From India:
Do not give your attention to what others do or fail to do, give it to what you do or fail to do.
-- The Dhammapada --
Eknath Easwaran: editor and translator
From China:
When you see a worthy person,
endeavor to emulate him.
When you see an unworthy person,
then examine your inner self.
-- Confucius --
From Israel:
3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
The Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 7
Several very short and simple suggestions.
Do you think, all quibbling aside, that, if people really began to think about and act upon these simple suggestions, it would change the daily headlines in some way?
It'd change the headlines of the celebrity gossip papers and tv shows, that's for sure.They'd have to shut down. Talk radio would be done for, too.
ReplyDeleteCheryl,
ReplyDeleteI wonder what would happen if religious authorities in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam began following those rules.
Fred,
ReplyDeleteEven as a Christian, that's something I think about too. Don't forget that not every person who calls themselves a Christian, Jew, Muslim, etc. really is one. Sometimes people take that name, but don't commit their lives to it. I know in Christianity there's alot about humility and "dying to self" (mentioned in the gospels and epistles) that doesn't get talked about even in church sermons. You hit the nail on the head when you said the religious authorities needed to follow these rules. They need to make them a priority in their places of worship, teaching their congregants to do so. It's not an easy path to take, but I don't think any of these religions ever promised an "easy path" in the first place.
Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteNo, none of the religions ever promised it would be easy. I think the religious authorities are more to blame than those in the congregation, for they claim to have special knowledge and a special relationship with their God, so they should set an example of what a "good" Christian, Jew, or Moslem should be.