"The Book" - I want to write this WITH YOU AND NOTEPD AS CO-AUTHORS
I want to make a book that looks at all the inspirational passages in the Bible and shows how these ideas run through every major religion and philosophy. I'll give some examples below.
Here's the thing, I want YOU /NotePD, to be a co-author and I'll list everyone on the first page who contributes to this.
Contribute passages from the Bible, or for any passage, show some other philosophy that has a similar passage.
Contribute concepts (examples below). They can overlap with other concepts. It doesn't matter.
When possible, give historical contexts and sources for quotes. Quotes can be from everyone but should have some philosophical basis. For instance, I quote Jesus and Buddha but also Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Both made serious studies of religions and philosophies and combined them in interesting ways (Kareem was both a Muslim, an advocate of Yoga, and a student of the martial arts).
You can contribute by witing in the coments, making your own lists and tagging me so I see, or asking me to be a contributor on this list and I will add you.
The first idea below is a bit of an example:
(note: I'm serious about this. Will make a book. Any proceeds (if there are any, can be donated as per vote by all co-authors).
HELP ME! I've been wanting to write this book all my life.
Here's the thing, I want YOU /NotePD, to be a co-author and I'll list everyone on the first page who contributes to this.
Contribute passages from the Bible, or for any passage, show some other philosophy that has a similar passage.
Contribute concepts (examples below). They can overlap with other concepts. It doesn't matter.
When possible, give historical contexts and sources for quotes. Quotes can be from everyone but should have some philosophical basis. For instance, I quote Jesus and Buddha but also Bruce Lee and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Both made serious studies of religions and philosophies and combined them in interesting ways (Kareem was both a Muslim, an advocate of Yoga, and a student of the martial arts).
You can contribute by witing in the coments, making your own lists and tagging me so I see, or asking me to be a contributor on this list and I will add you.
The first idea below is a bit of an example:
(note: I'm serious about this. Will make a book. Any proceeds (if there are any, can be donated as per vote by all co-authors).
HELP ME! I've been wanting to write this book all my life.
1. "Do unto others"....
Matthew 7:12 - "So in everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27 - "...Love your neighbor as yourself..."
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From Judaism: Rabbi Hillel sums up the philosophy of the Torah:
""What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbor; that is the whole Torah"
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Confucianism:
A Confucius maxim:
""Do not do to others what you would not want others to do to you." "
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I would have examples from at least Christianity , Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and anything else (Taoism, Confucius, Stoicism or any philsophy, and on and on. No limits).
Also, there would be commentary.
For instance, Jesus is the only one in the example above who says, "Do unto" whereas everyone says, "Do not". The commentary would be more indepth than that but can highlight the differences between the different religions or philosophies and would offer different perspectives on why things were said the way they were.
For instance, in the Old Testament (Judaism), in Levitcus it says, "Leviticus 19:18 - “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.""
So it starts with then negative ("Do not seek revenge") before saying "love your neighbor as yourself".
In Old Testament times (1500BC to 300BC) "an eye for an eye" was a more prevailing philosophy among peoples. The phrase "love your neighbor", while a general phrase is used here to dissuade people from living with hate.
But Jesus is "proactive" and mentions the love your neighbor without first saying "don't seek revenge".
Which leads to...
2. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth".
BUT..it's also a starting off point for philosophies of how hate should not rule, but love instead. So the passage is not taken literally by later philosophies (no eyes should be cut out, for instance).
As civiliazation developed past 1776 BC (note: Moses was around 1500BC), social feuds and vendettas, were gains the idea of an organized large society. So all future laws discouraged taken this literally.
JUDAISM
In Judaism, which treated this line as advice for a law for its citizens, it was not the description of mandatory pubishment but advice on "maximum" punishment and not more.
Judaism interpreted this more as "all men are equal" and should be punished equally without regard to social status:
"You are to have one law for the alien and the citizen."
In a sense, this was the first social justice law.
CHRISTIANITY:
From the Sermon of the Mount
"You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."
There are many interpretations of this. One interpretation is, "leave the guilty party for God's wrath". And, again, this demonstrates that the law is really a demonstration that all people are to be treated equally under the eyes of human law.
CORETTA SCOTT KING: ""\The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everyone blind."
ISLAM: The Koran has a slightly different take which is to also "do good for good".
"O you who have believed, prescribed for you is legal retribution (Qisas) for those murdered – the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But whoever overlooks from his brother anything, then there should be a suitable follow-up and payment to him with good conduct. This is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy. But whoever transgresses after that will have a painful punishment.
3. Anger
" My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
JUDAISM: Anger will cause a sage to lose his wisdom, a person who is destined for greatness to forfeit it.
BUDDHA: "“He who holds back rising anger like a rolling chariot, him I call a real driver; other people are but holding the reins."
STOICISM: Epictetus (a former slave) states: ""Anything or anyone capable of angering you becomes your master."
LAO TZU: "A good soldier is not violent.
A good fighter is not angry.
A good winner is not vengeful.
A good employer is humble.
This is known as the Virtue of not striving.
This is known as the ability to deal with others.
This, since ancient times, has been known
as the ultimate unity with heaven."
ISLAM: From the Koran:
On another occasion the Prophet asked his companions, “Do you know who the strong person is?” His companions replied, “The one who is able to wrestle others down.” The Prophet responded, “No, it is the one who is able to control their anger.”
BRUCE LEE (Jeet Kune Do philosophy): A quick anger will make a man a fool soon enough.
NOTE: In the final book I would explain these more and put them in context whenever possible.
For instance, why did Mohammed say that in the Koran? What was happening? Why did Epictetus say this? Was he speaking about his former owners?
What's the historical as well as personal contexts (when possible).
Was Lao Tzu advising a leader? Or was it a personal guidance? etc.
4. ANXIETY
JUDAISM: (Joshua): "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
TAOISM: "If you try to change it, you will ruin it. Try to hold it, and you will lose it."
STOICISM: “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” - Seneca
ADVAITA VEDANTA (sort of a sect of Hinduism): “Each pleasure is wrapped in pain. You soon discover that you cannot have one without the other … Real happiness is not vulnerable, because it does not depend on circumstances … Real happiness flows from within.” - Nisargadatta Maharaj
KAREEM ABDUL JABBAR: "“You have to be able to center yourself, to let all of your emotions go. Don’t ever forget that you play with your soul as well as your body"
and so on.
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