Theme: JUSTICE / EQUALITY

Theme: JUSTICE / EQUALITY

Baha’i

"Be fair to yourself & to others, that the evidences of justice may be revealed, through your deeds..." –

Abdu'l-Baha

Buddhism

So what of all these titles, names, and races? They are mere worldly conventions.

Sutta Nipata 648

Christianity

Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us?

Bible, Malachi 2.10

Confucianism

When the right principles of man operate, the growth of good government is rapid, and when the right principles of soil operate, the growth of vegetables is rapid. Indeed, government is comparable to a fast-growing plant. There- fore the conduct of government depends upon the men. The right men are obtained by the ruler's personal character. The cultivation of the person is to be done through the Way, and the cultivation of the Way is to be done through benevolence (jen).

Doctrine of the Mean 20

The accumulation of wealth is the way to scatter the people, and the letting it be scattered among them is the way to collect the people.

Great Learning 10.9

Hinduism

I look upon all creatures equally; none are less dear to me and none more dear.

Bhagavad Gita 9.29

Islam

O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you might know each other [not that you might despise each other]. Verily the most honored among you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous.

Qur'an 49.13

For the white to lord it over the black, the Arab over the non-Arab, the rich over the poor, the strong over the weak or men over women is out of place and wrong.

Hadith of Ibn Majah

Jainism

The Law is that which leads to welfare and salvation. It forms conduct and character distinguished by the sense of equality among all beings.

Somadeva, Nitivakyamrita 1.1

Judaism

I call heaven and earth to witness: whether Jew or Gentile, whether man or woman, whether servant or freeman, they are all equal in this: that the Holy Spirit rests upon them in accordance with their deeds!

Midrash, Seder Eliyyahu Rabbah 10

Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.

Judaism and Christianity. Bible, Leviticus 25.10

Thus says the Lord, "Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood."

Judaism and Christianity. Bible, Jeremiah 22.3

Native African

The God of old bids us all abide by His injunctions.

Then shall we get whatever we want,

Be it white or red.

Akan Prayer on Talking Drums

Ashes fly back in the face of him who throws them.

Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)

Native American

Each person is his own judge.

– Shawnee

New Thought

To believe in a just law of cause and effect, carrying with it a punishment or a reward, is to believe in righteousness.

Ernest Holmes

Sikhism

Know all human beings to be repositories of Divine Light;

Stop not to inquire about their caste;

In the hereafter there are no castes.

Adi Granth, Asa, M.1, p. 349

Taoism

Those who wrongfully kill men are only putting their weapons into the hands of others who will in turn kill them.

Treatise on Response and Retribution 5

Zoroastrianism

Holy, then, did I recognize Thee, O Wise Lord.

I perceived Thee foremost at the birth of life,

When Thou didst endow acts and words with retribution:

Bad unto bad, good blessing unto holy,

Through Thy wisdom, at the final goal of life!

Avesta, Yasna 43.5