SHARED BELIEF IN THE
"GOLDEN RULE"
Ethics of Reciprocity
Quotation:
"Every religion emphasizes human improvement, love, respect for others,
sharing other people's suffering. On these lines every religion had more or
less the same viewpoint and the same goal." The Dalai Lama
Overview
Religious groups differ greatly in their concepts of deity, other beliefs
and practices. Non-theistic ethical and philosophic systems, like Humanism,
also exhibit a wide range of beliefs. But there is near unanimity of opinion
that each person should treat others as they would themselves wish to be
treated. Almost all religious and ethical groups have passages in their holy
texts, or writings of their leaders, which promote this Ethic of
Reciprocity. The most commonly known version in North America is the Golden
Rule of Christianity.
One result of this Ethic is the concept that every person shares certain
inherent human rights, simply because of their membership in the human race.
People are individually very different; they come in two main genders, all
sizes and shapes, many races, and three sexual orientations. They follow
many religious and economic systems. But there is a growing consensus that
all are equal in importance. All should enjoy basic human rights. The
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is one
manifestation of this growing worldwide consensus. 3,4
Some "Ethic of Reciprocity" passages from the religious texts of various
religions
Bahá'í World Faith: "Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not
have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." "Blessed is
he who preferreth his brother before himself." Baha'u'llah
"And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour
that which thou choosest for thyself." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Brahmanism: "This is the sum of duty: Do naught unto others which would
cause you pain if done to you". Mahabharata, 5:1517
Buddhism: "a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I
inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353
Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga
5:18
Christianity: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should
do to you, do ye even so to them." Matthew 7:12
"...and don't do what you hate...", Gospel of Thomas 6
Confucianism: "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you"
Analects 15:23 "Tse-kung asked, 'Is there one word that can serve as a
principle of conduct for life?' Confucius replied, 'It is the word 'shu' --
reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.'"
Doctrine of the Mean 13.3
Hinduism: "One should not behave towards others in a way which is
disagreeable to oneself" Mencius Vii.A.4
"This is the sum of duty: do naught unto others which would cause you pain
if done to you." Mahabharata 5:1517
Islam: "Not one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he
loves for himself" Fourth Hadith of an-Nawawi 13
Jainism: "Therefore, neither does he [, a sage,] cause violence to others
nor does he make others do so." Acarangasutra 5.101-2.
"In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all
creatures as we regard our own self." Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara
"A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be
treated. "Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
Judaism: "...thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.", Leviticus 19:18
"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all
the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a
Native American Spirituality: "Respect for all life is the foundation." The
Great Law of Peace
Roman Pagan Religion: "The law imprinted on the hearts of all men is to
love the members of society as themselves."
Shinto: "The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there your
own form"
Sikhism: "Compassion-mercy and religion are the support of the entire
world". Japji Sahib "Don't create enmity with anyone as God is within
everyone." Guru Arjan Devji 259
Sufism: "The basis of Sufism is consideration of the hearts and feelings of
others. If you haven't the will to gladden someone's heart, then at least
beware lest you hurt someone's heart, for on our path, no sin exists but
this." Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order.
Taoism: "Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and your neighbor's
loss as your own loss." T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien. "I am good to the man who
is good to me, likewise, I am also good to the bad man." Tao Te Ching
Wicca: "A'in it harm no one, do what thou wilt" (i.e. do what every you
want to, as long as it harms nobody, including yourself). The Wiccan Rede
Yoruba: (Nigeria): "One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird
should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts."
Zoroastrianism: "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto
another whatsoever is not good for itself". Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5
"Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others."
Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29
Some philosophers' statements are
Socrates: "Do not do to others that which would anger you if others did it
to you." (Greece; 5th century BCE)
Seneca: "Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by your superiors,"
Epistle 47:11 (Rome; 1st century CE)
One example from an ethical system is
Humanism: "...critical intelligence, infused by a sense of human caring, is
the best method that humanity has for resolving problems. Reason should be
balanced with compassion and empathy and the whole person fulfilled."
Humanist Manifesto II; Ethics section.
Two exceptions
Church of Satan: "4. Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it
instead of love wasted on ingrates! 5. Satan represents vengeance instead of
turning the other cheek.!" A.S. LaVey, founder of The Church of Satan, The
Nine Satanic Statements.
World Church of the Creator: "What is good for the White Race is the
highest virtue; what is bad for the White Race is the ultimate sin."
Although the W.C.O.T.C. uses the term "church" they are strongly
anti-Christian in belief. Their religion is based mainly upon love of the
white race and hatred of everyone else, which they call members of the "mud
races."
Care is needed in applying the Golden Rule
Any rule must be applied carefully, and with full knowledge of the likely
consequences. Many of the above "golden rules" imply that there is some
absolute standard on what is beneficial and what is harmful. Consider:
George Bernard Shaw, (1903): "Do not do unto others as you would that they
should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same."
A lot of harm has been done historically, in the name of helping other
people. Some examples:
Many individuals involved in the torture and murder of Witches during the
late Middle Ages and Renaissance felt that their mission was to help both
society and the Witches. The latter would be given a chance to renounce
their beliefs and be executed before they recanted. This might give them
access to Heaven rather than being sent to Hell for endless torture.
Some suicidologists believe that the extremely high suicide rate among
native people in North America is a direct result of the destruction of
their aboriginal faith and other aspects of their society by Christian
groups.
Social programs that were originally designed to help the poor, can
sometimes backfire and entrap the very people they intended to help.
Before applying the golden rule, we should take care that we are really
helping people, and not harming them.
Failures of the Ethic of Reciprocity
Many individuals are primarily concerned with their own well being, and that
of their family and "tribe." Some are able to apply the ethic of reciprocity
only to their immediate friends and relatives. Somehow, people who are close
to us are seen as more "equal" than strangers.
Some individuals are able to extend the Ethic to all fellow believers who
share their religion. An insufficient number are able to extend it to
followers of other religions and ultimately to all human beings. The large
number of religiously-based civil disturbances and wars currently active in
the world is evidence of this failing.
Passages that violate the Ethic of Reciprocity
Unfortunately, many religious texts contain other passages that contradict
the Ethic of Reciprocity. The Christian Bible is one example. It contains
sections which promote both religious tolerance and religious intolerance.
In places, it advocates genocide against other tribes, extermination of
people of other religions, and murder of individuals with minority sexual
orientations. It condones slavery and, in places, promotes an inferior
status for women.
References:
A.S. LaVey, "The Nine Satanic Statements," in The Satanic Bible, Avon Books
(1969), Page 25.
Rev. Matt Hale, "The World to Come," The Struggle, Issue XXVIII. Online at:
http://www.creator.org
The English text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is at:
http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
The text is available in other languages is at:
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu6/1/univdec1.htm
Copyright ©1995 to 2000 incl.
Latest update: 2000-JAN-2
Author: B.A. Robinson
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