The great religions of the world and many philosophers share thinking about respect and love. This column discusses the Golden Rule, the law of mercy, the avoidance of scapegoating and the implementation of higher love.

Generally, the highest being or gods deserve and demand our love, primarily. However, many faiths unite that right behind this first command is a second, summarized as to love one’s neighbor as one loves oneself. This law of universal love is different from romantic love. It is a higher love that teaches many things. Among its aspects is the related notion that one should do to others as one would want them to do to oneself. Stated negatively, it includes the idea that one should not do to others what one wouldn’t want others to do to oneself.

It begins to sound like a word game or logic problem. But don’t go there. These simple laws and commands capture human nature and its possibilities well. They’re possibilities of respect and love transcending all aspects or the accidents of ourselves and our existence.

When one thinks of mercy, of treating those in need as they need it, in........

© The Korea Times