The Golden Rule
Many will be surprised to learn that the Golden Rule is not just Christian, but religious.
If we go back in history, we find morality and codes of behavior, in the earliest religions. So when we read in Matthew 7:12, “Always treat others as you would like them to treat you”, that wasn’t the first time God directed us to do so. I especially like the Buddhist saying “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful”. In the book, ‘Anatomy of Peace’ by the Arbinger Institute, it says as the first steps towards peace, to not see others as objects, but as people. ‘Othering’ is very easy to do. It is grouping all one people together and then saying ‘THEY’ do this, or ‘THEY’ do that, and not seeing them as individuals. Seeing each other as individual people takes effort, it takes curiosity and it takes God in our hearts reminding us to be good people, kind people, and helpful people.
Maybe during this holiday season as we go about our shopping, volunteering, and donating to charities, we can look at each other as individuals and see what changes in our perspectives are made.
Serene Erby
President
