GOLDEN RULE ETHICS: The Underlying Rule For All Right And Wrong, "Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated"

GOLDEN RULE ETHICS
GoldenRuleEthics.com

The Underlying Rule For All Right And Wrong

"TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED"
The Golden Rule

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Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director

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THERE IS ONE UNDERLYING RULE FOR ALL RIGHT AND WRONG:

"TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED."

This rule is known as "The Golden Rule." It is found in most religions, yet it establishes no particular religion; it leads to harmony among all people; it is the foundation of Democracy; and it leads to the political goal of "Greatest Good For The Greatest Number, With Basic Rights For All."

To apply the Golden Rule, simply ask yourself "How would you like to be treated in similar circumstances?" Then treat the other person that way. Also consider the impact of your actions on all other people, not only those immediately before you.

If you need help in applying the Golden Rule to your particular situation, please visit Golden Rule Solutions.

Some Version Of the Golden Rule Is Found In Most Religions

These versions can be categorized as "inclusive" vs. "selective," and "complete" vs. "partial."

Inclusive vs. Selective The inclusive versions of the Golden Rule apply to all people everywhere. The selective versions apply only to some people, such as your neighbors or your countrymen or your religious brothers.

Complete vs. Partial The complete versions of the Golden Rule call for you to treat the other person as if he were yourself: to do the good things to him you would like done to you; and to not do the bad things you would not like to done to you. So you would not steal from him, and you would try to help him if he needed help. The partial versions of the Golden Rule call for you merely to not do the bad things you would not like done to you. So you would not steal from him, but you would not be required to help him if he needed help.

     
                                 
             Versions Of The Golden Rule In Different Religions
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   HINDU: This is the sum of duty; do naught unto others which if done 
to
   thee would cause thee pain. (inclusive, partial)

   ZOROASTRIAN: That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto
   another whatsoever is not good for itself. (inclusive, partial)

   TAOIST: Regard your neighbour's gain as your own gain, and your
   neighbour's loss as your own loss. (selective, complete)

   BUDDHIST: Hurt not others in ways that you would find hurtful.
   (inclusive, partial)

   CONFUCIAN: Do not unto others what you would not have them do unto
   you. (inclusive, partial)

   JAIN: In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard
   all creatures as we regard our own self. (inclusive, complete)

   JEWISH: Whatever thou hatest thyself, that do not to another.
   (inclusive, partial)

   CHRISTIAN: All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,
   do ye even so to them. (inclusive, complete)

   ISLAMIC: No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother
   that which he desires for himself. (selective, complete)

   SIKH: As thou deemest thyself, so deem others. (inclusive, complete)

Source: http://theosophy.org/tlodocs/GoldnRul.htm - (Link not working.)(Categorizations added.)

The Clearest Expressions Of The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule is expressed twice in the Bible, and these are its clearest expressions, in the words of Jesus, translated. Both of the Bible expressions are inclusinve and complete.


     "So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them;
      for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12 RSV)

     "And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them."
                                             (Luke 6:31 RSV)

And here are some of the best expressions of The Golden Rule in modern English.


   1. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

   2. "Treat others as you would like to be treated."

   3. "Treat other people the way you would like to be treated."

   4. "Treat other people the way you want to be treated."

   5. "Whatever you want people to do to you, do that to them."

The expression we use here is, "Treat others as you would like to be treated." It is inclusive and complete; it avoids using the exact language used by any particular religion; and it uses modern English, easy to understand. Also, it uses the subjunctive form "would," which helps to emphasize that you should treat the other person as you would like to be treated, if you were in similar circumstances. So to follow the Golden Rule, you must constantly be imagining yourself in the position of other people: the hungry beggar, the injured pedestrian, the captured prisoner.

The Golden Rule Does Not Establish Any Religion

Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists and all other people can accept The Golden Rule without compromising their other true beliefs. Promoting The Golden Rule is not "establishing religion" in any Constitutional sense, because it is held in common by religions which are otherwise in competition. So which religion does it establish? Judaism? Islam? Buddhism? Atheism? Christianity? None of the above!

I, myself, am a Christian minister, but I am not "establishing" Christianity by promoting The Golden Rule. Simply because most Christians support The Golden Rule does not mean that it "establishes" Christianity, because The Golden Rule is found in the other major religions, also. It is not exclusive to Christianity.

Therefore, all governments everywhere can actively promote The Golden Rule without fear of establishing or favoring any particular religion.

Harmony Among All People

If everybody would treat everybody else according to the Golden Rule, we would find a harmony among all people that has never been seen before.

Some People Believe That The Golden Rule Embodies All Of God's Law For Mankind, And If We Follow The Golden Rule, We Have Done Everything God Requires Of Us.

I, myself, am a "Bible Christian." I believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, sufficient to guide all human action. And according to the Bible, as the Holy Spirit leads me to understand it, The Golden Rule embodies all of God's Law for mankind. The Biblical reasons I believe this are found here => http://patriot.net/users/bmcgin/pearl-goldenruleembodies.html


   also see patriot.net/users/bmcgin/pearl-goldenruleembodies.txt

"TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED."

Other people do not believe that the Golden Rule embodies all of God's law. (Some don't even believe in God.) But they can support the Golden Rule nevertheless, because of the good it obviously accomplishes. It is truly the worldwide standard for human behavior.

The Golden Rule Is The Foundation Of Democracy.

DEMOCRACY: literally, rule by the people (from the Greek d "people," and kratos, "rule").
Source: Britannica.com

The Golden Rule, "Treat Others As You Would Like To Be Treated," is the foundation of Democracy, because the Golden Rule directs us to give the same power to others as we would like to have for ourselves, namely, the power to make decisions in matters affecting our lives. How much power? The same as we have ourselves, and this leads immediately to the idea of "one person, one vote," with all votes being of equal weight. So, Democracy is the natural result of applying the Golden Rule to the question: "What kind of government should we have?" Similarly, the Golden Rule leads directly to the idea of equality of all people under the law.

The Golden Rule Leads To "The Greatest Good For The Greatest Number, With Basic Rights For All."

       "TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED."

When it is applied to Politics, the Golden Rule leads to policies which create "The Greatest Good For The Greatest Number, With Basic Rights For All." Thus, total good is maximized and none are denied the basic needs of life. This is a perfect formula for happiness and social stability anywhere!

Ways To Apply The Golden Rule

The easiest way to apply the Golden Rule to real life is to ask yourself the question "How would you like to be treated in similar circumstances?" Then treat the other person that way. Also consider the impact of your actions on all other people, not only those immediately before you.

We have a website devoted to applying the Golden Rule:

Golden Rule Solutions

Also "The Twenty-One Greatest Ideas In Human Relations" includes eighteen specific applications of The Golden Rule. And a "Computer-Assisted Learning" course on the Twenty-One Greatest Ideas In Human Relations is available for download HERE!

*******************************************

Ways To Promote The Golden Rule

A listing of ways to promote the Golden Rule

Please Click On The Links To Go To The Pages Listed Below

1. Live by the Golden rule yourself.

2. Join the Committee For The Golden Rule by subscribing here: committeeforthegoldenrule-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .

3. Link to the Committee For The Golden Rule from your e-mails and newsgroup postings.

4. Link to this banner (below) from your web pages, using this HTML code.

5. Start and run a Golden Rule Club in your school, workplace, or community.

6. Contact webmasters and give them a "Golden Rule" motto to use.

7. Print out this "Policy Statement" page, make copies, distribute.

8. Post this message to your favorite newsgroups; send it to your friends.

9. Ask your school, workplace, or other organization to adopt the Golden Rule as its official policy.

10. Create links to EthicsClass.com - Teaching The Golden Rule

11. CONDUCT A GOLDEN RULE WORKSHOP - Instructions provided here.

A Draft Resolution To Adopt The Golden Rule

I wasn't in student politics years ago for nothing! (Thank you, Richard Gephardt.) We learned how to write resolutions!

Here's a draft resolution suitable for adoption by legislatures, school boards, boards of directors, various other organizations. => Draft Resolution To Adopt The Golden Rule


    http://patriot.net/users/bmcgin/resolution.html
    http://patriot.net/users/bmcgin/resolution.txt

Websites Which Promote The Golden Rule

Dr. Harry Gensler's Golden Rule Page

This appears to be => the most extensive Golden Rule site on the Internet. It is maintained by Harry J. Gensler, a professor of philosophy at John Carrol University.

The Golden Rule Pages At LoveAllPeople.org

CommitteeForTheGoldenRule.org - A Complete Golden Rule Website

Golden Rule Solutions - Real-Life Applications of The Golden Rule

EthicsClass.com - "Teaching The Golden Rule"

And These

Golden Rule Page At RelgiousTolerance.org
The Golden Rule - Rules, from White Stone Communications
Elaine Parke's - The Golden Rule Revolution
The Golden Rule Foundation, Maitland, Florida
CoNexus Multifaith Media
John Bigelow's Essay On The Golden Rule

List of Recommended Books About The Golden Rule

Jeffrey Wattles GOLDEN RULE ISBN# 0195110366
Harry J. Gensler FORMAL ETHICS ISBN# 0415130662
Harry J. Gensler ETHICS: A CONTEMPORARY INTRODUCTION ISBN# 0415156254
Richard M. Hare FREEDOM AND REASON ISBN# 019881092X

A Call For Workers: We Need You!

=> A Call For Workers


  http://patriot.net/users/bmcgin/workers.txt

A One-Page Statement Promoting The Golden Rule

=>Summary Of Human Ethics In Nine Words


   patriot.net/users/bmcgin/exhortation57.txt

The Committee For The Golden Rule

I will maintain this page here at PatriotNet and will maintain the Post Office Box in Alexandria, Virginia, USA.


       Rev. Bill McGinnis, Chairman
       Committee For The Golden Rule
       P. O. Box 2543
       Alexandria, VA 22301
       U. S. A.

How To Become A Member

You can become a member of The Committee For The Golden Rule by joining it at this website: www.groups.yahoo.com/group/committeeforthegoldenrule

. . . or by sending a blank e-mail message to this address: committeeforthegoldenrule-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .

Membership is open to anyone who desires to promote the Golden Rule.

Please also see our related pages . . .

ETHICS & HUMAN RELATIONS
POLITICS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS
CHRISTIAN

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You can contact me at bmcgin@patriot.net

   
       Rev. Bill McGinnis, Chairman
       Committee For The Golden Rule
       P. O. Box 2543
       Alexandria, VA 22301
       U. S. A.

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