The Golden Rule as Evidence for Christianity[1]

Some claim that the major world religions teach the same moral values. In one sense, from a Christian perspective, they all (including secular and non-theistic philosophies) have knowledge of the fundamental moral principles. They possess this in virtue of their being created in God’s image with moral knowledge—knowledge that has been suppressed, corrupted, and distorted to varying degrees. Thus, on a Christian perspective, we would expect them to have some level of moral knowledge which they in fact have.

The expression “Do to others what you would want others to do to you” is an example. It is one of the most well-known ethical principles throughout time and across continents. Since the seventeenth century it has been called the Golden Rule (GR), ostensibly claiming supremacy among ethical principles.[2] While most Christians understand GR only as a principle in ethics and seldom consider its role in apologetics, GR can serve as strong evidence for the veracity of Christianity. It reveals further evidence of a moral law implying a Moral Law Maker.

From science to religion we have knowledge of GR, and although it has been variously represented across cultures and worldviews for millennia, not all worldviews can equally explain or account for it. Through analysis of representational statements of the rule from various worldviews, and reflection on how these worldviews account for the rule, followers of Christ can show that it is the Christian worldview that best explains or accounts for the Golden Rule.

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