Human History

It is from numberless diverse acts of 

courage and belief 

that human history is shaped.

Each time a man stands up for an ideal, 

or acts to improve the lot of others, 

or strikes out against injustice, 

he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.

(Robert F. Kennedy, in The Little Book Of Virtues, June 14)

28 July 2013

It's Our Fault

We are responsible for the injustice done to earth through our careless acts of selfishness or misconduct. (The Upper Room Disciplines - 2003, 16 October) 6 May 2013

The Prophets

... The prophets taught that adherence to God's will would bring divine favor whereas disobedience would lead to hardship -- and surely obedience would be better for everyone involved, especially the poor, needy, and weak.  The prophets, in short, were concerned about issues of real life - poverty, homelessness, injustice, oppression, the uneven distribution of wealth, the apathetic attitudes of those who have it good toward those who are poor, helpless, and outcast. ... (Bart D. Ehrman, God's Problem, p. 54)

[Mr. Dickie's comment: The issues of real life haven't changed in thousands of years.]
23 July 2012
]

Hell

• When a child dies of starvation, there is hell.
• When people groan under the boot of oppression, there is hell.
• Where there is any injustice, there is hell.

Doesn't this sound like an apt description of far too much of the human condition?
(Mamia Abu-Jamal in Escape Routes by Johann Christoph Arnold, p. 149)
23 March 2012

We've Got It Made

What ruling power has ever existed on earth that could hold both extravagant fortune and true justice in balance?  Why do power and wealth lead to loss of compassion and injustice for the poor and marginalized?  Is it inevitable?  What does such repeated failure tell us about ourselves. (Barbara Dick in The Upper Room Disciplines - 2008, 1 July) 14 March 2012