"And so we can see that in virtually every tradition (religious as well as secular) humankind has known — every faith community on every continent and also among those who are agnostic or even atheistic — there exists a diverse set of teachings that emphasize generosity. Being generous is, I would therefore argue, not just a core part of the human condition, but a universal moral urge, our defining nature. Since generosity so defines our human nature, it is one of the few things on which people around the entire globe, though on different pathways, can agree.
"There is a long religious history of wisdom, commonly defined as the judicious application of knowledge. The Book of Wisdom is part of the Roman Catholic Bible. Nearly every religious tradition venerates wise thinking and the persons who do it. The Jewish proverb 'fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom' (Prov. 1:7) is not atypical. For the ancient Hebrews, this fear started with hating evil, arrogance, and pride. The wisdom of giving, and of giving generously as a habit, can also be traced to pre-modern times. In fact, generosity as a virtue has long been considered a central part of wisdom.
"Seeds of unity have been planted around the world throughout the ages. I believe it is not too much to hope that today, in a world beset by momentous choices and unprecedented problems, people will take a closer look at the virtue of generosity and, as a result of this examination, seek and work toward a global community and local communities united by giving.
"Remember, however, that giving is not exclusively for the rich. The widow gave her 'mite,' and it was more generous than the rich young ruler. Giving is for everyone."
