Sacred Texts: Our Responsibilities to Others
Willie Baptist and Liz Theoharis of the Kairos Center had the opportunity to participate in and present at the Annual Retreat of the New York State Labor Religion Coalition Oct 11-13, 2015, at the Dominican Retreat Center in Schenectady, NY. Willie keynoted the opening evening where he laid out some of his history of organizing and his analysis of the changing economic conditions and the potential for a new Poor People’s Campaign for today. He also participated in a panel discussion on the Fight for 15 and the struggles of low-wage workers in today’s economy.
Liz led the group in an interfaith sacred text study with selections from Jewish, Muslim and Christian sacred texts. The Kairos Center was honored to present alongside Roz Pelles, from the Forward Together Moral Mondays Movement in North Carolina; and Rudy Lopez, Director of Interfaith Worker Justice as well as many other leaders in the fight for justice today.
Available here is a selection of sacred texts from the Bablyonian Talmud, the Torah, the Qu’ran and the New Testament on the topic of our responsibilities to others. These texts and the method of reading and discussing sacred texts and how they support, undergird, disrupt and deepen our understanding and commitment to creating a just world are an important part of our work. You can find a PDF version here.
I. Anyone for whom it is possible to protest the wrongdoing of a member of his or her household and does not protest, is held accountable for [the wrongdoings of] the members of his household. So too in relation to the members of his city; so too in relation to the whole world. Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 54b
II. And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown up, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens; and he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren. And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man (eesh), he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. Exodus 2:11-12
III. It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah, fearing. Qu’ran 2:77
IV. Let there be a community from among you that invites to all that is good, and enjoins the doing of what is [known by common sense and sound minds to be] right, and forbids the doing of what is [known by common sense and sound minds to be] wrong, and it is they who attain to success. Qu’ran 3:104
V. The believers, both men and women, are in charge of [and responsible for] one another: they [all] enjoin the doing of what is right, and forbid the doing of what is wrong; they keep up prayers, render the purifying welfare dues (zakat) and obey God and the Conveyor of His Message. It is they upon whom God will bestow His grace; surely, God is All-mighty, All-wise. Qu’ran 9:71
VI. 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5: 38-48
You can find a PDF version of these excerpts here.