Some religions want to destroy us, because we’re so different from them. Thank God Christians have the Golden Rule. Then, again, it appears in the sacred writings of most religions, commanding followers to show compassion and mercy. But we have the 10 Commandments. Which came from the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and are spread throughout the Qur’an. Jesus emphasized caring for the poor and vulnerable. Mmmm…there are those other statements: “the key of Paradise is love for the poor” (Islam); “rescue the weak and needy” (Judaism); “give, even though it be little” (Buddhism); give “to the homeless, distressed man” (Hinduism). And all major religions either support organ donation or declare it a personal decision. Could it be that the violence in our world is caused by misguided individuals, not by people trying to live out the positive beliefs of their faith? And by people who fear religions because they don’t understand them? We should celebrate our sameness allow our diverse family to come together. That should defeat the misguided few and those who perpetuate violence against people of other faiths.
Tag Archive for Golden Rule
Pope Francis “Rules”
Who better to provide today’s Thursday Thought than Pope Francis in his 9/24/15 (this morning) address to the U.S. combined Congress? It’s an extension of the Golden Rule, which appears in some form in the holy books of all major world religions.
“[If] we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us.”