There is nothing more sickening than talking about poverty over a fancy dinner.

— Shane Claiborne

The true atheist is the one who refuses to see God's image in the face of their neighbor.

— Shane Claiborne

The work of community, love, reconciliation, restoration is the work we cannot leave up to politicians. This is the work we are all called to do.

— Shane Claiborne

This is what Jesus had in mind: folks coming together, forming close-knit communities and meeting each other's needs-- no kings, no major welfare systems, no presidents necessary. His is a theology and practice for the people of God, not a set of suggestions for empire.

— Shane Claiborne

Violence is for those who have lost their imagination.

— Shane Claiborne

We are not a voice for the voiceless. The truth is that there is a lot of noise out there drowning out quiet voices, and many people have stopped listening to the cries of their neighbors. Lots of folks have put their hands over their ears to drown out the suffering. Institutions have distanced themselves from the disturbing cries. It is a beautiful thing when folks in poverty are no longer just a missions project but become genuine friends and family with whom we laugh, cry, dream, and struggle. One of the verses I have grown to love is the one where Jesus is preparing to leave the disciples and says, "I no longer call you servants.... Instead, I have called you friends" (John 15:15). Servanthood is a fine place to begin, but gradually we move toward mutual love, genuine relationships. Someday, perhaps we can even say those words that Ruth said to Naomi after years of partnership: "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried" (Ruth 1:16-17).

— Shane Claiborne

We have placed such idolatrous faith in our ability to protect ourselves that we call it more courageous to die killing than to die loving.

— Shane Claiborne

We need to be politically engaged, but peculiar in how we engage. Jesus and the early Christians had a marvelous political imagination. They turned all the presumptions and ideas of power and blessing upside down.

— Shane Claiborne

We shall do even greater things because the love that lived in the radical Christ now lives within millions of ordinary radicals all over the planet.

— Shane Claiborne

What if evangelical mega churches became known around the world for things like providing water access for entire countries or fighting to end the AIDS pandemic? Imagine what integrity that would give to the good news we preach, especially the gospel that Jesus declares is good news to the poor.

— Shane Claiborne