The Report of Miracles Wrought
Buddha – Crossed the river Ganges instantly without a boat. Appearing and disappearing inexplicably. Healed a sick woman simply by a look. Converted an unbeliever by preaching and by miracle. Fed 500 disciples without previous supplies.
Zoroaster – Performed no miracles in the earliest documents, the Gathas. But many prodigies are reported later, in connection with his birth, his infancy; his curing of diseases, counteraction of wolves and other noxious creatures, liberating of rain, confining of hail, spiders, locusts, and other terrors.
Jesus – While many of the reported miracles in the Bible may be paralleled from the sacred scriptures of other religions, no other historic person in the world has ever been reported to have arisen shortly after his death and burial, and to have continued his customary influence upon his disciples as in the case of Jesus.
Mohammed – Repeatedly disclaimed miracle-working power.
The Principle of the “Golden Rule”
This teaching concerning the proper method of dealing with other people has been approximated as a summary rule of right conduct in eight different systems of religion and philosophy:
Hinduism – “Do naught to others which, if done to thee, Would cause thee pain: this is the sum of duty.” – Mahabharata, 5:1517.
Buddhism – “A clansman minister to his friends and familiars,….by treating them as he treats himself.” – Sigalovada Sutta, 31.
“Is this deed conducive to my own harm, or to others’ harm, or to that of both?” Then is this a bad deed, entailing suffering. Such a deed must thou surely not do.” – Majjhima Nikaya, 1:415.
Confucianism – “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do others.” – Analects, 15:23; also 5:11; 12:2.
Taoism – “Recompense injury with kindness.”
“To those who are good to me, Iam good; and to those who are not good to me, I am also good. And thus all get to be good. To those who are sincere with me, I am sincere; and to those who are not sincere with me, I am also sincere. And thus all get to be sincere.”
Zoroastrianism – “Whatever thou dost not approve for thyself, do not approve for any one else. When thou hast acted in this manner, thou act righteous.”
“That nature only is good when it shall not do unto another whatever is not good for its own self.”
“When a good man is beaten through malice, the effort of every one….should continue just as though it happened to himself.”
Judaism – “Take heed to thyself, my child, in all thy works; and be discreet in all thy behavior. And what thou thyself hatest, do to no man.” – Tobit, 4:14-15.
“Whatsoever thou wouldest that men should not do unto thee, do not do that to them.” – Babylonian Shabbath, 31a.
Greek Philosophy – “Do not do to others what you would not wish to suffer yourself.” – Socrates.
“Treat your friends as you would want them to treat you.”- Aristotle.
“Do not do what any one is vexed to suffer.”- Philo.
Christianity – “All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them.” – Matthew.
“As ye would that men should do to you, do ye alsoto them likewise.” – Luke.
Islam –– “Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; But turn away from the ignorant.” – Surah Al-Araf, 7:199.
“”O my son! establish regular prayer, enjoin what is just, and forbid what is wrong: and bear with patient constancy whatever betide thee; for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs.”
– Surah Luqman, 31:17.
“Twice will they be given their reward, for that they have persevered, that they avert Evil with Good, and that they spend (in charity) out of what We have given them.” – Surah Al-Qasas, 28:54.
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