Archive for August 2010
Merryn who has keen interest in all faith communities, contributes this blog about the LOVE OF MONEY.
It is timely reminder as we prepare for the the Stand up against Poverty , Islamic Awareness Week and Interfaith Week in Birmingham
If you have other quotation do please make comments or send in a full blog telling us more .
An old Sunday School chorus rang through my mind the other day and set me thinking.
“Money is the root of all evil (three times), take it away, take it away, take it away”.
In fact it is a miss-quote from Paul’s first letter to Timothy, 6.10 where he says, “Love of money is the root of all evil”, and it is this love of money that is at the heart of the terrible rich/poor divide. World scriptures are united in their attitude to money and caring for the poor. Here is a selection.
Do not race after riches, do not risk your life for success, or you will let slip the Heaven within you.
Taoism. Chuang Tzu 29
Anyone who is tight-fisted, is tight-fisted only with his own soul. God is open-handed while you are poor.
Islam. Qur’an 47.38
Riches ruin the foolish, but not those in quest of the Beyond. Through craving for riches the ignorant man ruins himself as he does others.
Buddhism Dhammapada 355
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
Christianity Matthew 19. 24
What sort of religion can it be without compassion to all living beings. Compassion is the root of all religious faiths.
Hinduism Basavanna, Vacana 247
Rendering help to another is the function of all human beings.
Jainism Tattvarthasutra 5.2.
At the end of every seventh year you must make remission of debts.
Judaism Deuteronomy 15.1
The accumulation of wealth is the way to scatter the people, and letting it be scattered among them is the way to collect the people.
Confucianism Great Learning 10.9
See to it that whoever enters your house obtains something to eat, however little you may have. Such food will be a source of death to you if you withhold it.
Native American religions. A Winnebago Father’s Precepts
Without selfless service are no objectives fulfilled: in service lies the purest action.
Sikhism. Adi Granth, Maru, M.1,p992.
Not having enough of anything can cause one to become a miser.
African Traditional Religions Yoruba Proverb, Nigeria
Love of money has become the greatest sickness of the rich world’s soul. What can you yourself do to begin the healing of the nations in such great need? An action a day, be it in speaking to others, contacting your politicians, raising money, or your own ideas, could be the beginning of great things.
(P.S. if you come from Yorkshire you’ll know that “Money’s like muck, best be spread”)
Birmingham fIlm Co oP are screen Bamaka one of the best films ever.
Thursday 12th August
Doors Open 6:45pm. Film starts at 7pm.
Venue: The Co-operative Member Relations Centre, Birmingham & Midlands Institute, Margaret Street, Birmingham, B3 3BS.
The film will be shown for free, but we will be grateful for any contributions.
Refreshments will be available at the venue for a small charge
Trip too London on Friday 13th to let Vince Cable have our views on Doddy Deals
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 18th is our regular planning meeting open to all
We meet at 6.30pm for a bring and share meal in order to begin business at 7pm at The Friends of the Earth Centre, 54-7 Allison Street, Digbeth, B5 5TH. We need your ideas for a creative autumn/winter programme.
FRIDAY AUGUST 20th Coffee Morning
From 10am to 12 noon at Selly Oak Methodist Church in aid of JDC Multifaith project Lots of fresh garden produce and home made goodies. Further details from Alison Geary 471 5280 and Gill Fletcher 472 2488.
This blog now has newsletter section where you can download the Noticeboard covering all our events for September through until November.
This includes special event at the Green Party Conference on September 10th
A Stand Up Against Poverty over the weekend of September 17 – 18th and our annual stall in the Birmingham Rag Market the previous week.
In October we have a focus on Bangladesh including a resturant meal and then we prepare for the Islamic Awareness Week 1st to 7th November and 20 to 27 the Interfaith week programme
Jubilee Debt Campaign Birmingham 