Reflections on Life and Faith,
by David Keating

A Universal Principle

July 8, 2006

By David Keating

     When I first began to study the philosophy of "Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You", I had a only a general sense of the universal nature of what has come to be known as the "Golden Rule." I didn't know that it appears in virtually every faith tradition in the world. Nor did I realize that it can be identified as a foundational principle in our moral and legal codes.

     When we talk about mutual respect, we're talking about the Golden Rule. When we talk about caring for the environment, we're talking about the Golden Rule. And when we talk about equity and justice for everyone, we're talking about the Golden Rule.

     In fact, when we look at just about any aspect of our lives, we can trace our understanding of what's "better" to the Golden Rule. Jesus, when asked to name the most important commandment, replied "Love God, and do unto others what you would have them do unto you. Everything else hangs on this."

     In the Qur'an, Mohammed's followers are told "Not one of you truly believes until he wishes for others what he wishes for himself."

     Rabbi Hillel, a contemporary of Jesus, was asked to explain the Torah in one sentence. He said "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole Torah. Everything else is commentary." Which is not to say it isn't important, but it follows from this defining statement.

     Hinduism, one of the world's oldest faiths, puts it this way: "This is the sum of duty. Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you."

     At the turn of the last century, there was what amounted to a Golden Rule movement in North America. Then, as now, the Golden Rule was quoted in the news, was the subject of scholarly study, and formed the basis of any number of sermons.

     The popularity of the Golden Rule helped to motivate the organization of the first Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in 1893.

     At the turn of this century, we're once again hearing the Golden Rule discussed as the universal principle that underlies all of our faiths; a common thread running through our hopes and dreams for a better world.

     One of the main differences between the movements of a hundred years ago and today is the reality of global communication. Mussie Hailu, an Ethiopian peace activist and proponent of the Golden Rule, is an advisor to the Golden Rule website. A century ago it would have taken months for us to exchange ideas. Today, we communicate easily and immediately through the Internet or by phone.

     Does that make any difference to the growth of a new Golden Rule movement? I believe that it does.

     For the first time in history, we are witnesses, in real time, to triumph and tragedy on a global scale. We can even watch it on our cell phones.

     We can see as never before that we are one humanity on one planet; that we are inextricably, as Martin Luther King Jr. said, bound together in a web of mutuality.

     We also have higher expectations of life than we did a century ago. Theologies centred on sacrifice and suffering are being replaced by belief in justice and compassion. In a time of global crisis, we are beginning to call for global transformation.

     And at a level that is more intuitive than intellectual, we know that the first step in that transformation is the universal principle identified by the founders of all of our faiths.

     Treat others as you would have others treat you.

David Keating