Are we our brother's keeper ?

How do other religions answer this question?

I guess this depends on what the statemnet means...

I could imply a prisoner-jailer relationship.

I could imply the golden rule.

It's rather vague isn't it?

DC

Fair enough, DC. I'll rephrase.

Do we have a positive responsibility to look after our fellow man ?

Should it be considered immoral to ignore another's suffering ?

Should this question be here ? This looks more like a moral issue.
Back to the topic, it would depends on what kind of suffering we are talking here. Is it self imposed ? Is his suffering due to an act he has committed ? Or is he suffering for lack of something. I feel that we don't have to have a positive responsiblity to look after our fellow man except when I feel that he/she needed the help or am approached.

Some excerpts from the Tao:

"What is a good man but a bad man's teacher?
What is a bad man but a good man's job?"

"She is good to people who are good. She is also good to people who are not good. This is true goodness. She trust people who are trustworthy. She also trusts people who aren't trustworty. This is true trust."

ohwilleke

Remind me not to hire someone who believes this as my investment banker.

Can you be more specific?

Do you mean Tao Te Ching? If so please state which translation and verse.

DC

Certainly.... I am, indeed, referring to the Tao Te Ching. It is a translation by Stephen Mitchell. The verses I mentioned are 27 and 49, respectively. Hope that helps.

I cannot find any translation which comes close to that.

I think Mr Mitchell took some liberties.

Other translators don't even aproach 27 in the form of a question.

Legge's translation seems to better fit what the most translator's describe:

27:

DC

Certainly you may read whichever translation appeals to you the most. This is the one I prefer. Incidentally, I find several translations that are similar in nature to that of Stephen Mitchell; Stan Rosenthal, Peter Merel, Charles Muller, Chad Hansen, and even Aleister Crowley.

And one other that forms it in a question... that of J. H. McDonald.


[This message has been edited by katlynnhow (edited May 09, 2001).]