1. The Basis of Equality in Descent from Common Parents, Common Humanity, and Potential for Divinity
World Scripture
Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us?
Malachi 2.10
O Mankind, fear your Lord, who created you of a single soul, and from it created its mate, and from the pair of them scattered abroad many men and women
Qur’an 4.1
But a single man [Adam] was created for the sake of peace among mankind, that none should say to his fellow, “My father was greater than your father.”
Mishnah, Sanhedrin 4.5 (Judaism)
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3.28
I look upon all creatures equally; none are less dear to me and none more dear.
Bhagavad-Gita 9.29 (Hinduism)
The souls of all people are equal, whether they live on the high mountains or at the bottoms of the valleys.20
Ofudesaki 13.45 (Tenrikyo)
Confucius said, “In education there are no class distinctions.”
Analects 15.38 (Confucianism)
All those who take refuge in me, whatever their birth, race, sex, or caste, will attain the supreme goal; this realization can be attained even by those whom society scorns.
Bhagavad-Gita 9.32-33 (Hinduism)
I do not call him a brahmin merely because he is born of a brahmin womb or sprung from a brahmin mother. Being with impediments, he should address others as “sir.” But he who is free from impediments, free from clinging—him I call a brahmin.21
Dhammapada 396 (Buddhism)
“You are a native of Kwangtung, a barbarian. How can you expect to be a Buddha?” asked the Patriarch. Hui Neng replied, “Although there are northern men and southern men, north and south make no difference to their Buddha-nature. A barbarian is different from Your Holiness physically, but there is no difference in our Buddha-nature.”
Sutra of Hui Neng 1 (Buddhism)
It is beyond the shadow of a doubt that every real man… however unusual to us may be the shape of his body, or the color of his skin, or the way he walks, or the sound of his voice, and whatever the strength, portion or quality of his natural endowments, is descended from the single first-created man.
Saint Augustine, City of God 15.8 (Christianity)
Teachings of Sun Myung Moon
Whether American, British or German, whether black, white or yellow, we are all from one.
(132:130, May 27, 1984)
Every person wants to participate equally in God’s love. The way to that equality is through establishing God’s family.
(97:265, March 19, 1978)
The world of heart is a world where everyone is equal. The Kingdom of Heaven, which is the expansion of one family, is the world of brotherhood.
(Way of God’s Will 2.3)
A mother cares for all her children with the same love, regardless of their ability and character. She gives birth to each one and raises them on the same bowl of soup. Isn’t that so? All people are equal in this respect: they grew up by entrusting their precious lives to the hands of their parents. In the parental heart, there cannot be any discrimination.
(33:164, August 11, 1970)
People in general have a desire to be equal and want the same things. Yet people are all different and live in different circumstances. What is the substance that can create equality among everyone despite their differences? It is love. Consider little babies: they have nothing, they cannot talk, and they don’t have anything to offer. Yet they are so cute! When we look at them we love them; we just want to put our cheek against theirs and kiss them. Even puppies come and lick them. In that love, there is no high or low. Love brings everyone to the same level.
(254:208, February 13, 1994)
Don’t the things that make Westerners weep also make Easterners weep? They do. Why do Koreans weep at the same scenes that also make their enemies the Japanese weep? The world is united in emotional responses. Is there any difference between Korean parents and Japanese parents in their love for their children? No, there is not.
(41:331, February 18, 1971)