Doesn't "The Golden Rule" predate Christianity?

Question

And doesn't it seem that the way it's used and preached in Christian Theology obliquely goes hand-in-hand with its fondness of undisputed submissiveness?

Answer 1

Ethics of reciprocity or "The Golden Rule" can be traced back to Buddhism, Baha'i Faith, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism and Taoism. The Christian version of the Golden rule may very well be the oldest.

Answer 2

Most of the other "Golden Rule" are made of silver.

Why?

Most are expressed as "Don't do to others that you don't want done to you".

Where as the Golden rule tells you to do to others as you wish to be treated.

Some have used a similar expression in a negative form: “Do not do to others what you would not like done to yourselves.” To show the difference between the Golden Rule and a negative form of it, consider Jesus’ parable of the neighborly Samaritan. A Jew was beaten and left half-dead along the road. A priest and a Levite saw him but passed him by. Because they did nothing to add to the man’s misery, it might be said that they acted according to a negative version of the Golden Rule. In contrast, a passing Samaritan stopped to help. He dressed the man’s wounds and took him to an inn. He did for the man what he would have wanted done for himself. He applied the Golden Rule—and made the right choice.—Luke 10:30-37.

There are many ways that we can apply this rule of conduct with happy results. Suppose a new family moves into your neighborhood. Why not take the initiative to meet and welcome its members? You might help them get familiar with the area as well as address their questions and needs. By taking the initiative in showing neighborly consideration, you will promote good relations with your new neighbors. You will also have the satisfaction of knowing that you did what is pleasing to God. Is that not a wise decision?

The idea of the Golden Rule, however, is by no means confined to the so-called Christian world. Judaism, Buddhism, and Greek philosophy all expounded this ethical maxim in one form or another. Well-known, especially to people in the Far East, is a statement by Confucius, who is venerated in the Orient as the greatest sage and teacher. In The Analects, the third of the Confucian Four Books, we find the thought expressed three times. Twice, in answer to queries from students, Confucius stated: “What you do not want done to you, do not do to others.” On another occasion, when his pupil Zigong boasted “What I do not want others to do to me, I also do not want to do to them,” the teacher responded with this sobering rejoinder, “Yes, but this you are not yet able to do.”

Answer 3

N O !

God's true religion, now known as Christianity, predates everything!

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Answer 4

REDEMPTIVE ANALOGY: God placed something in every culture to prepare and enable people groups to hear and understand the gospel.

http://guide.gospelcom.net/resources/red...

http://www.missionresources.com/redempti...

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What you believe does not alter the truth.  It's not coincidence that almost every culture has something that points to the gospel.  It's like with computers we buy; the manufacturer knows ahead of time that there will be upgrades and puts the necessary space for them LONG before they are produced.  It's not like God didn't have a clue that Jesus would eventually walk among men on Earth or that His life and ministry would change the entire world.  God prepared every nation, tongue and tribe to receive His precious gift.  Of course, many rejected the Gift--Christ.  Many still do.

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Tip:  Jesus also "predated" Christianity; He was a Jew.

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Answer 5

The golden rule was hijacked from previous cultures and adopted by christianity. It is not uniquely christian.

Answer 6

So many rules are golden.

Answer 7

Go through "TORA" - a COPY OF OLD TESTAMENT...

Answer 8

It predates Christianity by far.  Judaism had been teaching this for over a thousand years before Jesus was even born.  

Answer 9

to me all religions are just a way to tell why where here! and that through love without hurting anyone, we can be happy

happiness is just what we all want,

small difference in all religions but really just tells the same thing,

Answer 10

The Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," seems to be a moral code that transcends religions, but Christians do enjoy claiming it as their own and they think that doing so makes them good people.

The primary flaw with the Golden Rule is that it assumes that other people WANT to be treated the same way that YOU do.  This is where Christians make their most grievous errors.  Just because THEY want people to pray for them doesn't mean that OTHERS want people to pray for them.  I'm highly offended when they tell me they'll pray for me or they say "God bless" or any of their usual antics.  I neither NEED nor WANT their prayers or their blessings, yet they force them on me.

If they were TRULY good people, they would follow the Platinum Rule instead: "Do unto others as the others WANT DONE."  Stop treating me the way *YOU* want to be treated and start treating me the way *I* want to be treated.

By following the Golden Rule, they are often doing more harm than good.  If I followed the Golden Rule, I would kidnap and deprogram every one of them, because if I were ever brainwashed into believing in Christianity, that is PRECISELY what I would want someone to do for ME.

Answer 11

YES it is the BEST most sensible way to be

Anyone who would THUMB DOWN the "Golden Rule" which states Treat others according to your own sense of right/wrong........has to be a moron.

>>>The One who Knows........"how ironic"........you are OVER thinking it. It just means do what YOU KNOW is right don't be a HYPOCRITE about it.........you can not ask for MORE than that.................It is just a basic saying which means put yourself in the OTHERS place. Do NOT over-think it with all kinds of scenarios like..........well what if the person was CRAZY and wanted to be BEATEN on a daily basis,..does THAT mean that HE should BEAT others???<<<<<< OF course NOT but THAT is an obvious exception. You can come up with millions if you tried.......but THAT completely misses the point entirely. see?

Answer 12

Perhaps, but is the rest of the teaching true?

Answer 13

No....back then it was just the Bronze Rule.

Answer 14

Absolutely.  All it takes is common sense to discover the Golden Rule.  All of Jesus' "teachings" are nothing more than axioms that can be arrived at through common sense and not by reading any book.

Answer 15

We think it predates even humans.  Other primates have mores that match humans.  Don't steal, don't abuse people, don't take your friend's mate.

Answer 16

If you haven't realised it already - there is no moral prerogative given by Jesus that hadn't already been discovered or stated by Man. Thus, we can show that Jesus was nothing more than a man - that is, unless, you would concede that God has no greater wisdom than that which man can discover himself.