The Golden Rule ACTUAL Origin
According to most atheist when asked about the need for morality, they simply say the social norms of the time is more than sufficient to provide anyone guidance to live morally and not hurt anyone else. Of course they fail to realize social norms of the Romans was widespread murder and bribery, much of which contributed to Rome's downfall. Or the Nazis where the social norm was to blame all others for your own problems which led to the wonderful morality of death camps that killed a total of 20 million people. Or the social norm of Socialist Russia that would see it as the social norm to suppress any dissenting views by killing 20+ million people.
So obviously we can see how well morality according to social norms works. This is precisely what happens when morality is not based on a set of rules or a moral code. So the only argument remaining at this point is to point to a moral code that is supposedly not from the Bible. The Golden Rule is the only candidate and information shows that the earliest appearance of the Golden rule was some obscure Egyptian poetry called the Tale of the Eloquent Peasant.
So obviously we can see how well morality according to social norms works. This is precisely what happens when morality is not based on a set of rules or a moral code. So the only argument remaining at this point is to point to a moral code that is supposedly not from the Bible. The Golden Rule is the only candidate and information shows that the earliest appearance of the Golden rule was some obscure Egyptian poetry called the Tale of the Eloquent Peasant.
While it dates back to 2000 BC, a careful examination of the text shows that none of the 3 translations, seen below, matches the Golden Rule's text of, "treat others as one would like others to treat oneself", even remotely.
So the Egyptian poetry of Tale of the Eloquent Peasant is not a match for the Golden Rule and can not be its source. Next on the list is the Hebrew Bible, better known as the Tanakh or the Old Testament in the Bible. Scholars date the completed Tanakh back to 700BC but in reality the verse itself is part of what is known as the Torah, the first 5 books of the Tanakh. Namely its the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers. This was written by Moses at Mount Sinai soon after Israel escaped from Pharoah through the Red Sea, of which we find Egyptian chariot wheels at the bottom of the Red Sea. The chariot wheels are the 4 and 8 spoke wheels, which places them squarely in 15th century BC (1480 BC).
Then to make sure you knew its source was from God, Jesus who claimed to be God himself, requotes the verse 1500 years later when asked what was the most important commandments of God. He summarized the last 6 commandments exactly the same way as God told Moses.
So they are correct that the Golden Rule's earliest origin does not come from Jesus in 30 AD. But it comes from the Torah which was dictated by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai in 1480 BC. So the original source is still the God of the Bible.
- Leviticus 19:18 (KJV) ...but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Then to make sure you knew its source was from God, Jesus who claimed to be God himself, requotes the verse 1500 years later when asked what was the most important commandments of God. He summarized the last 6 commandments exactly the same way as God told Moses.
- Luke 10:27 (KJV) And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God ...; and thy neighbour as thyself.
So they are correct that the Golden Rule's earliest origin does not come from Jesus in 30 AD. But it comes from the Torah which was dictated by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai in 1480 BC. So the original source is still the God of the Bible.
Evidence of Plagiarism
When we investigate all the later appearances of the Golden Rule in other cultures we find something extremely peculiar. History tells us the following:
So tracing the origin of the Golden Rule, in ALL its various forms, leads us straight back to the Jewish Bible and its Torah. Jewish tradition says the Torah was dictated word for word to Moses straight from the mouth of Yahweh himself. It was from the Torah's Leviticus 19:18, that all religions PLAGIARIZED their morality.
When we investigate all the later appearances of the Golden Rule in other cultures we find something extremely peculiar. History tells us the following:
- The Babylonians conquered and took Israel into captivity, marching them to the city of Babylon
- Babylon was conquered and taken over by Mede-Persia.
- Zoroastrianism came from the Persians who absorbed other religions into their belief system.
- Jews were sent back to rebuild Jerusalem but many still remained in Babylonia under Persian rule.
- Zoroastrianism teaches of a single all powerful creator god of the universe, angels, demons, and saviors.
- Hinduism and more importantly Buddhism were influenced by Zoroastrianism
- Buddhism influenced Confucianism which is where New Age thought comes from.
- Islam's quran plagiarized and twisted teachings from both Judaism and Christianity.
So tracing the origin of the Golden Rule, in ALL its various forms, leads us straight back to the Jewish Bible and its Torah. Jewish tradition says the Torah was dictated word for word to Moses straight from the mouth of Yahweh himself. It was from the Torah's Leviticus 19:18, that all religions PLAGIARIZED their morality.
Closing Thoughts
It would seem no matter how far man tries to remove God of the Bible from morality and common decency, we always are back full circle right back to the conclusion that the God of the Bible is the ONLY source of morality and goodness. Anything moral always boils down to a moral law, which invariably must come from a law giver. We've already seen what happens when morality is left up to the goodness of men, over 100 million dead. The Golden Rule itself points right back to God of the Bible. So why would this God give us such a law that is timeless? Simple the Bible shows this God (Yahweh) is a God of order, justice, and fairness. These are all the things decent humans yearn for but can't achieve because we are selfish and rather like to injury others due to our sadistic nature.
So what does this God want from humans? Unlike what many fear, it isn't hard and God doesn't want our money or need us to swear off all world possessions. Instead God seeks a relationship with us where He already loves us and only wants us to love Him enough to trust in the sacrafice of Jesus He sent to make us right with Him. Won't you do that today by praying this prayer and finding that Jesus who love you so much?
It would seem no matter how far man tries to remove God of the Bible from morality and common decency, we always are back full circle right back to the conclusion that the God of the Bible is the ONLY source of morality and goodness. Anything moral always boils down to a moral law, which invariably must come from a law giver. We've already seen what happens when morality is left up to the goodness of men, over 100 million dead. The Golden Rule itself points right back to God of the Bible. So why would this God give us such a law that is timeless? Simple the Bible shows this God (Yahweh) is a God of order, justice, and fairness. These are all the things decent humans yearn for but can't achieve because we are selfish and rather like to injury others due to our sadistic nature.
So what does this God want from humans? Unlike what many fear, it isn't hard and God doesn't want our money or need us to swear off all world possessions. Instead God seeks a relationship with us where He already loves us and only wants us to love Him enough to trust in the sacrafice of Jesus He sent to make us right with Him. Won't you do that today by praying this prayer and finding that Jesus who love you so much?
Dear Lord God. I know I am a sinner and need your gift of salvation from my sins. I BELIEVE IN JESUS, the Son of God, as my personal Savior. I believe that His death on the cross and resurrection provides forgiveness for ALL my sins past, present, & future. Please forgive all my sins and come into my heart and life. I hereby trust in Jesus FINISHED WORK alone, and NOT upon me & my "good works", as sufficient to make me right with you and fit for Heaven. Please forgive ALL my sins and come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Seal me with your Holy Spirit until the day you come to take me home. In your Son Jesus’ name. Amen.
|