Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Ice Player
Please. That is absurd. Its a general philosophy of behavior to be applied between individuals. Its an ideal we should all be trying to get to. It doesn't preclude justice. I'm no longer practicing the religion I was raised in, but I will say this: Jesus was right, pretty much about everything.
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The golden rule was "invented" by Ancient civilisations, Confucius put a "golden" stamp on it. It's philosophy. It's a guideline. It is not meant to be this unattainable ideal, but rather a thought process.
Like every philosophical idea there are exceptions. What do you do with bad people? Do you treat them with kindness and grace and avoid punishing them for their slights against humanity? Of course not.
This is of course an exception to the rule. The ethics of reciprocity are not meant to protect those who do not abide by moral goodness, but rather those of an equal standing. I would not strike a friend, nor a stranger, for I would not like to be struck by either. But if I was struck without provocation, I would certainly strike back. The golden rule is heavily adapted from "an eye for an eye" philosophy based out of early Mediterranean cultures.
Here's an interesting read on the Golden Rule:
http://www.law.virginia.edu/pdf/work...08/duxbury.pdf
In this sense, the golden rule does not apply. Religion falsely teaches that it is ever reaching, which lends many religions to be contradictory. Almost every religion preaches "the golden rule," but last I checked, gays weren't all that popular with Catholics for quite some time. Love they neighbour, but oh, wait, just love some neighbours until society evolves to a point where you're encouraged to love the other ones too.
Not sure why you went with "Jesus was right" though, it's not like it was his rule. The idea predates Jesus by a large margin. But hey, if Jesus is almost always right, he also said this: "for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword."
You live by the sword, you die by the sword. Phelps lived a life of disrespect and hate, and there's no moral law that disputes the return on his investment.