Golden rule - universal

[Anonymous]

Does the Golden Rule represent a transcendent moral code and universal principal, which is rooted in religious beliefs? Is this a moral code for hag even atheists/ agnostics can agree with? What would it mean for everyday life if we all took this moral code very seriously?

The Golden Rule across the World's Religions Thirteen Sacred Texts

Bahá'í Faith
“Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself.” Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings

Buddhism
“Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18

Christianity
“In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” Jesus, Matthew 7:12

Confucianism
“One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct....loving-kindness. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.”Confucius, Analects 15.23

Hinduism
“This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.”
Mahabharata 5:1517

Islam
“Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.”
The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith

Jainism
“One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.” Mahavira, Sutrakritanga 1.11.33

Judaism
“What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. Go and learn it.”
Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a

Native Spirituality
“We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive.” Chief Dan George

Sikhism
“I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all.”
Guru Granth Sahib, p.1299

Taoism
“Regard your neighbour's gain as your own gain and your neighbour's loss as your own loss.” Lao Tzu, T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218

Unitarianism
“We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” Unitarian principle

Zoroastrianism
“Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself.”
Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29

[Anonymous]

How many of those religions have a class of people to whom the rule doesn't apply?

[Anonymous]

I am an atheist and subscribe to Kantian philosophy which is basically the golden rule. Kant called it the Categorical Imperative, and defined it as: treat all people as you would like others to treat all other people. I find this version more helpful than "treat others as you would like to be treated" because it forces you to think about how you would like society as a whole to function, not simply how you would like people to treat you.

Anyway, I know lots of atheists/agnostics/secular humanists who think similarly. I have never felt that religion was necessary for maintaining a consistent set of moral ethics, and in many instances I think religion tends to get in the way because many religions uphold a social hierarchy that undermines the application of a golden rule philosophy. I was raised in a Catholic household and it is hard to take the teachings of kindness and tolerance in the New Testament seriously when, just as a for instance, the leader of your church is always a man who is selected in secret by a bunch of other men, often speaking a dead language most people don't learn. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, unless you're a priest, then do unto others whatever you can get away with knowing that the rest of the clergy will protect you if you hurt anyone real bad." I was disinterested even before the child abuse was uncovered and that sealed the deal for me. I know Catholics who are very good people and live according to the golden rule, but I don't think their religion helps them do it. You either believe in the principle or you don't.

[Anonymous]

I think the rule predates any organized religion and is rooted in the fact that people must work together to survive. Something like this (as an ideal although obviously not followed rather haphazardly) is a necessary component to working and living with other people. I think it's necessary due to the fact that people are social animals.

[Anonymous]

Jainism states it best from my perspective.

Thank you for creating this thread !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jainism states it best from my perspective.

Thank you for creating this thread !

Yes, it sounds advanced Golden Rule .

[Anonymous]

The only thing in the bible that's true is the 10 Commandments.
The golden rule is how you present yourself to others.
Not like the vicious mean people on here. They will one day realize hatefulness is NOT how you live.
Only love will survive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing in the bible that's true is the 10 Commandments.
The golden rule is how you present yourself to others.
Not like the vicious mean people on here. They will one day realize hatefulness is NOT how you live.
Only love will survive.

which ones?

You shall have no other God’s before me seems pretty hateful to me, but that's just me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an atheist and subscribe to Kantian philosophy which is basically the golden rule. Kant called it the Categorical Imperative, and defined it as: treat all people as you would like others to treat all other people. I find this version more helpful than "treat others as you would like to be treated" because it forces you to think about how you would like society as a whole to function, not simply how you would like people to treat you.

Anyway, I know lots of atheists/agnostics/secular humanists who think similarly. I have never felt that religion was necessary for maintaining a consistent set of moral ethics, and in many instances I think religion tends to get in the way because many religions uphold a social hierarchy that undermines the application of a golden rule philosophy. I was raised in a Catholic household and it is hard to take the teachings of kindness and tolerance in the New Testament seriously when, just as a for instance, the leader of your church is always a man who is selected in secret by a bunch of other men, often speaking a dead language most people don't learn. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, unless you're a priest, then do unto others whatever you can get away with knowing that the rest of the clergy will protect you if you hurt anyone real bad." I was disinterested even before the child abuse was uncovered and that sealed the deal for me. I know Catholics who are very good people and live according to the golden rule, but I don't think their religion helps them do it. You either believe in the principle or you don't.

OP - excellent point. Yes organized religion has a lot to answer for. I converted from the Catholic Church although I admire much of their good works and intellectual contributions (basically western science grew out of Catholic reasoning starting with Thomas Aquinas’ logical synthesis of Ancient Greek philosophy and fundamental Christian beliefs. The Jesuits have a strong tradition of working for social Justice and there are many places in the declining world where Catholics and other faith communities are the only ones running functional schools, hospitals and care for people dying from AIDS or other highly feared diseases). But I can’t accept so many old men in the Vatican making reproductive choices for so many women around the world. The child abuse scandal was close to unforgivable. They have much better safeguards now and are trying to address the many injuries done.

I believe that Kant’s deontological or duty bound approach to normative ethics is very important. I personally believe virtue ethics and utilitarian approaches to normative ethics also offer different insights into how to approach collective and individual goods. I like your point about applying the golden rule on structural levels. Interestingly, the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals to provide a measurable road map to dramatically reduce extreme poverty grew out of a blend of normative ethics (combining virtue ethics, deontology and utilitarianism).

Perhaps theological and church leaders should think about ways to structurally live the Golden Rule within their faith communities. I am
Not sure how it would work in a capitalist democracy like the US but it is worth thinking about.

Although I am religious myself, I completely agree that many atheists often act with far greater integrity than many people of faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the rule predates any organized religion and is rooted in the fact that people must work together to survive. Something like this (as an ideal although obviously not followed rather haphazardly) is a necessary component to working and living with other people. I think it's necessary due to the fact that people are social animals.

OP - It is ironic that acting with empathy and kindness towards others is in our own best collective and individual interests as well.

I agree that the Golden Rule probably predates organized world religions because there are many versions of it in traditional oral histories or non western peoples as well.

It is doubly ironic that the closest thing we have to objective truth is so utterly subjective. The way one person would like to be treated is not always the same as the next person. Hence the negative version of the Golden Rule (don’t do u by another what you what not have them do to you) is equally important for avoiding intentional mistreatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jainism states it best from my perspective.

Thank you for creating this thread !

Yes, it sounds advanced Golden Rule .

OP 😀 - yes that does include all sentient beings - especially intelligent animals with strong emotions such as elephants, dolphins and dogs/ cats. So many animals really. It is daunting really, but we can at least try to be kind to all creatures.

[Anonymous]

I grew up with a Jewish dad and Christian mom. I remember this being quoted as the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" Just looked it up, and it's from Luke.

I'm now pretty much an atheist but it's still an important moral underpinning of my life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up with a Jewish dad and Christian mom. I remember this being quoted as the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" Just looked it up, and it's from Luke.

I'm now pretty much an atheist but it's still an important moral underpinning of my life.

Nice and hopefully it serves you well.

[Anonymous]

I like religion because it teaches you moral truths and helps you self-examine yourself and the world morally on a regular basis. Very little else in society comes close to the intensity, depth, and regularity of this type of learning. I remember people I went to college with thinking the constitution was all they needed and they barely even knew that. Doubt they still feel this way now. Eventually, many people wake up to the fact that all religions serve the same purpose and it's basically just about providing passed-down written and oral morality lessons on where to spend your energy for good for yourself and others based on past human observation over time. As one of the statements above said, the rest is a commentary that may or may not be applicable in your situation and lifetime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like religion because it teaches you moral truths and helps you self-examine yourself and the world morally on a regular basis. Very little else in society comes close to the intensity, depth, and regularity of this type of learning. I remember people I went to college with thinking the constitution was all they needed and they barely even knew that. Doubt they still feel this way now. Eventually, many people wake up to the fact that all religions serve the same purpose and it's basically just about providing passed-down written and oral morality lessons on where to spend your energy for good for yourself and others based on past human observation over time. As one of the statements above said, the rest is a commentary that may or may not be applicable in your situation and lifetime.

O0 - Yes I agree that the Jewish version of the Golden Rule hit on a salient aspect of it being central to leading a good life and advising people to really ponder it. Imagine if we all thought more deeply about how to live the Golden Rule in meaningful ways.

Regarding the value of religion - I agree that it can help one to think more deeply about everyday reality through different lens such as “why” rather than “how” Of course, religion can have the opposite effect for those trapped in cults or wed to rigid dogmas that are unresponsive to complex reality.

For me, an important part of religion is shared life experiences and honoring the Great Divine Mystery within a community of faith. Religion is derived from the Latin “religio” meaning (among other things), “bond of social relations uniting individuals.” Religion reminds me to forgive and seek forgiveness, to seek constant renewal of heart and mind, and to be faithful in small and large matters.