ainism “One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.” Mahavira, Sutrakritanga

Judaism “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.” Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a

Taoism “Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss.” T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218

Isn’t it amazing that so many religious traditions, all from different places and hi

"Every religion emphasizes human improvement, love, respect for others, sharing other people's suffering. On these lines every religion had more or less the same viewpoint and the same goal." The Dalai Lama

“If we take the world’s enduring religions at their best, we discover the distilled wisdom of the human race.” Huston Smith

The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book "Finding Your Religion," compares humanity’s innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative summit where we hope to encounter the divine. We just take different paths to get there.

In other words, even though the “packaging” may be different, the major religious traditions of the world have more in common than one might realize at first glance. For as the Dalai Lama noted, they share many of the same core values.

For instance, most Christians are familiar with the “Golden Rule,” from the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31 – “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”

But Christianity isn’t the only religion to profess this teaching. Notice how similarly it is expressed in other religions:

Baha'i Faith “Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself.” Baha'u'llah, Gleanings

Buddhism “Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18

Confucianism “One phrase sums up the basis of all good conduct, “loving kindness.” Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.” Confucius, Analects 15.23

Hinduism “This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.” Mahabharata 5:1517

Islam “Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.” The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith

Jainism “One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.” Mahavira, Sutrakritanga

Judaism “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.” Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a

Taoism “Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss.” T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218

Isn’t it amazing that so many religious traditions, all from different places and his

his view we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative summit where we hope to encounter the divine. We just take different paths to get there.

In other words, even though the “packaging” may be different, the major religious traditions of the world have more in common than one might realize at first glance. For as the Dalai Lama noted, they share many of the same core values.

For instance, most Christians are familiar with the “Golden Rule,” from the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31 – “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”

But Christianity isn’t the only religion to profess this teaching. Notice how similarly it is expressed in other religions:

Baha'i Faith “Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself.” Baha'u'llah, Gleanings

Buddhism “Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18

Confucianism “One phrase sums up the basis of all good conduct, “loving kindness.” Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.” Confucius, Analects 15.23

Hinduism “This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.” Mahabharata 5:1517

Islam “Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.” The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith

Jainism “One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.” Mahavira, Sutrakritanga

Judaism “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.” Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a

Taoism “Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss.” T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218

Isn’t it amazing that so many religious traditions, all from different places and hi

nd Luke 6:31 – “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”

But Christianity isn’t the only religion to profess this teaching. Notice how similarly it is expressed in other religions:

Baha'i Faith “Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself.” Baha'u'llah, Gleanings

Buddhism “Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.” The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18

Confucianism “One phrase sums up the basis of all good conduct, “loving kindness.” Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.” Confucius, Analects 15.23

Hinduism “This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.” Mahabharata 5:1517

Islam “Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.” The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith

Jainism “One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.” Mahavira, Sutrakritanga

Judaism “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.” Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a

Taoism “Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss.” T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218

Isn’t it amazing that so many religious traditions, all from different places and hi

would find hurtful.” The Buddha, Udana-Varga 5.18

Confucianism “One phrase sums up the basis of all good conduct, “loving kindness.” Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.” Confucius, Analects 15.23

Hinduism “This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.” Mahabharata 5:1517

Islam “Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.” The Prophet Muhammad, Hadith

Jainism “One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.” Mahavira, Sutrakritanga

Judaism “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.” Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a

Taoism “Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss.” T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218

Isn’t it amazing that so many religious traditions, all from different places and hi

ainism “One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.” Mahavira, Sutrakritanga

Judaism “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.” Hillel, Talmud, Shabbath 31a

Taoism “Regard your neighbor's gain as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss.” T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218

Isn’t it amazing that so many religious traditions, all from different places and historical times, offer such a similar teaching? Whether one finds a path to God through Hinduism or Islam, Christianity or Baha’i, this foundational belief is the same – treat other people the same way you wish to be treated.

I can’t help but wonder how different the world would be if religious people realized that what we share in common is so vastly more important than the ways we differ. Because when we focus so much on our differences, we find ourselves divided, at odds with people who could easily be our friends and allies.

Think about some of the issues that divide us, and how many are based on religious perceptions. Whether it’s a local dispute about what books are appropriate for high school students to read, a national debate on legalizing gay marriage, or ongoing violence between different religious groups – the result is the same. We become polarized by our assumption that ours is the only valid truth, create a situation of “us vs. them,” and further alienate ourselves from one another.

The “Golden Rule” shared by so many other traditions doesn’t merely exhort us to kindly intentions toward people who are like us. It implies a universal application toward all others, including those of other religions, cultures, races, genders and sexual orientations, etc. And in order to practice this universal wisdom, we must take the risk of getting to know one another.

Perhaps a good place to begin is with the realization that ultimately we are much more like those we seek to know as neighbors than we realize!