my stuff. I will give you some if you need it, but you're not taking it from me."

[homer winslow]

05:15 PM on 03/16/2011

That implies a willingness to share which I have not seen from any of the Republicans with whom I am acquainted.

[nevernot]

01:02 PM on 03/14/2011

Some of these, especially the Buddhist view, remind me of my favorite quote.

"Grief can take care of itself; but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with."
-Mark Twain

[Southern Atheist]

12:25 PM on 03/14/2011

Religious institutions should have to prove they do a community service and a certain amount of their income goes to helping society in order to be tax exempt!

[ninetailedfox]

07:33 AM on 03/15/2011

I dont think churches should be tax exempt anymore no matter what services they do. they seem to be a menace to society.

[rhurc4]

10:22 AM on 03/15/2011

And yet they do more for society than any other group. your hatred consumes you.

[AnarChrist]

12:01 PM on 03/14/2011

Being forced to convert to religion as a condition of getting aid (and if you refuse or of a different religion, they cast you out to go hungry) is disgusting.

And yes, it does happen. A lot. A lot of these homeless shelters are just conversion centers.

[chipchuck]

10:39 AM on 03/18/2011

You can always find a blemish in the masterpiece.

I'm not going to say that your comment is incorrect; I'm fairly sure there are places that do such.

However, I'll speak in terms of my church. We have a food pantry and clothing closet for the poor. It is open twice a week during the day, and open to anyone. We are there if they need something, but do not seek their conversion to gain charity. In fact, I believe that devoting yourself to God cannot be forced or dictated. If it is, it is meaningless.

Forcing views on anyone about anything is disgusting.

[AnarChrist]

01:00 PM on 03/18/2011

Well, yours is a freaking exception to the norm. I know from personal experience that "Don't want to convert? You don't get to eat!" is common practice at these places.

Any by the way, human beings need food more than twice a week, in case you didn't know. If you only fed a dog twice a week, you'd have the cops at your door.