8 Golden Rules and 1 Not-So-Golden One

I like Benny Hill’s Golden Rule

Do unto others………then run.

So you’re saying that simple empathy is the basis of morality? That’s part of the reason we have to dehumanize enemies before soldiers can kill them and why sociopaths are so disturbing, no?

The passive version is far more sensible. Plenty of people on this planet would like things done to them that I do not want done to me.

Just Me,
What are you talking about when you say :”There are other Islamic teachings that discuss how non-Muslims should be treated, and these teachings are far from the Golden Rule. Just thought you should know”

I am asking about your connotation. I recall learning in my first year religion classes that in early Islamic history Christians and Jews that lived in lands under Islamic rule had to pay special taxes but could not be persecuted for having a different religion. Is that what you meant?

wha – did Uncle John buy ad space in this entry?? i am fascinated!

Greengirl,

You are referring to what is named Jizya. The Muslims are supposed to invite the Christians/Jews to Islam. If they refuse, then they should pay the special tax (Jizya). If they refuse, then they are to be killed. This does not apply to pagans and atheists…they are to accept Islam or be killed. The same goes for apostates of Islam…they are to be given 3 days to return to Islam or be killed. Further, the Koran commands the Muslims to not take the Jews and the Christians as friends.

Other laws are in place for Christians/Jews that live in Islamic countries (which are humiliating):

1. They are not allowed to build any churches/synagogues.

2. They are not allowed to pray loud at home or outside…a Muslims might hear them.

3. They are not allowed to print and sell their books.

4. They are expected to allow a traveling Muslim into their house and take care of him for free.

There are a lot more demeaning rules/laws/commandments, but I don’t remember them all.

Hope this answers your question though.

If Jesus & Christianity are all about being proactive about doing good things, then why are good & bad deeds completely ignored in the whole, getting-to-heaven thing?

It should also be noted that the Islamic “golden rule” applies only to males. Women under Islam are regarded as one-half the worth of a man, and are treated very differently indeed.

Xayzer,

So since you have some Muslim friends, that makes you an authority on Islam, Sunnah, Sharia, and the Koran? I get a funny feeling that you are a Muslim in disguise.

To Mr. Binky:

Quote: “If Jesus & Christianity are all about being proactive about doing good things, then why are good & bad deeds completely ignored in the whole, getting-to-heaven thing?”

I think you’re misunderstanding Christianity then. Going to heaven is not a result of good deeds, because if that were the case how would you judge that? Someone does more good deeds than bad? Or.. the value of someone’s good deeds outweigh his bad deeds? Because we definitely cannot say that any man has never ever done a bad deed, and we also cannot say that even our own good deeds are pure at heart.

While Christianity teaches that salvation is simply through faith, it doesn’t mean that morals are ignored. Does it make sense to believe in Jesus but then refuse/ignore the teachings? Then if our works do not reflect Jesus, or we are willingly still sinning without a repentant heart, then there’s definitely something wrong with our faith

All religions that promote some kind of order and benevolence have some kind of translation of that rule.

“1) The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

2) The Silver Rule: Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you.

3) The Bronze Rule: Do unto others as they’ve been doing unto you.

4) The Iron Rule: Do unto weaker people as you wish, while appeasing stronger people as you must.

5) The Jewish Rule: Deceive and flatter others, until you are strong enough to destroy them. Then do so and take their land, meanwhile lying to the rest of the world and selecting your next victim.”

Source: http://dayoftherope.blogspot.com/2007/06/rules-1-golden-rule-do-unto-o thers-as.html

How about, “Do unto others before they can do unto you.” That’s how the Iraq war happened.

Who was it that said “do unto others over and over again”

The Golden Rule is scary in the hands of a masochist

Amazing that a post whose purpose is to draw attention to how the fundamental principles of all religions are surprisingly similar, and how we should basically all be nice to one another, degenerates into name calling, and statements about how my beliefs are better than yours.

Chris, You are making a careless and unsubstantiated generalization. Just because it makes you feel happy, doesn’t mean it is factual. Fact: 61% of the Koran tells Moslems how much he hates the infidels and wants them to suffer. Crack a book. Start reading the Koran, if you don’t know this already. You will be in a state of shock. You are speaking from speculation rather than from research.

that’s because a simple reason:
These principles and laws, these firmly-established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source and are the rays of one Light. That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated.
Bahá’u'lláh.

Thus the principle of the unity of religion means that all of the great religious Founders–the Manifestations–have come from God, and that all of the religious systems established by Them are part of a single divine plan directed by God.

In reality, there is only one religion, the religion of God. This one religion is continually evolving, and each particular religious system represents a stage in the evolution of the whole. The Bahá’í Faith represents the current stage in the evolution of religion. To emphasize the idea that all of the teachings and actions of the Manifestation are directed by God and do not originate from natural, human sources, Bahá’u'lláh used the term “revelation” to describe the phenomenon that occurs each time a Manifestation appears. In particular, the writings of the Manifestation represent the infallible Word of God. Because these writings remain long after the earthly life of the Manifestation is finished, they constitute an especially important part of the phenomenon of revelation. So much is this so, that the term “revelation” is sometimes used in a restricted sense to refer to the writings and words of the Manifestation.

(Source: http://info.bahai.org/article-1-4-0-4.html)

feel free to ask

Actually, Jesus says something very different than the others–he says “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

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doubt the intent is different and considering they are translated from different languages I think your point is ignorant.