Website owner:  James Miller

Principles for living: an underlying principle

   Reason, Sense, Wisdom speak for the prudence of living in peace 
   and harmony with your neighbor.  If one takes as a basic 
   starting premise the assumption that it is important for one to 
   live in peace and harmony with your neighbor then note that 
   many of the principles for living follow directly from this 
   assumption.  The importance of doing unto others as you would 
   have them do unto you; of treating them with respect, 
   consideration and kindness; of politeness in dealing with them; 
   of dealing fairly and justly with them; of not wronging them; 
   of avoiding anger, argument, strife, malice, hatred, 
   covetousness, envy, jealousy and sexual immorality; of honesty 
   and truthfulness; of humility and meekness; of unselfishness; 
   of forgiveness.  All these follow directly.  Thus the 
   importance of living in peace and harmony with your neighbor 
   can be taken as a sort of underlying principle, supporting and 
   giving reason for all the others.  Why are the various types of 
   sin or spiritual error wrong?  They are wrong because they are 
   against the basic, underlying principle of living in peace and 
   harmony with your neighbor. 

   Oct 2004