It is through Grace, the giving of Holy Spirit’s Nature of Love to and through us, that we become aware of the spiritual centrality of The Golden Rule that is proclaimed by many world religions. Jesus taught universal spiritual ethics rather than religion-specific dogmatic morality creeds.

The Golden Rule is taught in numerous world religions. Christianity: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.” Jesus, in Matthew 7:12. Confucianism: “do not do toothers what you would not like yourself.” Analects, 12:2. Buddhism: “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” Udana-Varga, 5,1. Hinduism: “This is the sum of duty; do naught to others what you would not have them do unto you.” Mahabharata, 5, 1517. Islam: “No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.” Sunnah. Judaism: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowmen. This is the entire law; all the rest is commentary.” Talmud, Shabbat 3id. Taoism: “Regard your neighbor’s gain as your gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss.” Tai Shang Kan Yin P’ien.

The problem is not that religions fail to proclaim The Golden Rule, but that religionists steeped in their narrow-minded religiosities fail to follow it. Faced with religionist extremisms around the world, many are turning to Spirituality rather than specific religions, and New Thought is “ahead of the curve.”

One can be Jesus-based without being dogma-exclusive. Jesus healed everybody, and his teachings were universal in scope. It is tragic that some religionists fail to see the ethics behind The Golden Rule. The practice of The Golden Rule precludes any actions that harm or hurt others, but it also would support minority rights within the context of The Golden Rule itself. Not all, but a disturbing number of religionists throughout American history have been on “the wrong side” of the slavery issue, the rights of indigenous Native Americans, the rights of women (even in basic democratic areas such as suffrage – the right to vote), labor rights supporting basic dignity and freedom from economic exploitation, the rights of minority religions such as Judaism or the Wiccans to practice their religions as long as no one is harmed by it, and yes, the contemporary rights of Gays and Lesbians to enter into same-gender Holy Unions (it doesn’t have to be called “marriage”) and to be protected from hate crimes and hate speech.

It is good that our own Divine Science Federation, endorses as a policy statement, including in the area of Ministerial Ordination, the following: “The Divine Science Federation International is an equal opportunity organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex or sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin, age or handicap.”

You may recall the restaurant commercial on the television where a lady drives up to buy a burger and hollers out: “WHERE’S THE BEEF?” In the midst of politicized religious extremisms and “culture war” conflicts in our society, we can be thankful for The Golden Rule. When faced with prejudices and hateful attitudes of discriminatory judgment, it is useful to “walk the talk” and honor the Jesus-based teachings, as we yell out: “Where’s The Golden Rule?”

Please feel free and welcome to contact Rev. Ousley with any questions, comments or prayer requests.