Personal Freedom Corrodes the Golden Rule

-

“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get."  (Matthew 7:12, The Message)                                                                            


The behavior of one person has a dramatic impact on hundreds, if not thousands of lives. A single act, based on a simple belief, can elevate or devastate our neighbors. Perhaps this is why virtually every religion upholds a version of the Golden Rule like the ones listed below. Even outside of religious circles, the sentiment is universally accepted. Unfortunately, it is also universally ignored or misinterpreted. 

People who refuse to wear a mask or get vaccinated are doing unto others as they do to themselves. They don’t wear a mask and they happily offer the same freedom to their neighbors. But unhealthy choices based on a lie -- that Covid-19 is a hoax -- only block us from the truth that could set us free.  That's not living by the Golden Rule. That's throwing corrosive acid on the face of humanity. Covid is real and deadly. Masks help. Vaccines work. This is the truth that could set the world free from the pandemic.  

Though Austin hospitals are full and the covid rate has soared  to Stage 5 again, many people are living as if the words Janis Joplin sang are gospel truth. "Freedom’s just another word for nothing else to lose.” But when individual freedom becomes a deadly assault on our medical care workers, our students, teachers and school administrators, our churches, and our whole way of life, it is no longer freedom. It is a self-consumed, violent bully destroying innocent lives. 

Though the pandemic brought an avalanche of misery to the world, it also uncovered a powerful truth. The behavior of one person has a dramatic impact on hundreds, if not thousands of others. Our choices matter. We matter. We can make a difference in the world. Let us use our personal freedom for the greater good.  

The Golden Across World Religions 

Bahá'í Faith

Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself. --Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings


Buddhism

Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.

--The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18


Christianity

In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. -- Matthew 7:12 


Confucianism

One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct....loving-kindness. Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself. -- Confucius, Analects 15.23


Hinduism

This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you. -- Mahabharata 5:1517

     

Islam

Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself. -- The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith


Jainism

One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated. -- Mahavira, Sutrakritanga 1.11.33


Judaism

What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. Go and learn it. 

--Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a


Native Spirituality

We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive. 

--Chief Dan George


Sikhism

I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all. -- Guru Granth Sahib, p.1299 


Taoism

Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss. 

-- Lao Tzu, T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218 


Unitarianism

We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. --Unitarian principle


Zoroastrianism

Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself.  

-- Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29



Acknowledgements: This original English version was prepared by Paul McKenna. Published by Scarboro Missions (Toronto, Canada) Copyright © Scarboro Missions 2000

Popular posts from this blog

Where the Hell Are the Referees?

-
Image
Where the Hell Are the Referees?   The world is dying for referees. Flagrant fouls keep slamming down on God’s black and brown children with deadly force. Protests against the horrors of white supremacy are met with more police brutality. We need referees to enforce the rule of love. Where in the hell are they?  Oh wait, that’s right.  I am supposed to be a referee and so are you.  People of faith are called to know and enforce the rule of love. We can’t wait for the government or anyone else to do it for us.  Now more than ever, the church must be on high alert. When we see a flagrant foul, we must to call it immediately and demand change. Police who lack integrity and compassion need to be ejected from their positions. If they commit a criminal act, they should be arrested and charged.  If businesses discriminate against employees or customers because of race, gender, or sexual preference, they should be held accountable.  These are the moral laws...
Read more

Pulling the World Toward Love

-
Image
Pulling the World Toward Love “Can you come pray for a man who is dying?” a nurse from a nearby hospital asked. “He won’t last much longer.” After I agr eed, she explained the sit uation. “The patient is dying of AIDS, and his family does not want his partner in the room.” Fresh out of seminary, I was ill equipped for the moment. Nothing in the ivory tower of academia had prepared me for what was about to happen. When I stepped off the hospital elevator, I found the man’s partner doubled over in a chair wailing in grief. I thought perhaps the AIDS patient had already died. I was wrong. The patient was alive, but the man sobbing in the hallway had no legal right to enter his room. After introducing myself, I sat down while he sobbed into his knees. Fumbling and awkward, I confess  that my silent pleas for God's help were mixed with regret that I had picked up the phone. In hindsight, I realize that the call was a tremendous gift.   In a few moments, those tw...
Read more
-
Image
  Life feels like an unassembled Ikea dresser these days. Pieces are scattered across the floor and the instructions to put it together make no sense. Where are the clearly written step-by-step directions for the novice?  None of us have ever lived through a pandemic. We are all novices.  Without specific directions, how do we put our lives together so we can hold the full weight of human emotions like love and fear, joy and sorrow, hope and frustration? I keep turning to our spiritual ancestors for help. In the absence of clear, specific instructions, they learned to rely on faith. Time and time again in Scripture, angels startled ordinary people with shocking news. Though they appeared to different people at different times, the heavenly hosts essentially brought the same message:  "Drop everything. Give up your old life and strike out to build a new one for God."   ...
Read more