Golden rule quotes ranging from personal moral codes to religious texts.
"The
golden rule" is usually associated with Christianity. But other
religions have versions of it also. Then there are individuals who live by
it, regardless of faith. Everyone has some sort of
"code of behavior" they try to adhere to, whether they are atheists,
agnostics, humanists, or members of a religion. Some live by a version of
the golden rule, whether they call it that or not.
Whether
or not people live by their moral codes, religious or not, is another issue. But here are some
quotes that show at least the concept is there:
Commonsensism:
A version of
the golden rule put into modern, non-religious terms that some people
live by is, "Treat people the way you'd like to be treated".
Buddhism:
560 BC, From the Udanavarga 5:18-
"Hurt
not others with that which pains yourself."
Judaism:
1300 BC, from the Old Testament, Leviticus 19:18- "Thou
shalt Love thy neighbor as thyself."
Hinduism:
3200 BC, From the Hitopadesa- "One
should always treat others as they themselves wish to be treated."
Zoroastrianism:
600 BC, From the Shast-na-shayast 13:29- "Whatever
is disagreeable to yourself, do not do unto others."
Confucianism:
557 BC, From the Analects 15:23- "What
you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others."
Christianity:
30 AD, From the King James Version , 7:12- "Whatsoever
ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them."
The
below quote from Jesus is our favorite. It's what we consider the epitome of
the golden rule taken to its fullest possible extent (because the emphasis is on unselfishly loving, whether or not you
are being loved back). In other words, rather than stopping at “do unto others
as you would have them do
unto you”, which still has some selfishness involved, it's like
the "Angels and the 12 foot spoons" story on our home page. It is
essentially "Care for and behave unselfishly towards all people,
regardless of how they care for you.", or "Put others before
yourself". Again, the "angel story" shows how if everyone
put each other before themselves, we would all be cared for far better
than we can care for ourselves even when we "Look out for number one
first". Such a world would be a paradise. Of course, we can only
start with ourselves, and hope others will do likewise. But that is what
Jesus and all the great caring men and women of the world have done - they
both taught it, and lived their life as an example of it.
While living by
any of the above versions of the
Golden Rule would
clearly make the world a better place, the below quote should be of particular importance to Christians.
It is given by Jesus as both a commandment, and a measuring stick
by which others would determine who Jesus’ followers really are (or are
not). Thus, it’s a code of
conduct that at least all Christians should follow as a top
priority in their lives. But it’s pretty much agreed by all, Christian or not, that
Jesus was very unselfishly loving and kind. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all people lived by the
below standard, Christian or not?:
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; As I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if
ye have love one to another." [Gospel of John, King James Bible
version].
Based
on the above quote, if you lived by the above standard, you'd also be a
Christian, regardless of whatever else you were. Cool.
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