The Golden Rule (cont. from Do you feel related to... )

[pianogeek_cz]

This issue has come up over here: https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,25206.0.html and I think it can make an interesting discussion which deserves its own thread (besides being off-topic to the original one).

First of all, the statement never says, that what you do to others will be done to you.  It doesn't mean eye for an eye, because it carries no threat of punishment.

Second of all, it's the Golden Rule, not the only rule.  You might say, well, if you want to die, this means you should kill other people.  But another rule says, don't kill.  There are obviously limitations on what you can do under this Golden Umbrella.

Walter Ramsey

It doesn't say that what you do unto others -will- be done to you. That's up to the others - it just opens the possibility that it will come to an eye for eye. (I said it justifies reciprocity, not requires... but yes, I should have pointed that out specifically.) What I wanted to point out is that it isn't necessarily a one-way street - once you do something, you should be ready that it could be done to you. What if they don't share some of your other rules? I think that this reciprocity makes the Golden Rule also something of a safety latch; even if you throw away all the other rules, it should make you think twice (or, a lot more than twice) about doing something wrong to other people, because you might get a pretty similar share of wrong rather soon.

(And, by the way, I -am- playing a bit of devil's advocate here.)

I admit that I intentionally pulled the statement out of context of the other statements (don't kill, etc.) - with the purpose to point out that it alone doesn't really say -that- much and you do need the other rules.

[pianistimo]

perhaps what you mean by out of context, too, is that perfection doesn't exist among humans.  we are all imperfect by nature.  stevie is pointing out the imperfections and saying 'aha.'  i am saying - true - but we at least do have the ability to control our impulses.  it's just that sometimes we don't.  that means that we need another safety 'latch.'  Jesus Christ.  otherwise - the first time we sinned - all would be lost.  humans being creatures of habit and not always using brains.

also, i believe the Holy Spirit pricks our conscience.  not many scientific textbooks dare get into conscience.  conscience provokes a sense of right and wrong.  i think that hammurabi's law was something previously invented (10 commandments) and not written yet - but established by God when he made the earth.  otherwise, how could he have known that the creation was 'good.'  had 'good' been established?  i think it was even when the angels were created.  and, they sang at the creation of the earth.  goodness, peace, joy, love.  against these there are no laws.  so the freedom that is the golden rule - isn't a rule anymore - because those that enjoy it don't consider it a 'rule.'  it's just a fact to them.

sin = law = death
righteousness = freedom = life