Much has been discussed over the past few weeks about the proposed mosque and community center near Ground Zero in New York City. All who have been here for more than a week know my thoughts and feelings, both personal and legal, on that. This is not a post for that discussion. What I have found reading hundreds of posts, is that this issue is very personal and provocative for many, and I do not disavow anyone their own personal feelings as some do here. What this post is about is simply The Golden Rule.
While doing a bit of research, I've found that darn near every current religion, former religion, or former mythology, has had some type of Golden Rule.
Yes I know that both the Qu'ran and the Old Testament are filled with horrific passages of death, destruction, murder, and war. I also know that they also have many verses of peace, love, and understanding. People choose to believe what they will about both. Anyone can cherry-pick separate verses out of these books to prove whatever point they are attempting to make, both pro and con. I'm just curious, though...if all of them have something akin to the Golden Rule, or a rule that should be followed above all others...why the hell are they not following it?
Bahá'í Faith
"Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not."
"Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." Baha'u'llah
"And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf.
Brahmanism
"This is the sum of Dharma [duty]: Do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you"
Mahabharata, 5:1517 "
Buddhism
"...a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353
Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18
Christianity
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Confucianism:
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Ancient Egyptian:
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Hinduism:
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Islam: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths." 3 | |||||||||||
Jainism:
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Judaism:
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Then, of course, we have these:
Satanism: Anton Szandor LaVey is the founder of the Church of Satan. He taught that a Satanist should respond with kindness to those who deserve it, and respond with vengeance to those who attack. That is, a Satanist should react to the treatment given by others by responding to them in the same way: LaVey wrote two main lists of rules summarizing his expected behavior by members:
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The Creativity Movement:This group was formerly called the "World Church of the Creator"® (W.C.O.T.C.) until it lost a trademark infringement suit. Unlike Satanists, they teach a virulent form of racism. They hate non-whites, Jews, and homosexuals. One of their beliefs is that: "What is good for the White Race is the highest virtue; what is bad for the White Race is the ultimate sin." Their religion is based mainly upon love of the white race and hatred of everyone else, who they refer to as members of the "mud races." There have been a number of mass murders which have allegedly been perpetrated by members of the Creativity Movement. 3 (I've tried several times to correct the spacing above. I have no idea why it will not show properly.) |