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One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated - Jainism .... Do unto others as you would have them do unto you - Christianity .... None of you truly believes until you want for others what you want for yourself - Islam .... Treat not others in ways you yourself would find hurtful - Buddhism .... What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbour - Judaism ....
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The Web of Life

January 31, 2007

Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth. We did not weave the web of life, we are merely a strand of it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves...  - Chief Seattle 1786 - 1866

 What a wonderful statement! It evokes the wisdom of native peoples and their intimate connection to the Earth. However …

did you know that Seattle never said it? It was actually written into a screenplay in 1972. The speech in which it was supposedly said wasn't published until thirty years after Seattle spoke at a government treaty ceremony, and even that material is widely accepted to have been fabricated.

 I mention this not to take anything away from a truly insightful statement but to point out how easily myth crosses over into the realm of accepted truth. If it can happen to a statement that is less than fifty years, what then of some of our most ancient and cherished beliefs?

 Rather than cling steadfastly to divisive and isolating dogmas, would we not be better served to indeed consider ourselves but a strand in the incredibly diverse web of life?   

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