Quote of the Day

Christianity adopts its approach to economic justice directly from the Jewish tradition laid out in the Torah and the Talmud. The Buddhist Pattakammavagga of the Anguttara Nikaya expounds four pleasures—having wealth, enjoying wealth, being debtless, being blameless—that are to be held in balance in order to attain happiness, the last of these meant to ensure that others might know contentment as well. Both in the Koran and in hadiths (sayings) attributed to the prophet Muhammad, care for those on the economic margins of society—not just the margins of Islam, but of the whole community—is central. These narratives of faith and wealth are the architectures of new dreams—not fantasies, but dreams—of an inclusive wholeness and a common stability.

Thus, in each of the world religions, advocating on behalf of those harmed by oppression, exploitation, illness, or other circumstances that leave ordinary people in the dust is a basic faith practice. We are meant, in the words of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, “to make no peace with oppression,” to “reverently use our freedom” in the service of justice.

– Elizabeth Drescher
"A Shining City: The Occupy Movement and the American Soul"
Religion Dispatches
October 7, 2011

Related Off-site Links:
Think Occupy Wall St. Is a Phase? You Don't Get It – Douglas Rushkoff (CNN, October 5, 2011).
Victory! Transforming Occupy Wall Street From a Moment to a Movement – Peter Dreier (CommonDreams.org, October 8, 2011).
In Minneapolis, Protesters Against Greed Keep It Light – Randy Furst, Bill McAuliffe and Paul Walsh (Star Tribune, October 8, 2011).
Greetings from the Government Plaza Protest – Chris Nerlien (Star Tribune, October 7, 2011).

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
Rocking the Cradle of Power
Quote of the Day – October 1, 2011
Across America, "the Giant is Awake"
Capitalisn on Trial
A Lose/Lose Situation
Buffy Sainte-Marie: Singing It and Praying It; Living It and Saying It