(March 12, 2015 at 7:59 pm)coolfunkDJ Wrote:(March 12, 2015 at 7:56 pm)Brian37 Wrote: Actually I have a friend who has said he doesn't like the "Golden Rule". He likes the intent of it but thinks it should be
"Do not do to others what you would not want done to you".
Not "Do onto others as you would want done to you".
Actually I think it is nether and both, because life is case by case and messy and imperfect and even both of these are subject to point of view.
I think all humans evolved with a sense of empathy and at the same time a sense of wanting to protect themselves. I find cliches a horrible way to guide ones life.
Interesting spin on things, I think that the bible has some principles right on how to life live, but just executes them in the worst way imaginable...
Cherry pick any religion in the world and certainly you can find kind words and kind depictions in all of them. Unfortunately most humans cant see that it should tell them that their actions do not come form a book or a religion, their actions are evolutionary.
Our species ability to be cruel or compassionate is in our evolution, not our labels. I don't even like it when atheists treat the word "atheist" as if it is a moral code.
"Atheist" merely means "off" on god claims. It is not a religion. It is not a political party, it is not a loyalty oath. I know of atheists who like Ayn Rand's "fuck you I got mine" economic views which republicans and libertarians like as well. I know other atheists who want to rid the world of the private sector and think Che which lead to Cuba is a cure for humanity, and I am no fan of that either.
Our behavior is in our evolution, not in the labels we assign ourselves or others. I think the more we look at individuals and put the bitching and labels on the back burner, the more peaceful the world will be. There is no such thing as a utopia on any issue. There is no class utopia, no race utopia, no political utopia, or religious utopia. There are just humans who group.
Our common problems like poverty and pollution and disease and education and economic stability should be important worldwide. Our differences will not go away, but things like blasphemy or getting offended are childish compared to what our constant fighting as a species will do to us.
