Golden Rule Sparked Formation of Interfaith Group

published in AzCentral

commentary

Golden Rule sparked formation of interfaith group

Anne Taylor

Special to The Republic

Challenges may be tugging at our hearts and overwhelming us but we can have hope that solutions are possible. Golden Rule Moments happen all the time and are powerful. We often don’t hear about them.

In 1995, this life principle, the Golden Rule, prompted the formation of a group of people from many different faith traditions, the Arizona Interfaith Movement, then called the Interfaith Action Coalition, to come together and work for the common good in our community. They realized that the Golden Rule of ‘treating others as they would like to be treated’ was a foundational principle within all of their faiths. They might have different words to express that principle, yet the powerful meaning remained. Many secular groups used the Golden Rule as an ethical principle for conduct.

Here are a few examples:

Buddhism – ‘Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.’ ~ Udana-Varga 5:18

Christianity – ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ ~ Jesus: The Bible, Luke 6:31

Confucianism – ‘Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you.’ ~Analects 15:23

Islam – ‘No one of you is a believer until you desire for another that which you desire for yourself.’ ~ Muhammad, The Sunnah (from the Hadith)

Judaism – ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ~ Leviticus 19:18

Dine (Navajo) – ‘Treat others as you’d like to be treated’

Since that time, some significant things have taken place:

May, 13, 2003 – Arizona became a Golden Rule State by an AZ Legislative Resolution, signed by then Secretary of State, Jan Brewer.

November 9, 2009 – Arizona obtained a state license plate that says, ‘Live the Golden Rule,’ so this ‘traveling billboard’ could be a reminder of kindness and civility in the face of road rage.

Golden Rule Cities, Apache Junction, Chandler, Flagstaff, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Mesa, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Surprise, and Tempe have passed their own resolutions that encourage their citizens to live by the Golden Rule. Not only has a resolution has occurred, but also a resolve by people in these cities to be more aware and have increased living of the Golden Rule. A recent example was a child riding his bike who was stopped by a police officer; he was obeying the traffic rules so well he got a coupon for a free ice cream from the officer.

More examples may be found on our website, www.azifm.org and Facebook @Azifm and Instagram @AZInterfaithMvt.

There’s a great song, ‘Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me…’ Imagine, if everyone based their motives and actions on ‘treating others as they’d like to be treated’, the news would dramatically change for the better. So, have a Golden Rule Moment! May each of us participate in living the Golden Rule more fully in our own lives and see its blessings ripple out to all mankind.

Anne Taylor is the business manager at Arizona Interfaith Movement.