The Golden Rule the World Over, 5

Yesterday we considered why it is that every civilization in recorded history includes the much-need wisdom of The Golden Rule. Dylan Thomas nails it.

The Golden Rule the World Over, 4

The Mahabharata was likely crafted as far back as 800 BC. This epic Sanskrit poem is considered to be one of the great works of world civilization and contains the wisdom we continue to find in every recorded family of man. “The knowing person is minded to treat all beings as himself.” The question is this: why is it necessary for every culture in the world to assert the need to treat other people well——not just adequately, but with the same high standard of care we wish for ourselves? If this was an automatic behavior there would be no need to say it. If this were easy, there would be no need to aspire to it. And yet we nod and say, yes, of course, yes, we must do that. We must treat everyone the way we would like to be treated. And then we fail. Daily, hourly, even as we speak. Why? Well, I think that Paul said it best:

“I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.” Romans 7: 19-20

The Golden Rule the World Over, 3

Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician and philosopher born in 551 BC. He emphasized good order in all things, including how we are to treat others. He was a strong believer in the idea that the family was the foundation for a strong community and government, and that justice and integrity would be learned and practiced in those relationships. His expression of The Golden Rule is nearly identical to the one we find in the New Testament: “What you do not like if done to yourself, do not do to others.”
In an era where we reject rules and paradigms, we would be wise to consider that every culture that has ever taken seriously what is best for the whole of its people has put forth principles of good order and structure. Wherever men seek to live together in peace, there The Golden Rule will be found.

The Golden Rule the World Over, 2

Epictetus, a Greek sage and Stoic philosopher, was born a slave circa 55 AD in what would be present-day Turkey. He spoke of the Golden Rule in terms of earthly enslavement: “What you do not want to suffer, do not attempt to make others suffer. You avoid enslavement; make sure then to make no one your slave.” This is easier said than done, especially in the climate of “earthly enslavement” in which we all now dwell. Harder still is to recognize that we are all slaves to the desire to be our own God. And from this no rule can ever free us.

The Golden Rule the World Over, 1

Sometimes it seems that common ground is no longer possible, but there is more of it than we realize. The wisdom of The Golden Rule is found is almost every tradition and has been for as far back as we have recorded history. For the next few weeks, I’ll share a verse or two for us to ponder. Today we begin with the foundation of the western tradition, which comes from two Gospel writers:

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)

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