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Charity and Hospitality
United Communities of Spirit
Giving alms to the poor and hospitality to strangers are traditional virtues encouraged by all religions. A relationship to the
Highest Good naturally builds a bond among all members of the
community -- for all people are as brothers and sisters with the absolute
value of (potential) Enlightened Beings or God's children. Giving alms
and charity is a concrete expression of this spiritual bond. Along with
admonitions to practice charity, texts such as the Parable of the Sheep
and the Goats from the New Testament, liken helping a poor man to giving
offerings to God or the highest saints. Charity is not excused even for
the poorest giver, according to several texts. Finally, we have passages
on hospitality, including two texts lauding exemplary acts of charity, by
a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and the Hindu householder Rantideva,
who gave food and water to guests even though it meant that they would
have to go without.
Interfaith passages at: origin.org/ucs/ws/theme141.cfm
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