Seven Deadly Social Sins (Gandhi)

[hue]

* Wealth without Work
* Pleasure without Conscience
* Science without Humanity
* Knowledge without Character
* Politics without Principle
* Commerce without Morality
* Worship without Sacrifice

[Massacure]

1. So many problems stem from these seven things when you think about it.

[hue]

2. It makes me think of the Repukes--every sin committed n/t

[splat]

3. Worship without Sacrifice

This one makes me nervous.

[Warpy]

4. It must not translate well from Hindi

It's like "Blessed are the poor in sprit" What does that mean? Rich people who cry poverty? Or maybe poor spirited wretches?

It's the one really jarring Beatitude.

[hue]

5. "Blessed are the poor in spirit"...

I think of those who feel hopeless--such as the slaves in the south who had little hope for change in their lives and culture. But one doesn't have to be poor in material wealth to be poor in spirit. Some people feel hopeless due to health matters, look back on their lives and shake their heads--things didn't turn out right no matter what they did. Parents who've lost their children due to cancer, violence, drugs etc.
Another example would be survivors of natural disasters--they've lost many if not all of their family and their spirits are devastated.
But a recent post regarding the homeless children of Pakistan, and those in Mexico that live off the streets by prostituting themselves--child slaves in workhouses etc. They would be in my mind paradigms of those "poor in spirit" or totally hopeless.
As far as "worship without sacrifice", I think that speaks to those who go to church and go through the motions but never go out of their way to help anyone in their real life. In other words they are at church just to make them selves look good or legit. Look at Bush and his pseudo Christian facade--how hypocritical! Jesus addressed this in His parable about the rich man who stood in the front of the temple and prayed,"I give what is required, I live a good life, and thanks to you God I am not like that dirty beggar in the back of the temple!" While the poor beggar stood in the back and begged God to forgive him for entering His house saying he was not worthy and could only give a penny. God sees through this and asks us, "Who would be welcomed into heaven--the rich arrogant one or the beggar (poor in spirit but with humility)?"

[IronLionZion]

13. I think it means something like "practice what you preach"

or "it's not what you say, it's what you do". I don't think Gandhiji wanted us to sacrifice virgins or something like that! :P

I wish some of these Republicans who loudly call themselves Christians would start living like Christians.

Remember that it's been translated to English.

[intheflow]

19. This is relevant for the religious left.

So many of us have been going to church on Sunday mornings but have been too freaking lazy to put our faith into action.

What faith am I talking about? Helping the least among us, being blessed peacemakers, and all things the environmental movement calls us to do. Worship God/dess but drive a SUV? Sacrifice doesn't have to be in war, but in changing our consumption, how we spend our leisure and money, etc.

[mattclearing]

25. Exactly. n/t

[mattclearing]

24. I think it means prayer without deeds.

Your worship means nothing if you do not live out your spiritual beliefs.

[Catchawave]

6. I see some 2006 Dem slogans brewing here :)

I'd like to translate the "worship without sacrifice" into "churches paying taxes" ... afterall they ask their parishoners to tithe, which translates into a "small tax of levy"...for the Lord Jesus Christ, of course :)

[hue]

7. Yes, I think it would help...

I think the Dems could show a little more warmth, depth and connection with people. Radiating some empathy, connecting with women and minorities better would rally more support.
I love Kerry, but was always concerned that he wasn't connecting as well as he could with his heart and soul. Then finally in his concession speech he "let go" and connected! :shrug:
I always knew he had it in him--it was just a matter of expressing it.
I'm hoping the Dems come off in a more human way in '08. Show some human character and dimension. I know it would help alot.

What I'm trying to demonstrate is that Gandhi's wisdom could be a powerful force for Dems if they actually used it wisely. The forces of human solidarity can be unrepressable--as was evidenced in the liberation of India.

[Catchawave]

8. I agree hue....

Thanks for your thought provoking posts, so may I extend a most hearty welcome to DU!

With Gandhi in mind, I always felt an Edward/Kucinich ticket would lead our country back to our founding father roots. If that were the 2004 ticket, it would certainly have taken Ohio <snort>.

You demonstrate Gandhi's wisdom very well! Hope to see you more around these here parts of the internets

:hug:

[hue]

9. Thnx!...

With various reports of Democrats feeling "abandoned" by their party I feel we need to CONNECT with the people--and really, where there's a will there's a way.

[Just Me]

10. "The forces of human solidarity,..." is our greatest challenge,...

,...to recreate under an administration which usurps its power via divisiveness. Tricky bastards!!!! They divide us on purpose. :grr:

[wicket]

11. Beautiful.

[mopinko]

12. sums it up perfectly

can't think of any ill not covered here.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[hue]

16. The will of the people is unrepressable! No guns, bullets or fingers to pu

I believe if we really connect with the people we can affect change! See how Gandhi succeeded and MLK followed in his footsteps! The way is truly clear if the Dems become a party of the people; as I mentioned, women, minorities, the elderly, the disenfranchiesed of all kinds! There are so many issues, so many people worried! Healthcare, social security, women's and worker's issues! Why don't we connect with them?

[ananda]

15. huh?

* Worship without Sacrifice!!

What?!?!

I don't think so...

[hue]

18. Please read all the posts...

Gandhi was non violent. I'm sure he meant by sacrificing that people should go out of their way to affect change or help one another. He thought people should become involved even when it wasn't convenient for them to do so.

[Frederik]

17. Could be Duvya

But it would have to be Neither Science nor Humanity, and Neither Knowledge nor Character.

[intheflow]

20. What's the original source for this?

As a UU minister, I've not encountered this before. But it sounds like the basis for a great sermon! Where/when did Gandhi say this?

[hue]

21. I thought these were well known...

They are in many of Gandhi's teachings. Posters have been made with these words.

http://deadlysins.com/features/gandhi.htm

[intheflow]

26. Perhaps.

But if I use them in a sermon, there are many professors in my congregation, and they always want to see original source material for my sermons. Love the UUs, but they can be pretty anal sometimes! LOL!

BTW, apparently this is not an easy question to answer. The Denver Public Library has an online, 24/7 "Ask A Librarian" service for members that can usually whip up an answer to anything in less than 10 minutes. They can't find the original source and are going to research it further, and send me the answer in an email sometime this next week.

This is the second time I've stumped them this week. I asked for the original/earliest known usage of the phrase "mainstream media" and they couldn't find anything. (Though they thought maybe it came about in the 1960's with the rise of counter-culture magazines and alternative presses.)

[hue]

27. I first heard of them from a Muslim friend years ago. n/t

[intheflow]

29. BTW, hue...

Welcome to DU! I kept forgetting to put that in my other posts. But I'm glad you've found us. :hi:

[hue]

30. Thnx so much!...

I'm hoping the Democratic party will connect with so many USers who need to feel empowered--after witnessing the current "governing cronies" come up with lies, empty promises and devastation. (Examples include health care, social security, foreign policy, etc.)
Dems should use the disillusionment and disenfranchisement pervading today as a motivation for change: a change in government, a change in policy, a change in party.

[hue]

22. Also Dr. Stephen Covey summarized those sins...

in a book he wrote, "Principle Centered Leadership". Covey is the author of "The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People". It was a best seller.

[grace0418]

23. He sure nailed Dubya on the head. Well, except for the Knowledge

Dubya would be Ignorance and Lack of Character.

[GOPBasher]

28. I like these a lot. n/t

[GoBlue]

31. But consider the converse ...

Work without Wealth
Conscience without Pleasure
Humanity without Science
Character without Knowledge
Principle without Politics
Morality without Commerce
Sacrifice without Worship.