The Opaque Rule
Several times over the last few years, I have been told that the Golden Rule is outdated and that it fails to accurately address the complicated needs of modern people.
I have been told, primarily by a series of speech teachers that the Golden Rule is insufficient because it tells people to “do to others as you would have them do to you. They claim that this is poor advice due to the wide range of desires and wants that people have. For example, if a man wants a new fishing pole he might follow the Rule and get a fishing pole for his mother-in-law. This would be a totally inappropriate gift.
They say that we need to update the Rule to a new more progressive model; the Opaque Rule. The Opaque Rule asserts that people should do to others as they would do to themselves. Supposedly, this enlightened strategy will allow individuals to correctly identify the needs of those around them and respond fittingly.
I think this approach is a load of garbage. The Opaque Rule is fundamentally flawed in a way that the Golden Rule is not. If a person was suicidal and really desired death, according to the Opaque rule, the correct response would be to kill the person. The same idea applies in cases of drug addiction, anti-social behavior, unhealthy eating habits and many similar scenarios. When you examine the Opaque Rule with a critical eye it quickly becomes apparent that it is defective.
On the other hand, a closer inspection of the Golden Rule reveals that it is quite solid. At least it is if you are not deliberately taking it out of context in an attempt to discredit Christian teaching. The original intent of the Golden Rule, is not to blindly give others what you want. Instead, it is to consider their situation and react in a way that would fit your desires if you were in their place. To revisit our previous example, if you were to consider the needs of your mother-in-law , you would have realized that in her place you would not want a sports item useful only for a pastime which you do not enjoy. Alternatively, you would see that in her place you might want a box of chocolates, or some garden tools.
It should be apparent to the unbiased scholar that the outdated, inappropriate ideal is not the Golden Rule but rather the Opaque.
5 Comments:
Good thinking. It is weird how "postmodern" and wishy-washy our culture is getting. In the end it just leads to everyone doing what they think is "right in their own eyes". A sad place to be for a culture of decadance like our own. I hope God brings our culture back to its senses soon...back to truth, light and integrity not "opaque rules"!
Since we still live in a quasi-capitalist society, "Whoever has the gold makes the rules" still can apply. The real Golden Rule still works too.
Another way of looking at it (this reinforces your point, not corrects it).
The golden rule means treat others as you would have them treat you. i.e. be kind to your mother-in-law since you would like her to be kind to you.
Don't lie to, betray, cheat or hurt others as you would not have them lie to, betray, cheat or hurt you. It's really quite simple.
But for those who would insist on the letter of the law ("I want a new dress therefore I will buy one for my brother") things like logic are irrelevant.
Hey, you have a great blog here! I'm definitely going to bookmark you!
I have a christmas gift site/blog. It pretty much covers gift ideas for christmas related stuff.
Come and check it out if you get time :-)
Great Blog! I also have a site about dark chocolate kit kat
. You can check it out at dark chocolate kit kat
Also, as a thank you for visiting my site, I'd like to tell you about a great site that is giving away a FREE DVD Camcorder! Just click the following link and enter your Zipcode to see if the promotion is available in your area!
FREE DVD Camcorder
Post a Comment
<< Home