Unlimited Harmony: Understanding The Golden Rule

Sunday 8 January 2012

Understanding The Golden Rule

So do you think you understand the golden rule? Is it just about loving your neighbour as you love yourself? Have we been tainting one of the oldest principal of our earth? Many religious and moral

Poster found on Scarborough Missions website

groups subscribe to the golden rule but the teaching has long been seen by many as being 'fluff' wrapped in a whimsical package. In other words, it sounds good but it is not practical or applicable. The first question that arises from the 'Golden Rule' is how can we know what a stranger likes or dislike? Consequently how can we know when we have transgressed against him or her? What is acceptable to you may not be acceptable for another. Different cultures brings different morals. Secondly, what if the person does not love himself. How can he love another? What if the person as grown accustom to pain and hate. How would the 'Golden Rule' look to him in contrast to someone who has lived a life relatively delightful and compassionate? In order for the 'Golden Rule' to be universal there must be some common ground. How can we dare to push forward with the rule of love without a definition of love? After all, love is the cornerstone of the "Golden Rule'.

DEFINITION OF LOVE

Love is act of faith to honourably commit to the well-being, edification, and dignity, of every person without partiality and without termination. True love recognises the individual as well as the group.

EXPLANATION

Act of Faith: When entering into any relationship (professional or personal) one can never have all the answers about the partner. Trust is build on evidence but faith is based on hope. We enter with beneficial expectation in acceptance that we don't know everything about our partner but agree to co-operate. It is not possible to be fully aware of our partner.

Honourably Commit: A productive and mutually beneficial pursuit.

Well-Being: In this definition the term is limited to physical health.

Edification: In this definition the term is limited to emotional and mental health.

Dignity: In this definition the term refers to morals and spiritual health but can have a physical application.. It is use to signify that a being has an unconditional right to respect and ethical treatment.

Every person: Every person - all!

Without partiality: Every individual is equal under love and benefit from the golden rule without any discrimination whether it is race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability. There is no exception.

Without termination: Love never fails. Forgiveness is always assured. But integrity requires reproof at times. (Reproof without love is hateful criticism).

(continues, continues, continues, continues, continues, continues, continues, continues, continues,continues, continues, continues)

SOCIAL CIRCLE
We all have a circle social. It ranges from the one end of the spectrum, the people we have not met to the other end of the spectrum, people we know.

Outer Circle: Enemies and strangers. Strangers being closer to the Inner Circle then enemies. Inner Circle: Acquaintances, associates, friends, family. Good friends and family tends to be closer to the Most Inner Circle. Finally, Most Inner Circle: Yourself and your god (belief system). It should also be where your significant other resides. Unfortunately god with a lower case 'g' can mean money, addictions, work, pastime, sex, phobias... Your moral beliefs and core values dictate your inward-love. This is the love that you will ultimately share with the world. A person who still suffers from an addiction and does not seek help, places his love ones SECOND to his drug of choice. In fact he or she places themselves second to a temporary solution.

WHERE WE WENT WRONG WITH THE GOLDEN RULE

'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' Matthew 22:39. This is a statement that Jesus made. On the surface this sounds incomplete and rather whimsical. However we will now see that there were more to this scripture then is widely known. Let us examine the FULL paragraph.

³⁷Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. ³⁸This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (American KJV)

Rule No 1: Love God with all of your heart... As mentioned, everyone has a god ruling their moral and core values. Your god dictates the quality and quantity of love you offer yourself and others. My God offers life and wants me to love and respect you. And that includes all of your network My God acknowledges your individualism and your social network. Can money or any addiction offer the same.

Rule No 2: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. Is the love you have for yourself up to par with Gods? Are you placing your love ones second to a crutch that cannot provide permanent love?

I wont stop loving. I have been contracted by Him!

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