Religion and Motivating Change

By Dylan Robertson

What motivates you? What inspires you to work for change? What gives you the perseverance you need to accomplish your goals?

For many people, the answer is religion.

Although many conflicts in the world surround religion, we must realize that religion is what motivates people for good. Oxfam was started by Quakers. Gandhi was influenced by many religious traditions. Marc and Craig Kielburger of Free the Children as well as Mother Theresa, are Catholics.

Even whole denominations have been motivated for change. In North America, the 1890's saw a new trend called the "Social Gospel movement", where Christians, especially Evangelicals, dedicated their time and energy to alleviating poverty in their communities.

It is important for all of us, religious or not, to recognize the role of religion in social justice. For it is through understanding each other that we can learn to work together for the common good.

Dylan Robertson is a Journalism student at the University of Toronto. His work at the school's The Varsity can be found here.