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

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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).

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