with_the_golden_rule :..S e e d S.:...o f...:.L i g h T..: With the Golden_rule even a slave is free. enabled with this tool, you're master of your destiny. do_unto_others As_you_would_have_others_do_unto_you If before you never could just try to see what it can do. As kx21 has posted this elsewhere, I place it here because I find it very fascinating that ever major and minor branch of theology seems to grow from the same tree. All living things obey they pattern_of_fruition. These are the fruits of religion: Baha'i: "Desire not for anyone the things that ye would not desire for yourselves." Baha Ulla LXVI Buddhism: "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18 Christianity: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." Matthew 7:12 Confucianism: "Do not unto others what you would not have them do unto you." Analects 15:23 Hinduism: "Never do to others what would pain thyself." Panchatantra 111.104 Islam: "Do unto all people as you would they should do unto you, and reject for others what you would reject for yourself." Mishkat-el-Masabih Jainism: "In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self." Lord Mahavira, 6th Century BC Judaism: "What is hateful to you do not to your neighbour. That is the entire law.." Talmud, Shabbat 314 Native American: "Respect for all life is the foundation." The Great Law of Peace Sikhism: "Treat others as thou would be treated thyself." Adi Granth Taoism: "Regard your neighbour's gain as your own gain and your neighbours loss as your own loss." T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien Unitarian: "We affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and the interdependent web of all existence..." Zoroanastrianism: "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself." Dadistan-I-Dinik, 94:5 (Taken from Vocation For Justice: Autumn 1998 Volume 12 No 010731 Just as an apple differs from a pinecone, they both serve identical functions as devices that enable reproduction, a continuation of life. 010806 ... :..S e e d S.:...o f...:.L i g h T..: However, I should point out that when God opened the Doorway_to_heaven through His son, Jesus the Christ, He closed ALL other doors. All other branches were cut off. Although it may still seem like there are multiple options, don't be decieved. Jesus is the only way. 040807 ... anne-girl there are two golden rules the positive do as you would have done unto and the negative do not do as you would not have done unto you I like the first one better - it just might be perfect 040807 ... andru235 there are many_ways. the_golden_rule is probably the closest thing there is to a "universal_way". jesus_is_a_megalomaniac, and is NOT the only way. there are many ways. few things are more absurd than the idea of a god who: a) is a man in a "holiest_union" with two other men (holy spirit and jesus) but who hates gay guys; and b) creates things in an endless diversity (no two snowflakes alike; identical_twins with minute-but-inevitable differences) yet expects from them homogenized pledges_of_allegiance don't get me wrong - i love absurdity. but monotheism's demands of mono-minded obedience is an elaborate and verbose perversion (1,000 pg+) of the_golden_rule, at best. don't let that stop you from scaring other people about their afterlives, of course. if that is what you'd have done unto you, then go for it. deities have no need of the petty shortcomings of men (jealousy, wrath, and vengeance being among them); neither gods nor goddesses, hermaphrodeities nor deITies. WITH_THE_GOLDEN_RULE there is no need for fear, nor fear_mongering. transcend! 051117 ... TROUBLESUM kids, always use the golden rule before a golden shower. word from the wise 051117 what's it to you? who go blather from