| Golden Rule poster underlines common ethos of world’s major religions |
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So even though the Golden Rule poster has been
around for about a year, it has more resonance now
than ever. It makes its point elegantly and humbly, but
powerfully: Treat others the way you want to be
treated. Do unto others…Theologians call it the Ethic
of Reciprocity:
The nearly universal principle of not doing to others
what you wouldn’t want done to you. The simple yet
sage concept forms the moral underpinning of just
about every religion and faith system on the planet.
Some say it is the distillation of the Ten
Commandments, the heart of all faith, the nub of a
global ethic.
Forget the cynic’s version (“He who has the gold,
rules.”). Humanists and other non-believers, mean-
time, might look to George Bernard Shaw’s impish
take: “Do not do unto others as you would that they
should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.”
Maybe, but chances are their religions’ views of the
maxim are strikingly similar. Paul McKenna, a writer
and consultant in interfaith dialogue, took five years of
research to find analogues for the golden rule in 13
faiths for the colour poster, which was produced in
conjunction with Scarboro Missions, a leader in inter-
religious outreach.
“This has more power than a video or a lecture. It’s
just so simple,” says McKenna, who began exploring
the golden rule in the world’s faiths nearly 25 years
ago while leafing through a book on comparative
religion. “That triggered in me a commitment and
passion I never lost. I think this poster will really
move interfaith dialogue ahead because it both
symbolizes and inspires unity,”
It does that by showing that whatever divides religions
when it comes to a deity, other beliefs, practices or
dogma, there is near unanimity of opinion that every
individual should be treated with the same respect and
dignity we all seek for ourselves. Almost all faith and
ethical groups have passages in their scriptures or
writings that promote this ethos.
In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the granddaddy of
them all is in Leviticus: “…thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself.” But for the Christian entry,
McKenna chose instead to quote Jesus, who says in the
Book of Matthew: “In everything, do to others as you
would have them do to you; for this is the law and the
prophets.”
around for about a year, it has more resonance now
than ever. It makes its point elegantly and humbly, but
powerfully: Treat others the way you want to be
treated. Do unto others…Theologians call it the Ethic
of Reciprocity:
The nearly universal principle of not doing to others
what you wouldn’t want done to you. The simple yet
sage concept forms the moral underpinning of just
about every religion and faith system on the planet.
Some say it is the distillation of the Ten
Commandments, the heart of all faith, the nub of a
global ethic.
Forget the cynic’s version (“He who has the gold,
rules.”). Humanists and other non-believers, mean-
time, might look to George Bernard Shaw’s impish
take: “Do not do unto others as you would that they
should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.”
Maybe, but chances are their religions’ views of the
maxim are strikingly similar. Paul McKenna, a writer
and consultant in interfaith dialogue, took five years of
research to find analogues for the golden rule in 13
faiths for the colour poster, which was produced in
conjunction with Scarboro Missions, a leader in inter-
religious outreach.
“This has more power than a video or a lecture. It’s
just so simple,” says McKenna, who began exploring
the golden rule in the world’s faiths nearly 25 years
ago while leafing through a book on comparative
religion. “That triggered in me a commitment and
passion I never lost. I think this poster will really
move interfaith dialogue ahead because it both
symbolizes and inspires unity,”
It does that by showing that whatever divides religions
when it comes to a deity, other beliefs, practices or
dogma, there is near unanimity of opinion that every
individual should be treated with the same respect and
dignity we all seek for ourselves. Almost all faith and
ethical groups have passages in their scriptures or
writings that promote this ethos.
In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the granddaddy of
them all is in Leviticus: “…thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself.” But for the Christian entry,
McKenna chose instead to quote Jesus, who says in the
Book of Matthew: “In everything, do to others as you
would have them do to you; for this is the law and the
prophets.”
to teach the entire Torah while the questioner stands on
one foot. Unfazed, Hillel responds: “What is hateful to
you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole Torah;
all the rest is commentary.”
(There are other examples of the doctrine appearing in
negative form, employing “do not,” while some are
positive and proactive, using “do.” Scholars have
expounded heaps on this).
“Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others
what you wish for yourself,” states a hadith (saying) of
the Prophet Muhammad, while the Sikh holy text, the Sri
Guru Granth Sahib, declares: “I am a stranger to no one;
and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to
all.”
McKenna notes that the entry on Native spirituality
emphasizes reciprocity for the Earth, while the Jain
selection stresses respect for all non-human creations, in
keeping with the religion’s guiding philosophy of
complete non-violence.
The poster is being used in interfaith services, houses of
worship and as a teaching tool in elementary and high
school classes across Canada and the U.S. Teachers of
world religion courses have developed lesson plans.
A French version for francophone schools is in the works.
In addition to encouraging reflection on religious
diversity, it spurs thought on conflict resolution, social
justice, and personal behaviour.
And it bas already borne fruit.
An interfaith coalition that has come together around the
golden rule will be launched Thursday at City Council
chambers. The project, dubbed Connecting, calls on
people of faith to reach out to the marginalized – the
elderly, disabled, the homeless, the poor – through
informal contacts like the occasional chat over coffee or
simply introducing yourself.
The project “challenges people to reach out to those who
are hurting,” says McKenna.
“We have a resistance to the pain of others.”
Prior to the launch, an inter-religious service will feature
the poster being cut up into 13 pieces, and reassembled to
symbolize unity of purpose.
As McKenna notes, this is an ethical call to self-
transcendence; the age-old notion that there’s more to
life than ourselves.
one foot. Unfazed, Hillel responds: “What is hateful to
you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole Torah;
all the rest is commentary.”
(There are other examples of the doctrine appearing in
negative form, employing “do not,” while some are
positive and proactive, using “do.” Scholars have
expounded heaps on this).
“Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others
what you wish for yourself,” states a hadith (saying) of
the Prophet Muhammad, while the Sikh holy text, the Sri
Guru Granth Sahib, declares: “I am a stranger to no one;
and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to
all.”
McKenna notes that the entry on Native spirituality
emphasizes reciprocity for the Earth, while the Jain
selection stresses respect for all non-human creations, in
keeping with the religion’s guiding philosophy of
complete non-violence.
The poster is being used in interfaith services, houses of
worship and as a teaching tool in elementary and high
school classes across Canada and the U.S. Teachers of
world religion courses have developed lesson plans.
A French version for francophone schools is in the works.
In addition to encouraging reflection on religious
diversity, it spurs thought on conflict resolution, social
justice, and personal behaviour.
And it bas already borne fruit.
An interfaith coalition that has come together around the
golden rule will be launched Thursday at City Council
chambers. The project, dubbed Connecting, calls on
people of faith to reach out to the marginalized – the
elderly, disabled, the homeless, the poor – through
informal contacts like the occasional chat over coffee or
simply introducing yourself.
The project “challenges people to reach out to those who
are hurting,” says McKenna.
“We have a resistance to the pain of others.”
Prior to the launch, an inter-religious service will feature
the poster being cut up into 13 pieces, and reassembled to
symbolize unity of purpose.
As McKenna notes, this is an ethical call to self-
transcendence; the age-old notion that there’s more to
life than ourselves.
THE TORONTO STAR
Saturday, September 29, 2001
Saturday, September 29, 2001
*NOTE: Present location of the author and availability of the
poster was not pursued.
poster was not pursued.
BY RON CSILLAG
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Call it a candle in the darkness: A piece of heavy-stock paper, measuring just
over four square feet, that hopes to soften hearts and open eyes when they need it
most. For if ever there was a time for the world’s religions to open channels to
each other, this is it.
It took the Sept. 11 evil visited on the United States, and the chilling attacks on
innocent Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and others who didn’t “look” Christian, to bring
faith groups together in unprecedented numbers for interfaith memorial services,
where hands were joined and tears were shed and believers of all stripes saw they
have more in common than they may think.
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Call it a candle in the darkness: A piece of heavy-stock paper, measuring just
over four square feet, that hopes to soften hearts and open eyes when they need it
most. For if ever there was a time for the world’s religions to open channels to
each other, this is it.
It took the Sept. 11 evil visited on the United States, and the chilling attacks on
innocent Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and others who didn’t “look” Christian, to bring
faith groups together in unprecedented numbers for interfaith memorial services,
where hands were joined and tears were shed and believers of all stripes saw they
have more in common than they may think.
Ron Csillag is a Toronto writer specializing in religion. He can be
reached at [e-mail address].
The poster [was] available from Broughton’s Religious Books
and Gifts. [The current phone number & e-mail address was
listed.]*
reached at [e-mail address].
The poster [was] available from Broughton’s Religious Books
and Gifts. [The current phone number & e-mail address was
listed.]*
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