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.
In the past the need for a hierarchal form of society has been the doctrine specifically of the High. It had been preached by kings and aristocrats and the priests, lawyers and the like who were parasitical upon them, and it had generally been softened by promises of an imaginary world beyond the grave.
For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person's life at a given moment.
It is not God's fault. It is our fault that we suffer. Whatever we sow we reap.
You cannot stand anywhere in the universe that is outside of yourself.
If one harbours anywhere in one's mind a nationalistic loyalty or hatred, certain facts, although in a sense known to be true, are inadmissible.
Beyond ideas, there's a field. Will you meet me there?
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