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Religous: The Golden Rule
Minister Sharon McRann
for South Peace News
In the book of Matthew 7:12 we read, “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”
How often we seem to forget this ‘Golden Rule’ and yet it is a universal belief. In High Prairie, we have approximately 12 churches who profess to be Christian and yet many differ in various ways when it comes to their idea of what is true.
So we see that though religious groups differ greatly in their concepts of deity, other beliefs and practices, differences in belief are not limited to people of various faiths, but are also prevalent among those who would follow Jesus. We have different understandings about who Jesus is and how to “follow.”
But there is one thing that nearly all Christians, all religions, all ethical systems and philosophies agree on and that is that each person should treat others in a decent manner.
Universally, most people believe every person shares certain inherent human rights, simply because they belong to the human race.
Individually we are all very different; we are a people of various genders, sizes, colours and shapes. We consist of many races and various degrees of ability. We follow many religious and economic systems, speak many languages and follow many different cultures.
But there is a growing consensus that all humans are equal in importance. All should enjoy basic human rights.
Unfortunately, many people of faith fail to understand that the ‘Golden Rule’ applies to all people, not merely to fellow believers.
The ‘Golden Rule’ should be used when dealing with persons of every belief, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and race. Only then will oppression, mass murder and genocide cease.
A few examples of how the ‘Golden Rule’ is expressed in other faiths are:
1. Buddhism: “ … a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I inflict that upon another?” and “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”
2. Hinduism: “This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.”
3. Islam: “None of you (truly) believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”
4. Judaism: “…thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Leviticus 19:18)
and “And what you hate, do not do to anyone.”
5. Sikhism: “Don’t create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone.” And, “No one is my enemy, none a stranger and everyone is my friend.”
New vision is needed to overlook apparent differences among all God’s children, for we are all made in God’s image. What a world this could be if differences mattered as little to us as they do to God!
Native American Spirituality
“Respect for all life is the foundation.”
“All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do to ourselves, all is really one.”
“Do not wrong or hate your neighbour. For it is not he who you wrong.”
Sikhism
“Compassion - mercy and religion are the support of the entire world.” - Japji Sahib.
“Don’t create enmity with anyone as God is within everyone.” - Guru Arjan Devji – 259.
“No one is my enemy, none a stranger and everyone is my friend.” - Guru Arjan Dev: AG 1299.
Sufism
“The basis of Sufism is consideration of the hearts and feelings of others. If you haven’t the will to gladden someone’s heart, then at least beware lest you hurt someone’s heart, for on our path, no sin exists but this.” - Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order.
Taoism
“Regard your neighbour’s gain as your own gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss." - T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien.
“The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests of the people as his own. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to the unkind: for virtue is kind. He is faithful to the faithful; he is also faithful to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful." - Tao Teh Ching, Chapter 49.
Unitarian
In this modern world in which we live, it is important that we strive to attain a new vision in which we come to overlook apparent differences among all of God’s people, for we are all made in God’s image.
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