Religion without humanity is very poor human stuff.
Interpretation
This quote suggests that religion should embody human values and compassion to be meaningful.
Sojourner Truth's quote highlights the importance of humanistic values in religion, emphasizing that without a commitment to humanity and compassion, religious beliefs become hollow and ineffective. It advocates for a faith that not only professes beliefs but actively promotes kindness, empathy, and social justice, viewing these qualities as essential components of true spirituality.
In practice
During a seminar on social justice, this quote can be used to highlight the need for compassion in religious practices.
That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman?
The rich rob the poor and the poor rob one another.
Good man! Genuine gentleman! God bless George Thompson, the great-hearted friend of my race.
And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?
Because of them I can now live the dream. I am the seed of the free, and I know it. I intend to bear great fruit.
When I left the house of bondage I left everything behind. I wasn't going to keep nothing of Egypt on me, an' so I went to the Lord an' asked him to give me a new name. And he gave me Sojourner because I was to travel up and down the land showing the people their sins and bein' a sign unto them. I told the Lord I wanted two names 'cause everybody else had two, and the Lord gave me Truth, because I was to declare the truth to the people.
We no longer admit any other truth than that which is expedient; for there is no worse error than the truth that may weaken the arm that is fighting.
The only people who want to change the Gospel are those who are unchanged by it.
Probably a dozen times since their death I've heard my mother or father, in an ordinary conversational tone of voice, call my name. They had called my name often during my life with them ... It doesn't seem strange to me.
I don't have to see a murder in order to condemn murder.
And in general, the residents of the town wondered why they all felt hollow just beneath the throat, the result of missing something they had never been able to name in the first place.
The cause of war is preparation for war.
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