“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.“
Matthew 7:12
When someone makes a discovery of something, the first person gets credited with such a discovery. That’s how it works with Science and patented inventions. The same can also be applied to anyone who authors a book. If you read something that sounds quite similar to a previous work, people think the material might be plagiarized. We live in a world that needs papers and figures to prove legitimacy. Apparently, according to one humanist article, credit cannot be given to the origin of the Golden rule on the basis of seniority.
If the original poster is right with her assertion that “The Golden Rule cannot be claimed for any one philosophy or religion,” let’s put it to the test simply by taking a look at the dates she conveniently cited for the readers. We must look for the first source known to have come up with the concept (think seniority here). Interestingly, the writer of the article did not bother to objectively arrange it in its proper chronological order. I tweaked the screen shot with the numbered order and underlined #1 for emphasis. I give her credit even though it must have made the author uncomfortable it was done in a way to obscure the truth by her deliberately putting what was meant to be at the top second to last. However, I find it interesting how number 1 and number 11 are arranged next to each other as they actually coalesce since the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament, showing the fulfillment of the Law.
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
Matthew 5:17-18
If we are to go by seniority, clearly, the God of the Bible should be credited as the origin of the Golden Rule.
People cry foul when they do not get recognized and given credit they deem to be rightfully theirs be it in Books, Music, technological inventions etc. Let’s be consistent, shall we?
We are to give credit where it is due. Apart from God, there is no such thing as Morality.
It’s older than that. As long as humans have been cooperating in social groups toward a common goal, they have been abiding by something akin to The Golden Rule. I’m sure as we discover more and more ancient scrolls of papyrus or unearth more ancient carvings of granite, we will continue to find older and older examples of this empathy-like human principle.
“I’m sure as we discover more and more ancient scrolls of papyrus or unearth more ancient carvings of granite, we will continue to find older and older examples of this empathy-like human principle.”
My refutation on her assertion was based on what was provided on her article. What you said will remain as an assertion. Get back to me in the event that you do “unearth more ancient carvings of granite” proving your point.
I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment.
Thank-you for your response, and great blog by the way. If I come across any ancient carvings I will let you know, but they may have already been discovered. There are many cuneiform tablets that still need to be translated into English. Maybe the answer will be there if the small group of people that can actually decipher these things ever get around to it.
The poster of the article you refuted did leave one Golden Rule story (The Story of The Eloquent Peasant) off her list. I believe this story pre-dates the Leviticus tale by a few hundred years, and it says, “Do for the doer to cause him to do.”
Thanks for pointing that out to me. I have made up my mind on Morality, very closeminded and “sheepish” I know, but I am content with that.
“Maybe the answer will be there if the small group of people that can actually decipher these things ever get around to it.”
This maybe… It isn’t certain and it is not good enough to topple my conviction.
Left to ourselves, what we get is the steady trajectory to moral decline which is what we see at work in our society.
You might need to contact the admin on that site to enlighten her with your addition.
You don’t seem closedminded or sheep-like at all. Thanks for conversing with me today, and best of luck on life’s journey.
Awww! Thank you for your kind remark. ヅ
Same to you bro and I appreciate you for stopping by!