Compassion for the Weak, the Poor, the Outcast
Faith is measured by how it treats the weakest among us. Every great tradition calls us to care for the poor, feed the hungry, welcome the stranger and lift up the outcast. We believe an intelligent Creator stands behind life and the cosmos, and that every person is made with purpose and worth. That is why compassion comes first: religion should bring people together around those who need us most, not drive them apart.
Compassion Is the Bridge
Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, indigenous traditions and many others all teach the same thing: look after the widow, the orphan, the sick, the poor and the stranger. The mathematician and philosopher William Dembski argues that specified complexity in nature, from fine-tuned physical constants to the information in DNA, points to a Creator behind it all. If every person is made by design and for a purpose, then no one is worthless, and no one is beyond care. Shared ground is the place to start, and compassion for the least of us is the firmest ground we share.
Three principles of a compassionate faith
Compassion for the weak
The poor, the needy, the sick and the outcast come first. A faith that walks past them has forgotten its Creator.
One Creator, one family
Different names, one Source. Every person carries the same dignity, so no one is a stranger and no one is disposable.
Peace and freedom of conscience
Love is never forced. Everyone is free to believe, doubt, worship or pray in peace, and no creed is a licence to hate or harm.
Walking in compassion
- Feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and visit the sick and the lonely.
- Welcome the stranger, the refugee and the outcast, and make room for them at the table.
- Give freely and quietly, with time as well as money, and speak up for people who have no voice.
- Stand with the addicted, the imprisoned and the forgotten, offering a way back instead of judgment.
- Start with what faiths hold in common: a Creator, human dignity, the golden rule. Serve side by side.
- Care for creation together as stewards of the Earth, and keep church and family strong, because they sit above the state.
The Living Systems Story
A living economy is judged by how it treats the weakest. Compassion for the poor, the needy and the outcast is the heart of every faith, and the bridge between them.
Fair note. Intelligent design is contested. Many scientists see evolution by natural selection as a full explanation, and many people of faith hold their beliefs for other reasons. We present design as one reason to see every person as precious, and invite respectful discussion. Read more on the Spiritual Capital page and at billdembski.com.
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