In Beyond the Golden Rule: A Jewish Perspective on Dialogue and Diversity Rabbi David A. Kunin guestions whether the Golden Rule is an intregal part of the morality of all religions.
Of this issue Rabbi Kunin said,
“Of interreligious conferences that I have attended in Europe and the United States, peace and social justice, topics that fostered general agreement, were the dominant themes. The Golden Rule, (do unto others as you would have others do unto you) which was seen as the root of all positive religious messages, was often highlighted as an ethic that united Jews, Muslims, and Christians. It was rare at that time...for Eastern religion to be represented at events. These conferences aimed...in creating a united sense of vision and mission for religion in the late twentieth century.
“Yet, after several years of interfaith work, I began to realize that I knew as little about Christianity and Islam (not to mention Buddhism, Sikhism and Hinduism) as I had before I began. All I knew was that we shared the Golden Rule, and a united vision to end poverty and war. Was this the sum total of religion; are we really all the same, with just a few unimportant particularities, or are the particularities important? Are they in actuality the essences that define us?”
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