What is the golden rule?

Question

What does it mean to "Do unto others as you would do unto yourself"? This is because that I see Conservatives, no matter how religious they are, as hypocrites. Maybe that's why I'm a liberal (if not a little socialist) in my beliefs. Does this Golden Rule really apply to today? It seems to me that everyone is greedy and has forgotten their neighbor? Am I wrong?

No matter what you do in life. You're going to have to step over a few people. Why even try to follow the golden rule?

Answer 1

No! You are not wrong at all. Liberals have set in motion some wonderful programs to help the unfortunate. Those out of work, disabled ect.
Conservatives however, are under the impression, that they are the only ones called upon to pay for these programs. and they screetch louder than anyone, about being called upon to help pay for them.
Well, my hard earned dollars, go toward these sound programs, too, and I don't resent paying it at all. I enjoy helping my fellow man.
But that is the difference between myself and neo cons. they do mind. """ I pay my own way, and I am proud of it. and I used to walk to school in five feet of snow, too, blah, blah, blah.'''
Pure selfish attitude. Well, I am happy that YOU can afford to pay for your own medical insurance, and can work to pay for everything that you want to have.
But there are people out here, who have been injured on the job, or their workplace has been downsized, or they are elderly, or any other number of legitimate.reasons and, they have no choice but to except, help for a little while.
I am glad, that liberals are mainly responsible, for the programs that make it possible, that they have this to fall back on.
So YES! The Golden Rule is very important, today, and it will be important tomorrow, as well.

And I'll lay you odds, any day of the week, that they are right there, first in line, should ''they ''need, the services.
Because, after all,,, their hard earned money, pays for everything, remember.
And your last statement? Neo cons will step over the guy laying on the side walk, because, they don't want to 'see ' him. whereas, us liberals will help him up, take him home, feed, shelter him, until he can do it on his own.

Answer 2

I believe Jesus said this. Love your neighbor as yourself. On the topic of hypocracy if I litter your yard with garbage and you correct me before I catch you littering the streets, I am a hypocrite when I catch you littering but that doesn't strip me of my moral authority to give you notice. After all I am reformed and though still not perfect I can give you the heads up on littering. ANYBODY can be caught at hypocracy, not only conservatives, but liberals too. Don't confuse your beliefs with the belief in a mixed economy where government and the private sector work together. I think that is where most people sit on the spectrum. I am an independent conservative because I think party politics and ideology SEPARATES people who would otherwise be friends. While I think socialism killed many more people world wide than conservatism in the 20th and 21st century, (yes Naziism is a form of socialism. It is a combination of two words National Socialism. Take the NA from national and the SO from socialism then you have NASO. Translate to German and you have NAZI. NA ZI. Don't forget the communists.
I think the golden rule is independent of these two ideologies. For example Joe Lieberman, an independent liberal, endorsed John McCain, a conservative, for president. They are friends who practise the golden rule with each other. To generalize and say that EVERYONE is greedy and has forgotten their neighbor opens you up to people who would find exceptions to this generalization. I had some Christmas lights stolen as did my neighbors on either side of me. I was the first to discover it and I gave both of them the heads up on it. Since I have practised the golden rule here I am the exception to your generalization since my neighbors both have different heritages and ideologies than do I. I think you are not totally wrong but you definitely are not totally right in your line of thinking. By the way I agree with you that many conservatives who are religious are hypocrites.

Answer 3

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", is just to think of others before yourself. Yes it does still apply today, though you are right. Many people have indeed forgotten their neighbor and are greedy. This is human nature, but people can control it. If they did, this would be a whole different story. If people are Christians(myself included), when they do not follow the Golden Rule, and are purposely doing so w/o regard for others, they are not true Christians.

Hope I have been a help to you

Answer 4

The golden rule is actually "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." What it is means is treat others the way you want to be treated.

I think you are generalizing about everyone being greedy and forgetting their neighbors. The United States of America is the most generous nation in the world, per capita. And ironically, political conservatives and conservative Christians in the United States give more time and money to charities than any other groups.

Answer 5

Chronologically,
1) Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
2) Do unto others BEFORE they do unto you.
3) He who hordes the gold makes the rules.

The new wave of "conservatives" are just opportunists. They try to ride Ronald Reagan's coat tails, but they are not Ronald Reagan.

Just as Tony Blair was no Winston Churchill. Just as Hillary Clinton is no Margaret Thatcher. Just as Barack Obama is no Nelson Mandela.

They're all fakers and pretenders.

The better rule for our era is Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.

Does that mean socialism aka Marxism works? Marxism only has two problems. 1) It doesn't work in theory, and 2) it doesn't work in practice.

Answer 6

I do believe in the golden rule. It's just another way of saying that "what goes around, comes around." Karma.

I find that being a good and kind person in my life makes me happier, and somehow, good things come to me when I don't expect them. Kind strangers, nice surprises, etc.

And I see miserable people, who always have the worst luck, and I am sure that the bad energy they put out is the same bad energy that comes back on them.

It's worth it to be pleasant, and to help others whenever you can. It makes life so much better and more liveable... if that's a word.

Answer 7

It works if people loved themselves, because it is then easy to give love back. Benjamin Franklin once quoted, "To love, love and be lovable." Every time I see that "golden rule", I think of Benjamin Franklin's quote. Love is where you have to be first. In the United Nations building, Norman Rockwell's huge painting with that quote is in there. I would agree with you that many are greedy and have forgotten their neighbor. But not everyone is lost.

Answer 8

It sounds like you're not asking a question, you're making a statement. But I think the golden rule will always apply, it's a great guide, people of course don't follow it, but there's as many liberals in that boat as their are conservatives.

Answer 9

Do unto others has been replaced by "I can do anything I want, because Jesus will take on the punishment for me."

You are so right... we went from the Original "turn the other cheek" to "preemptive strike" and no one seems to notice. Thanks for noticing the difference.

The law Jesus spoke of in the Original Kingdom Gospel has been replaced by the Pauline blood for sin gospel. This resource explains what happened.

Answer 10

A master of himself, The Christ, The Buddha, others, chooses only love in every circumstance. Try that and see for yourself.

Add: For the benefit of your everlasting growth. You have more than one life, just not in the same body. Apply this wisdom and you too will understand the importance of choosing love in every circumstance no matter what it is.