Comments on: Thoughts from a (my) father

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:43:14 +0000

Thanks for your comments, Bruce. I didn’t mean to insult you or anyone else. I admire and love your kids and they prove your point. What I intended to mean was that religion has been the original historical source for teaching empathy and other virtues. I was wrong to say it is the “only” power – the Golden Rule is not only a religious truth but an ethical and moral philosophy truth.
Your point about oxytocin is interesting – I didn’t know that, but it makes sense. Many of our behaviours are genetically programmed and also modified by our environment. Not all are ‘good’ behaviours (most babies are selfish) and you’re right we have a duty to teach our kids to develop their positive virtues. I don’t believe our genes are our destiny.
Baha’u'llah said “Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.”
We can all keep learning.

By: Bruce C.

Bruce C. — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:38:43 +0000

Brian,

I absolutely agree with you that empathy is an important virtue that should be taught to our children. However, by stating that religion is the only power proven to implant that virtue, you shut yourself off from considering other points of view and insult many good people who have gone to great trouble to instill this virtue in their children. Not very empathetic of you.

You’ve also chosen to ignore the science. A person’s empathy towards others rises in direct proportion to the level of oxytocin in their brain. Ocytocin is produced naturally during sexual arousal and childbirth. It is also produced when one views images of someone else in distress.*

Empathy is crucial to the survival of our species, and we are very much genetically programmed to be empathetic. This does not relieve loving parents from their duty to teach their kids of it’s importance. If one chooses to use religion to help with that, fine, but it is certainly not necessary.

*”Ocytocin Increases Generosity In Humans” – Paul Zak et al, published in the November 2007 issue of PLoS ONE

By: Saleem

Saleem — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:09:57 +0000

I would draw our attention to the fact that in these golden rules, listed in the graphic, we actually see a progression. Not only the phrasing changes (and this could be an accident of many languages and translations) but the emphasis changes.

The straight equity of the classic golden rule changes by the time we reach the Bahá’í version, where desiring for our brother that which we desire for ourselves is supplanted by actually preferring our brothers to ourselves. From equity to sacrifice.