The Shakertown Pledge is a written oath created to draw attention to the inequality of worldwide wealth distribution. It was written on April 30, 1973, in a town near
Lexington, Kentucky, which was historically connected to the
Shaker Movement. The Pledge itself was a response to the inequality of distribution of global wealth and resources, and called for group action by
Christians
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words '' Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρ ...
to rectify the problem.
The text of the oath is as follows:
:Recognizing that Earth and the fullness thereof is a gift from our gracious God, and that we are called to cherish, nurture, and provide loving stewardship for Earth's resources, and recognizing that life itself is a gift, and a call to responsibility, joy, and celebration, I make the following declarations:
:# I declare myself a world citizen.
:# I commit myself to lead an ecologically sound life.
:# I commit myself to lead a life of creative simplicity and to share my personal wealth with the world's poor.
:# I commit myself to join with others in the reshaping of institutions in order to bring about a more just global society in which all people have full access to the needed resources for their physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual growth.
:# I commit myself to occupational accountability, and so doing I will seek to avoid the creation of products which cause harm to others.
:# I affirm the gift of my body and commit myself to its proper nourishment and physical wellbeing.
:# I commit myself to examine continually my relations with others and to attempt to relate honestly, morally, and lovingly to those around me.
:# I commit myself to personal renewal through prayer, meditation, and study.
:# I commit myself to responsible participation in a community of faith.
See also
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Social justice
Social justice is justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, Equal opportunity, opportunities, and Social privilege, privileges within a society. In Western Civilization, Western and Culture of Asia, Asian cultures, the concept of social ...
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Evangelical Left
Typically, members of the evangelical left affirm the primary tenets of evangelical theology, such as the doctrines of the incarnation, atonement, and resurrection, and also see the Bible as the primary authority for the Church. Unlike many evangel ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shakertown Pledge
Christian ethics
1973 documents