A Kinder, Gentler World?

This is a fascinating topic and one that gives me hope for the world.



Stephen is vague about the role of religion in this. He dismisses the Bible a bit sarcastically as the "source of our morality" when decrying the ancient practices of total annihilation of enemies, and the use of the death penalty for so many crimes. At the same time, he suggests the "logic of the Golden Rule" as one possible reason for the growing ethic of peace.

For what it's worth, I think he's right in criticizing the ancient rules about genodide (though it no good archaeological evidence to show that the ancient Israelites ever took them literally enough to wage a genocidal war), and the use of the death penalty (though Rabbinic tradition asserts that death was only the punishment of last resort and was seldom used).

I'll agree with him that The Golden Rule is a huge step forward from the ethics of honor and revenge. Of course, Jesus is not the only person to formulate the rule, which is sometimes also referred to as the Ethic of Reciprocity but I think his version is the best known and most influential in the western world.

Does this show the ethics of Jesus slowly but surely chipping away at the violence and hatred of the world? I think it does, and you can bet I'm going to learn all that I can about this. In the meanwhile I'll just say, I'm very happy to learn that "Peace on Earth and goodwill to all people" is so much more than just a hopeful saying.