The Golden Rule: A Global Ethic for a Better World

…what would happen if instead of focusing on divisions and differences, we built instead starting on shared ground. Do not do unto others what we would not want to have done to ourselves. It is as simple as that. Do we want to be oppressed? No? Good, then do not oppress others. Do we want to be treated equally? Yes? Wonderful, then treat others equal to ourselves. Do we want to be free to live our lives and pursue happiness? Yes? Awesome! Then allow others that freedom, too. (The Gospel of Joy, Winter Solstice Edition)

Although it may be most well-known among Christians as a teaching of Jesus, The Golden Rule, also known as the “Ethic of Reciprocity,” is found in a multitude of religions, ethical systems, cultures, secular philosophies, and is easily described as a Universal Ethical Principle, the golden thread and uniting morality that underlies the diversity of humanity and our seemingly disparate belief systems.

Scarboro Missions, a Canadian Roman Catholic Mission Society who dedicate themselves to the person, teaching and mission of Jesus Christ as expressed in his words: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10), succinctly demonstrate the uniting force of The Golden Rule in educational programs and workshops available for all to use in the Good Work of fostering a better, more just, and peaceful world for all of us.

The importance of The Golden Rule as a guiding light for our morality and ethics was discussed by American President Willard Fillmore (1800-1874) in his First Annual Address, “We should act toward other nations as we wish them to act toward us.” And, later, mentioned as a principle to hold the American government accountable, as spoken by President Teddy Roosevelt in the New Nationalism Speech in 1910, “I should be heartily ashamed of any American who did not try to make the American government act as justly toward the other nations in international relations as he himself would act toward any individual in private relations.” Now, there were those who called President Roosevelt a radical, a socialist, and even a communist for his vision, yet when we look at The Golden Rule in it’s pure essence, the truth for a better world emerges—regardless of societal or cultural “labels” anyone attaches to a person or period of time in a nation’s history.

Thus, it was fitting that at the 1993 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, hundreds of representatives from the world’s religions, including the 14th Dalai Lama, signed the initial declaration Towards a Global Ethic, which includes The Golden Rule. A Universal Ethical Principle within our religions and wisdom traditions, spoken of in philosophies, and even in mathematics (The Golden Ratio), and the thread unites with common ground for morality and ethical actions in our world, for more humane treatment of all human beings and a world of non-violence, peace and justice, truthfulness and equal rights and partnership. And, thus, the question that persists is:

For thousands of years, these moral codes for behavior found in The Golden Rule have run throughout the nations across all of the lands and oceans of the Earth. “And people still can’t get along with each other?” I questioned... “What does that say about us?” (The Gospel of Joy, Solstice Edition)