The God who existed before any religion counts on you to make the oneness of the human family known and celebrated.
Interpretation
Desmond Tutu emphasizes the importance of recognizing and celebrating human unity beyond religious boundaries.
In this quote, Desmond Tutu suggests that the divine presence predates religion and relies on humanity to acknowledge and honor the interconnectedness of all people. He calls for a celebration of the shared humanity that transcends religious affiliations, highlighting our collective responsibility to foster understanding and unity within the global family.
In practice
In a speech focused on community building, this quote can serve to inspire collective effort for peace.
The fossil reserves that have already been discovered exceed what can ever be safely used. Yet companies spend half a trillion dollars each year searching for more fuel. They should redirect this money toward developing clean energy solutions
As much as the world has an instinct for evil and is a breeding ground for genocide, holocaust, slavery, racism, war, oppression, and injustice, the world has an even greateer instinct for goodness, rebirth, mercy, beauty, truth, freedom and love.
When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.
Children are a wonderful gift. They have an extraordinary capacity to see into the heart of things and to expose sham and humbug for what they are.
Religion is like a knife: you can either use it to cut bread, or stick in someone's back.
Gaza is going to test who believes in the worth of human beings.
Man... knows only when he is satisfied and when he suffers, and only his sufferings and his satisfactions instruct him concerning himself, teach him what to seek and what to avoid. For the rest, man is a confused creature; he knows not whence he comes or whither he goes, he knows little of the world, and above all, he knows little of himself.
All emerge from that One Whose Being is ever present and Whose Life, robed in numberless forms, is manifest throughout all creation. Creation is the logical result of the out-push of Life into self-expression.
I say beware of all enterprises that require new clothes, and not rather a new wearer of clothes.
When men do not love their hearth, nor reverence their thresholds, it is a sign that they have dishonoured both ... Our God is a house-hold God, as well as a heavenly one; He has an altar in every man's dwelling.
Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities.
Let nothing be done in your life, which will cause you fear if it becomes known to your neighbor.
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