An inspiring collection of readings that will raise deep questions about service and its roots in faith. "There is a deep yearning among the vast majority of people of all religious and philosophical traditions to make real their most enduring shared principles—to care for creation, to serve others with compassion, and to protect and enhance the gift of life…. We believe that reflecting on these principles strengthens our capacity to embody them." —from the Introduction Explore the connections between faith, service, and social justice through the prose, verse, and sacred texts of the world's great faith traditions—Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and more. Drawing from diverse literary genres, religious and philosophical perspectives and historical periods, these short and provocative readings cut to the heart of the many obstacles and joys that accompany lives devoted to faith and service: Why do I serve? • Whom do I serve? • How do I serve? This rich collection will create a platform for discussing and understanding the faith-based service of others as well as inspire you to reflect on the meaning behind your own commitment to improving the world. Contributors: Umar Faruq Abd-Allah • Jane Addams • Sholom Aleichem • Bidpai • Cesar Chavez • Chuang-Tzu • Dorothy Day • Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni • Mahatma Gandhi • Linda Gregg • Hafiz • Hamzayusuf • Thich Nhat Hanh • Mark Helprin • Abraham Joshua Heschel • Gerard Manley Hopkins • Kabir • Martin Luther King Jr. • The Dalai Lama • Anne Lamott • Lao-Tzu • Abraham Lincoln • Maimonides • Valerie Martin • Gabriela Mistral • Mikhail Naimy • Friedrich Nietzsche • Tim O'Brien • Flannery O’Connor • Mary Oliver • George Orwell • John Oskison • Eboo Patel • Peggy Payne • I. L. Peretz • Rumi • Ryokan • Tayeb Salih • Harold M. Schulweis • Leslie Marmon Silko • Anna Swir • Rabindranath Tagore • William Trevor • Shih Te • Swami Vivekananda • Walt Whitman

"An original and necessary work that deserves to be passed on to reading publics and citizens who gather to make things better in a spiritually and ideologically warring world." —Martin E. Marty, Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, University of Chicago "A usable, wonderful instrument designed to take our dreams of action and make them real. Provides new insight and wisdom that will deepen our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. I commend this book to readers and seekers of all ages!" —Michelle Nunn, CEO, Points of Light Institute; cofounder, Hands On Network; author, Be the Change! Change the World. Change “Brings the best wisdom of our respective traditions to guide us on the journey to faith, service and reconciliation.” —Rabbi Sid Schwarz, founder, PANIM: The Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values; author, Judaism and Justice: The Jewish Passion to Repair the World “A rich abundance of both provocative readings and, more importantly, good questions to lead those bold enough to explore with others across these lines…. [A] required anthology of readings for those earnestly seeking the path of religious cooperation.” —Rev. Bud Heckman, director for external relations, Religions for Peace; editor, InterActive Faith:The Essential Interreligious Community-Building Handbook “A delightful symphony of inspiring readings from the world's religions. Finds harmony in a shared commitment and value for service and celebrates the distinctive and inviting melodies on this theme played in diverse communities of faith.” —Anantanand Rambachan, professor and chair of the religion department, St. Olaf College “An important contribution to the field of public service. And for those who are motivated to serve because of deep faith commitments, this book will only strengthen that calling.” —Wendy Kopp, CEO and founder, Teach for America

Adam Davis, senior research and teaching associate at the Project on Civic Reflection, is coeditor of The Civically Engaged Reader: A Diverse Collection of Short and Provocative Readings on Civic Activity and Talking Service: Readings for Civic Reflection. Dr. Eboo Patel is the founder and director of the Interfaith Youth Core and is one of the world's most sought-after speakers on the subject of the interfaith movement and the interfaith youth movement in particular. He serves as a board member for several major interfaith associations and holds membership in such exclusive organizations as the Council on Foreign Relations and the EastWest Institute. Dr. Patel is currently working on a book on the role of religious youth in the modern era. He is author of Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation.