Do we have the Golden Rule all wrong?

Question

We see this rule as treating people that way we want to be treated. Based of these verses below do you think we got it all wrong? Doest the golden rule really mean treat people they way they want to be treated?

Matthew 7:7 Jesus says:

Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Answer 1

Look at Matthew 7:12 "so in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this is the law and the prophets."

If we are talking about the difference between how I want to be treated and you want to be treated, then as long as I understand what it is you would like then I am following the law if I do that for you. Because if my preferences were different from yours and you understood that, you would be following the law if you treated me in a way that makes me happy.

For example if You like a certain band whom I can't stand, it would be nice if I bought you their CD for a gift even if I wouldn't want that gift from you. And you would be following the law if you gave me a gift that you yourself wouldn't want but you knew it would make me happy.
The bottom line is doing something nice for someone that they would enjoy, is following the golden rule because we all would want that in return.

Answer 2

I trust clicksqueek. The Golden Rule should be incorrect in some situations. The Diamond Rule (do unto others as they could have you ever do - i exploit this call because it fairly works o.k. for marriages and presents) is frequently more advantageous powerful in case your purpose is robust will or happiness. the placement with the golden rule is that it should be type of boastful to anticipate that others favor a similar issues that you want. in the absence of all different assistance, the golden rule should be the thanks to act in the route of others, yet there is virtually under no circumstances a scenario the position you do not have the different assistance about some different person... or the position you won't be able to acquire that assistance with somewhat artwork.

Answer 3

Yes, I think you are right about the limitations of the Golden Rule. However, it provides a useful everyday yardstick for thinking about how we should treat people.

The Silver Rule (Don't treat people the way you DON'T want to be treated) is even better than the Golden, but still suffers from the same limitation: the assumption that what I want (or don't want) is what you want (or don't). At its most simple the siver rule is "do no harm", and this is probably the best starting point for moral thinking.

An obvious example is thinking about the moral issues related to sexual orientation.

Answer 4

Hmmm, Chapter 5 of Matthew begins with the Beatitudes and goes from there outlining how we should live and continues through the to the end of chapter 7.
The golden rule is for how we would treat others. "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" vs. 12. Previously Jesus has talked about loving our enemies, giving to the needy, revenge, judging others, worrying, etc...when he gets to vs. 7 I think (and this is just my opinion) it is mostly for our relationship with God and trusting Him in life to provide and give us the good things we need, (For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28) I know I need this trust in God in order to follow the Golden Rule, if I didn't then it might be hard to treat others as we want to be treated if we weren't sure someone else (our Big God) was there to give us all we need.
Like over in 1 Corinthians 10:23 it talks about how "everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial" and that we should not seek our own good, but "the good of others".
I find I can love others better when I am full of love for God and know He is filling me with love for others.

Answer 5

Forget the Matthew passage. The golden rule is sound psychology, and valid without any religious basis. Bottom line: treat people the way you think that they would like to be treated, and you will make people happy. Which, to my way of thinking, is cool.

Answer 6

That, my friend, is not the Golden Rule.
In fact the Golden Rule does not appear anywhere in the bible. The Golden Rule seems to have been adopted from either other faiths or atheist behaviours from people around the Christians. The concepts behind that rule appear in most religions but it is never codified.

Answer 7

People don't always ask for or seek what it is they truly want. It is better to treat people how you would want to be treated then how they appear to want to be treated.

Answer 8

Um, isn't "do unto others" the basis of karma? Actually more dharma I guess - what goes around comes around, wheel of life and all that. No wait, that's a bunch of new-age hooey, I forgot.

Answer 9

why does the golden rule have to be based on the bible? it holds up very well on its own. the Bible isn't the only place you're allowed to get morality from you know.

Answer 10

I think the idea is to see yourself in your neighbor and him in you and to treat him accordingly, ie with respect and dignity. But we can have fun with semantics if you want.