“Do unto others . . .”
What we commonly call the Golden Rule reads thus in the King James version of the Bible, “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets,” (Matt 7:12 all). Who isn’t familiar with this admonition? Would it surprise you to know that this same rule for living and treating others is repeated in some form in every major world religion? Doesn’t it make you wonder: if this is being taught in all faiths, why it isn’t more widely practiced?
Have we become so critical, judgmental, and self-righteous that we are incapable of empathizing with others, of “putting ourselves in another’s shoes,” of giving another the benefit of the doubt? We seem so quick to anger and assume the worst in others. Is that how we would want others to treat us?
While we know that many are generous with their time and money to help the sick, disadvantaged, and victims of disaster, we also witness many forms of incivility in society: overreaction to slights, nasty retorts, name calling, heated rhetoric, road rage. Now we are abashed to witness a fearful, unloving reaction to the resettling of Syrian refugees who have endured unspeakable hardship and terror in their own country and are seeking asylum in Europe and America and elsewhere.
Throughout history people have fled their countries because of war, famine, prejudice—a host of reasons—in an effort to find a decent, safe place in which to find shelter and new opportunities for themselves and their families; many of those people were our ancestors. While we most certainly want to ensure protection from those who would seek entry to cause us harm, me must take a reasonable, measured approach and keep our minds, hearts, and arms open to those peace-loving families that are crying out for compassion and consideration. This is how we would want to be treated under similar circumstances, isn’t it?
It is kindness, courtesy, consideration, and patience that should be the guiding factors in our relationships with others. But maybe that word “others” is the stumbling block. Surely, if we actively strive to see the perfect unity that inherently binds us to one another, view each person as an important, worthwhile thread in the fabric of humanity, and consciously seek to express the Love inherent in the Golden Rule, we could do much to heal our world.
To see or order a wonderful poster showing the Golden Rule as stated in 13 different faiths, go to:
http://www.interfaithmarketplace.com/home/ifm/page_130_24/golden_rule_poster.html
What we commonly call the Golden Rule reads thus in the King James version of the Bible, “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets,” (Matt 7:12 all). Who isn’t familiar with this admonition? Would it surprise you to know that this same rule for living and treating others is repeated in some form in every major world religion? Doesn’t it make you wonder: if this is being taught in all faiths, why it isn’t more widely practiced?
Have we become so critical, judgmental, and self-righteous that we are incapable of empathizing with others, of “putting ourselves in another’s shoes,” of giving another the benefit of the doubt? We seem so quick to anger and assume the worst in others. Is that how we would want others to treat us?
While we know that many are generous with their time and money to help the sick, disadvantaged, and victims of disaster, we also witness many forms of incivility in society: overreaction to slights, nasty retorts, name calling, heated rhetoric, road rage. Now we are abashed to witness a fearful, unloving reaction to the resettling of Syrian refugees who have endured unspeakable hardship and terror in their own country and are seeking asylum in Europe and America and elsewhere.
Throughout history people have fled their countries because of war, famine, prejudice—a host of reasons—in an effort to find a decent, safe place in which to find shelter and new opportunities for themselves and their families; many of those people were our ancestors. While we most certainly want to ensure protection from those who would seek entry to cause us harm, me must take a reasonable, measured approach and keep our minds, hearts, and arms open to those peace-loving families that are crying out for compassion and consideration. This is how we would want to be treated under similar circumstances, isn’t it?
It is kindness, courtesy, consideration, and patience that should be the guiding factors in our relationships with others. But maybe that word “others” is the stumbling block. Surely, if we actively strive to see the perfect unity that inherently binds us to one another, view each person as an important, worthwhile thread in the fabric of humanity, and consciously seek to express the Love inherent in the Golden Rule, we could do much to heal our world.
To see or order a wonderful poster showing the Golden Rule as stated in 13 different faiths, go to:
http://www.interfaithmarketplace.com/home/ifm/page_130_24/golden_rule_poster.html
