A few years ago, I read that all major religions have characteristics of the Golden Rule in their beliefs. I don’t remember where I read this, but the knowledge stuck with me. The Golden Rule says something like, “treat others as you would want to be treated.”
This rule is not only found in the major religions, but also in schools of thought and philosophies throughout the world and across all time periods. This says to me that people have found how we treat each other has been important across cultures and time. How we treat each other is basic to living in community.
Recently, I have been wondering if we have forgotten this rule or if we still consider this rule important. I know there are many people in our culture today who don’t consider themselves religious, but many of these same people say they are spiritual. My guess is that as members of humanity, we all like to be treated well whether we are members of a religious community, or spiritual, or neither.
We can take this rule personally and reflect on how we are treated, whether good or bad. When people tell us how great we did on a job we were doing, or how kind we were in a situation, or how generous we are, we are grateful that someone has noticed.
On the other hand, we notice when someone says something that hurts us. We notice when someone does an act that puts us in danger. We notice when someone is not honest with us. And we react with our emotions. We might be hurt, or angry, or sad.
However, I want to take this rule a little further and ask, “How does this rule apply in our local community to those people who are our neighbors?”
I was out walking a few weeks ago and passed a synagogue. I could hear voices coming from inside the building. Outside was an armed guard there to protect the people attending the gathering. I was struck that in the middle of the afternoon, an armed guard was needed. It brought tears to my eyes. Is this how we treat one another? Needing protection when we gather? What can we do to turn down the hate and remember that our neighbors deserve compassion and dignity?
How do we deal with people in our own communities who have no permanent place to live, not enough nutritious food to eat, or people who can’t get the services they need (health care, physiological services, help finding work, etc.)? These people are our neighbors, and we can make a difference in their lives as we address our systems. It helps to keep asking the question, “Is this how we want to be treated?”
The Golden Rule applies not only to how we get treated as individuals, but how the services in our communities apply to all the neighbors of our communities. It is my hope that as a faith community we remember the Golden Rule and be the leaders in treating all of our neighbors as we want to be treated.
Rev. Dr. Linda Holbrook is the pastor of Morgan Hill United Methodist Church. She is a member of the Interfaith Clergy Alliance and may be contacted at[emailprotected].
FAQs
Buddhism: “Whatever is disagreeable to yourself, do not do unto others” (The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18 – 6th century BC). Confucianism: “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you” (Confucius, Analects 15.23 – 5th century BC). Christianity: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.
What is the Golden Rule in religious education? ›
The Golden Rule tells Christians to treat other people as they would like to be treated. So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
How can you apply the Golden Rule to your life? ›
18 Practical Tips for Living the Golden Rule
- Practice empathy. Make it a habit to try to place yourself in the shoes of another person. ...
- Practice compassion. ...
- How would you want to be treated? ...
- Be friendly. ...
- Be helpful. ...
- Be courteous in traffic. ...
- Listen to others. ...
- Overcome prejudice.
Christianity. The "Golden Rule" was proclaimed by Jesus of Nazareth during his Sermon on the Mount and described by him as the second great commandment. The common English phrasing is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
Is the Golden Rule only used by Catholics? ›
It is not, however, peculiar to Christianity. Its negative form is to be found in Tob. 4:15, in the writings of the two great Jewish scholars Hillel (1st century bc) and Philo of Alexandria (1st centuries bc and ad), and in the Analects of Confucius (6th and 5th centuries bc).
Which religion philosophy believes in the Golden Rule? ›
The golden rule is closely associated with Christian ethics though its origins go further back and graces Asian culture as well. Normally we interpret the golden rule as telling us how to act.
What is an example of the golden rule in Christianity? ›
“Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them,” Jesus said in Matthew 7:12. Luke 6:31 words it, “And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.” Applying this simple but profound human relations principle can help us to treat others with kindness, empathy and godly love.
How is the golden rule applied? ›
The Golden Rule is used to interpret ambiguous meanings arising within Statutes. There are two forms of the Golden rule; narrow and wide. The Narrow approach as defined in Jones v DPP (1962) by Lord Reid states "If they are capable of more than one meaning, then you can choose between those meanings".
Is the golden rule still relevant today? ›
The Golden Rule is important because it helps us overcome our natural inclination toward selfishness. It challenges us to think beyond our own needs and desires and consider the well-being of others. In friendships, this shift in mindset can make a significant difference.
What is the main message of the golden rule in religion? ›
When speaking of the Golden Rule Christianity states you should treat others how you want to be treated in return. You can find this principle in most religions, not just Christianity.
In Christianity, this rule is found in Matthew 7:12 as part of the Sermon on the Mount, and it states: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do unto you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Alternatively, in Luke 6:31, we read, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
What is prayer and the golden rule? ›
It is The Golden Rule: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Jesus put The Golden Rule right at the culminating point of a passage about deliberate, persistent, hopeful prayer.
Do Muslims follow the Golden Rule? ›
Islam, as a world religion with over one billion followers, has an important role to play in facilitating dialogue and cooperation with other groups in the modern world. The golden rule in Islamic traditions has been explicitly invoked by numerous Muslim leaders and organizations towards this end.
Is the Golden Rule in Buddhism? ›
The principle known as the Golden Rule: `Do unto others what you would have them do unto you' (Matthew 7, 12), is often thought of as the apex of Jesus' moral teachings and of being unique to Christianity. However, the Buddha made this same principle one of the cornerstones of his ethics too.
Who believed in the Golden Rule? ›
Christianity is particularly strongly associated with the Golden Rule; the Bible expresses the ''do unto others'' sentiment twice. In Matthew 7:12, Jesus says, ''Therefore 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'' (King James Version).
What is the Golden Rule in sikhism? ›
The Three Golden Rules which Sikhs follow are to remember God constantly, to earn an honest livelihood, and to share their earnings with everyone through charity.
