Last week a federal appeals court reversed its ruling that a Ten Commandments monument must be removed from a city park in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. There have been several other cases arguing whether public ten commandment displays are a violation of the constitutional separation of church and state, or simply a reflection of our society's historic religious roots. While I don't have anything against the ten commandments, for the most part they are good advice, they are a bit focused on the worship of the Hebrew tribal god. Here is a list of ten rules I try to live my life by, that are of a more universal nature.
1. Do that which is right. It is up to each individual to determine what is right for him or herself as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others. -Universal Life Church
2. If it harms none, do as you will. -Wiccan Rede
3. Love your fellow man as you love yourself -Yeshua the Nazzarene
4. Do not unto others what you would not they should do unto you. -Confucious
5. No one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself -Islam
6. Do not unto others, which is done to thee, that would cause thee pain. -Hinduism
7. In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self. -Jainism
8. That nature only is good when it shall not do to another whatever is not good for itself. -Zoroastrianism
9. Love is the law, love under will. -Thelema
10. Be excellent to each other. -Bill & Ted
Peace,
Bill