"The Golden Rule or
the ethic of reciprocity is found in the scriptures of nearly every religion.
It is often regarded as the most concise and general principle of ethics. It
is a condensation in one principle of all longer lists of ordinances such as
the Decalogue.
Baha'i Faith - And if thine eyes be turned towards
justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself.
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf _, 30
Hindu Faith
- This is the sum of duty: do naught to others which if done to thee would cause
thee pain.
The Mahabharata
Jewish Faith
- What is hateful to you; do not to your fellow men. That is the entire Law;
all the rest is commentary.
The Talmud
Zoroastrian Faith
- Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others?
Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29
Buddhist Faith - Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.
Udana- Varga
Christian Faith
- All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even
so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
The Gospel of Matthew Matt 7: 12, Luke 6:31
Muslim Faith -
No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires
for himself.
Hadith
The golden rule, with roots in a wide range of world cultures, is well suited to be a standard to which different cultures could appeal in resolving conflicts. It is also a ready reminder of the efficacy and legitimacy of religions other than our own. As the world becomes more and more a single interacting global community and as Kiwanis becomes increasingly and intentionally a global organization, the need for awareness of such a common standard becomes more urgent.