"In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law of the prophets". This saying from Jesus seems to be a constant rule throughout many religions. "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful" can be found in Buddhism, “Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself” can be found in Confucianism, "This is the sum of duty: do naught to others which if done to thee would cause thee pain" can be found in Hinduism, and "what is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary" can be found in the Jewish faith, specifically written in the Talmund. This concept of "treat others as you would like to be treated" is such a universal concept that it makes one wonder, why are there so many arguements that stem from religion? For example, gay marrage, a topic debated about by politicans, use God as a way to explain why marriage between a man and a woman is the only relationship that should be recognized by the public. "Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage. The outcome of this debate is important--and so is the way we conduct it. The same moral tradition that defines marriage also teaches that each individual has dignity and value in God's sight." This quote from our past President, George W Bush Jr., compares marriage between a man and a woman with the way God views people. In other words, those that are gay and want to get married hold no dignity and value in God's eyes. What happened to the Golden Rule here? Does "in everything do to others as you would have them do to you" not apply? The bible is based off of interpretation, people take what they want from it and fit those words in or around their own lives. The Golden Rule is one very all encompassing rule that can apply to everyone no matter their personal belief, race, sexual orientation, or political view, this saying is all about respect for one another and equality.
When entering the saying, "in everything do to others as you would have them do to you" into Google, the most frequent hits that come up are how many different religions the Golden Rule apply too. There are wall posts, comparative pages, humorous pages (11 Things the Bible Bans but You do Any Way) and obviously pages that explain where the quote comes from in the bible. It's amazing how many people recognize this one saying and how simple yet powerful it is. It is also important to note that over 21 religions recognize the Golden Rule in different words but similar meanings. If this concept is recognized throughout the world in all of the most practiced religions, then why are there so many controversies, and even war between groups of people who practice differently? People need to strip down belief and see each other as humans; we are all made of the same stuff, we are all born the same way and we all leave this earth when our hearts stop beating by decomposing into the ground. Whatever happens afterward is whatever one wants to believe. But the actual reality of the situation is the same for everyone from birth to death; so in the meantime, why not treat everyone as you would like to be treated?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
There Are No Chosen People
"For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession" (Deut 7:6). These words from Deuteronomy, a book found in the Hebrew bible, state very bluntly the Jews are Gods chosen people. An excerpt from the Ten Commandments states, "If you obey these rules and observe them carefully, the LORD your God will maintain faithfully for you the covenant that He made on oath with your fathers: He will favor you and bless you and multiply you..." After the Ten Commandments were given God spoke to Mosses and made another promise about the Jews being his favored people. The covenants between God and Abraham and God and Mosses are in direct relation to the idea that the Jews are Gods chosen people. God makes numerous "If than" statements that read something like "IF you follow these rules THAN you will continue to be my chosen people". When Mosses yelled, "Let my people go" it was God who spoke through him to the Pharaoh and it was God who split the sea and let it crash down on the Egyptians only to save His people, the Jews.
Michael Clayborn, author of the book, The Yiddish Policemen's Union, and an opinionist who writes for the New York Times, is a 21st century Jew. Clayborn rejects the idea of Jews being a chosen people. In his opinion article, Chosen, but not Special, Clayborn gives the impression that Jews are no more important than anyone else living throughout the world. He gives examples of his childhood during Passover, and how people around the dinner table would list intelligent Jews such as Albert Einstein and Meyer Lansky, and how the entire table, including himself would speak and tell stories of these special people. When he looks back on these moments however, as a child Clayborn would skip over the idea of bringing up any counter examples of not so intelligent Jews; which makes one wonder, how would the table discussion differ now as Clayborn has grown wiser? The idea here is not to praise or belittle Jews; the idea is to hold them equal to everyone else in the world through their "glory and fiasco, triumph and error, greatness and meanness, charity and crime" (Chosen, but Not Special).
I believe, like Clayborn, Jews are like everyone else in the world. I look at the Bible, and Hebrew Bible as a mix between a fictional and non fictional biography. If I were to write a fictional/nonfictional biography about myself, an autobiography if you will, I would include things of importance like where I came from, my struggles, triumphs, lessons I learned etc. I also may include a story about one specific thing (this is the nonfictional part of the story) that I can contribute my life and beliefs to. For example, I am a weary traveler who is on the verge of death in a dessert like surrounding. After months of walking I finally stumble upon a tree that bears fruit. I pick the fruit and eat until I'm full and hydrated. I take the seeds from the fruit I have eaten and plant more trees. I use the juice of the fruit to water the seeds and behold, after a week (for the sake of keeping the story short and proving my point) I end up with a forest. Soon, animals from all over (these animals are also lost in the desert) come and live in the forest too. This provides me with food, clothing, and in conjunction with the forest, shelter. Soon other people that are lost and wandering in the desert stumble upon the growing forest and they take part in what is now a growing community. So in conclusion, I would attribute the tree or fruit to be the "God" I would worship. I would also write down that this tree or fruit belongs to me and my people of the forest like the Jews belong to God. In my story I could also make the tree or fruit talk and give me directions on how to grow the forest.
Fruit: "If you eat me and plant my seed, than a forest will grow. Also, if you follow all of my directions than I will promise to take care of you, this will be the start of one of many covenants between us".
Me: "That sounds great, lets do this".
Anyone can write down words on a page but its the meaning and interpretation for each individual that give them value and make them sacred. There is no specific chosen race or religion or ethnicity, humans are the chosen people.
Michael Clayborn, author of the book, The Yiddish Policemen's Union, and an opinionist who writes for the New York Times, is a 21st century Jew. Clayborn rejects the idea of Jews being a chosen people. In his opinion article, Chosen, but not Special, Clayborn gives the impression that Jews are no more important than anyone else living throughout the world. He gives examples of his childhood during Passover, and how people around the dinner table would list intelligent Jews such as Albert Einstein and Meyer Lansky, and how the entire table, including himself would speak and tell stories of these special people. When he looks back on these moments however, as a child Clayborn would skip over the idea of bringing up any counter examples of not so intelligent Jews; which makes one wonder, how would the table discussion differ now as Clayborn has grown wiser? The idea here is not to praise or belittle Jews; the idea is to hold them equal to everyone else in the world through their "glory and fiasco, triumph and error, greatness and meanness, charity and crime" (Chosen, but Not Special).
I believe, like Clayborn, Jews are like everyone else in the world. I look at the Bible, and Hebrew Bible as a mix between a fictional and non fictional biography. If I were to write a fictional/nonfictional biography about myself, an autobiography if you will, I would include things of importance like where I came from, my struggles, triumphs, lessons I learned etc. I also may include a story about one specific thing (this is the nonfictional part of the story) that I can contribute my life and beliefs to. For example, I am a weary traveler who is on the verge of death in a dessert like surrounding. After months of walking I finally stumble upon a tree that bears fruit. I pick the fruit and eat until I'm full and hydrated. I take the seeds from the fruit I have eaten and plant more trees. I use the juice of the fruit to water the seeds and behold, after a week (for the sake of keeping the story short and proving my point) I end up with a forest. Soon, animals from all over (these animals are also lost in the desert) come and live in the forest too. This provides me with food, clothing, and in conjunction with the forest, shelter. Soon other people that are lost and wandering in the desert stumble upon the growing forest and they take part in what is now a growing community. So in conclusion, I would attribute the tree or fruit to be the "God" I would worship. I would also write down that this tree or fruit belongs to me and my people of the forest like the Jews belong to God. In my story I could also make the tree or fruit talk and give me directions on how to grow the forest.
Fruit: "If you eat me and plant my seed, than a forest will grow. Also, if you follow all of my directions than I will promise to take care of you, this will be the start of one of many covenants between us".
Me: "That sounds great, lets do this".
Anyone can write down words on a page but its the meaning and interpretation for each individual that give them value and make them sacred. There is no specific chosen race or religion or ethnicity, humans are the chosen people.
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