Leo Babauta compiled this list of tips for living the golden rule in daily life. Religion teaches the rule, but it’s so not about religion.

One of the few rules I try to live my life by, and fail every day trying, is the Golden Rule.

I love the simplicity of the Golden Rule, its tendency to make I interact with happier … and its tendency to make me happier as well.

It’s true: the rule of treating others as you would want to be treated in their place will ultimately lead to your own happiness.

Let’s say that you apply the Golden Rule in all of your interactions with other people, and you help your neighbors, you treat your family with kindness, you go the extra mile for your co-workers, you help a stranger in need.

Now, those actions will undoubtedly be good for the people you help and are kind to … but you’ll also notice a strange thing. People will treat you better too, certainly. Beyond that, though, you will find a growing satisfaction in yourself, a belief in yourself, a knowledge that you are a good person and a trust in yourself.

Those are not small dividends. They are huge. And for that reason — not even considering that our world will be a better place if more people live by this rule — I recommend you make the Golden Rule a focus of your actions, and try to live by it to the extent that you can.

I will admit that there are strong arguments against the Golden Rule, that there are exceptions and logic arguments that the Golden Rule, taken to extremes, falls apart. I’m not concerned about that stuff. The truth is, on a day-to-day basis, living by the Golden Rule will make you a better person, will make those around you happier, and will make the community you live in a better place.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some practical tips for living the Golden Rule in your daily life:

1. Practice empathy. Make it a habit to try to place yourself in the shoes of another person. Any person. Loved ones, co-workers, people you meet on the street. Really try to understand, to the extent that you can, what it is like to be them, what they are going through, and why they do what they do.

2. Practice compassion. Once you can understand another person, and feel what they’re going through, learn to want to end their suffering. And when you can, take even a small action to somehow ease their suffering in some way.

3. How would you want to be treated? The Golden Rule doesn’t really mean that you should treat someone else exactly as you’d want them to treat you … it means that you should try to imagine how they want to be treated, and do that. So when you put yourself in their shoes, ask yourself how you think they want to be treated. Ask yourself how you would want to be treated if you were in their situation. John F. Kennedy did that during the controversial days of de-segregation in the 1960s, asking white Americans to imagine being looked down upon and treated badly based only on the color of their skin. He asked them to imagine how they would want to be treated if they were in that situation, and act accordingly towards the blacks.

4. Be friendly. When in doubt, follow this tip. It’s usually safe to be friendly towards others. Of course, there are times when others just don’t want someone acting friendly towards them, and you should be sensitive to that. You should also be friendly within the bounds of appropriateness. But who doesn’t like to feel welcome and wanted?

5. Be helpful. This is probably one of the weaknesses of our society. Sure, there are many people who go out of their way to be helpful, and I applaud them. But in general there is a tendency to keep to yourself, and to ignore the problems of others. Don’t be blind to the needs and troubles of others. Look to help even before you’re asked.

6. Be courteous in traffic. Another weakness of our society. There are few times when we are as selfish as when we’re driving. We don’t want to give up the right of way, we cut people off, we honk and curse. Perhaps it’s the isolation of the automobile. We certainly don’t act that rude in person, most of the time. So try to be courteous in traffic.

7. Listen to others. Another weakness: we all want to talk, but very few of us want to listen. And yet, we all want to be listened to. So take the time to actually listen to another person, rather than just wait your turn to talk. It’ll also go a long way to helping you understand others.

8. Overcome prejudice. We all have our prejudices, whether it’s based on skin color, attractiveness, height, age, gender … it’s human nature, I guess. But try to see each person as an individual human being, with different backgrounds and needs and dreams. And try to see the commonalities between you and that person, despite your differences.

9. Stop criticism. We all have a tendency to criticize others, whether it’s people we know or people we see on television. However, ask yourself if you would like to be criticized in that person’s situation. The answer is almost always “no”. So hold back your criticism, and instead learn to interact with others in a positive way.

10. Don’t control others. It’s also rare that people want to be controlled. Trust me. So don’t do it. This is a difficult thing, especially if we are conditioned to control people. But when you get the urge to control, put yourself in that person’s shoes. You would want freedom and autonomy and trust, wouldn’t you? Give that to others then.

11. Be a child. The urge to control and criticize is especially strong when we are adults dealing with children. In some cases, it’s necessary, of course: you don’t want the child to hurt himself, for example. But in most cases, it’s not. Put yourself in the shoes of that child. Remember what it was like to be a child, and to be criticized and controlled. You probably didn’t like it. How would you want to be treated if you were that child?

12. Send yourself a reminder. Email yourself a daily reminder (use Google Calendar or memotome.com, for example) to live your life by the Golden Rule, so you don’t forget.

13. Tie a string to your finger. Or give yourself some other reminder throughout the day so that you don’t forget to follow the Golden Rule in all interactions with others. Perhaps a fake golden ring on your keychain? A tattoo?

14. Post it on your wall or make it your home page. The Golden Rule makes a great mantra, and a great poster.

15. Rise above retaliation. We have a tendency to strike back when we’re treated badly. This is natural. Resist that urge. The Golden Rule isn’t about retaliation. It’s about treating others well, despite how they treat you. Does that mean you should be a doormat? No … you have to assert your rights, of course, but you can do so in a way where you still treat others well and don’t strike back just because they treated you badly first. Remember Jesus’ wise (but difficult to follow) advice: turn the other cheek.

16. Be the change. Gandhi famously told us to be the change we want to see in the world. Well, we often think of that quote as applying to grand changes, such as poverty and racism and violence. Well, sure, it does apply to those things … but it also applies on a much smaller scale: to all the small interactions between people. Do you want people to treat each other with more compassion and kindness? Then let it start with you. Even if the world doesn’t change, at least you have.

17. Notice how it makes you feel. Notice how your actions affect others, especially when you start to treat them with kindness, compassion, respect, trust, love. But also notice the change in yourself. Do you feel better about yourself? Happier? More secure? More willing to trust others, now that you trust yourself? These changes come slowly and in small increments, but if you pay attention, you’ll see them.

18. Say a prayer. There is a prayer on the Golden Rule, attributed to Eusebius of Caesarea, that would be worth saying once a day. It includes the following lines, among others: “May I gain no victory that harms me or my opponent.
May I reconcile friends who are mad at each other.
May I, insofar as I can, give all necessary
help to my friends and to all who are in need.
May I never fail a friend in trouble.”

Earth Day is passed. You turned off unnecessary lights, picked up some trash on the road, and maybe even planted a tree. Now what?

Religious communities across the country are taking long-term, sustainable steps to help reduce global warming. Faith groups are greening their houses of worship and advocating for policies and lifestyles that protect the planet and its most vulnerable inhabitants, joining scientists, policymakers and environmental advocates as protectors of the earth. Here are 20 things these communities are doing to combat global warming.

Moral principles

• Providing a moral voice to the climate change crisis. Virtually every holy text has a mandate to protect the environment and help those in need. These moral imperatives call for strong action to address the climate change crisis as the globe continues to warm and more than 1 billion impoverished people in the United States and around the world become increasingly vulnerable to harsher climates.
• Pointing to religious teachers and spiritual figures for guidance. Guidelines for conscientious lifestyles come from spiritual thinkers as diverse as St. Augustine, Saint Francis of Assisi, Martin Luther, C. S. Lewis, the Prophet Muhammad, and the Dalai Lama; as well as spiritual concepts such as Judaic Kosher practices, Native American shamanism, and Buddhist reincarnation.

Worship day practices

• Building sustainable sanctuaries. Congregations are saving thousands of dollars and preventing tons of CO2 emissions from entering into the atmosphere by developing energy-efficient church buildings. Regional Interfaith Power and Light offices provide audit evaluations and recommendations to churches to green their buildings, from changing their light bulbs to installing solar photovoltaic generators.
• Making pulpit pledges. On Sunday, tens of thousands of American clergy linked their worship texts to environment care, many using the materials provided by the National Council of Churches Eco-Justice Working Group, “Celebrating and Caring for God’s Creation.” Thousands committed to the year-round Earth Day Network “Global Warming in the Pulpit Pledge” to preach and teach on global climate change as a moral issue.
• Gathering for eco-friendly holy dinners. Muslims from Washington, D.C. to Chicago gather for potlucks that encourage eco-conscious ways of living as an integral part of faith and a holistic world-view. They’ve created eco-halal and hosted green Iftar meals during Ramadan.
• Observing lo-watt Shabbat. Jewish families and communities find ways to conserve energy during the weekly Shabbat—a time to slow down and remember that everyone is part of the earth.
• Going green for Lent. Some Christians committed to helping reduce global warming by taking on a “carbon fast” and making other sacrifices to live more environmentally friendly as part of this year’s Lent observation.
• Using e-bulletins and eco-cups. Faith communities are conserving resources and reducing garbage when gathering for worship and fellowship – from putting out e-bulletins in place of paper ones to bringing ceramic coffee cups to church, using recycled and recyclable kitchenware, collecting for recycling materials, and composting as a community.

Local community services

• Greening low-income housing in Harlem. The Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement – a coalition of over 90 congregations – is constructing an 85-unit development that features a Green Grid Roofing system.
• Using green thumbs to grow greener foods. Congregations around the country are planting community gardens and gardens for correctional facilities, developing community-supported agriculture programs, and supporting local urban farming organizations for healthy, fresh, sustainable food sources.
• Making a home for all of Earth’s creatures. Churches from California to Idaho to North Carolina are restoring prairie lands and other wilderness areas, reintroducing a home for native wildlife on the church and community grounds. Earth Keepers, a coalition of 10 faiths and over 150 congregations across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, have joined together to protect the regional environment there.

National partnerships and advocacy

• Joining together across faith traditions. Religious leaders have joined together to create national, interfaith partnerships to advance environmental care (care for the earth and conscientious energy practices) and climate justice (assistance to communities move vulnerable to the effects of climate change).
• Joining with scientists to devise concrete actions. Faith groups attended the National Conference on Science, Policy, and the Environment as key partners in educating the public on the facts of climate change.
• Creating a youth movement. The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities Renewal Network mobilizes youth leaders to develop greener lifestyles and campaign for sustainable agriculture, environmental justice, and smart solutions to the climate change crisis.
• Demanding comprehensive and conscientious climate care legislation. United Church of Christ Director of Economic Justice and Environmental Justice John Hill testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee last month that, “the faith community supports strong and quick action to address the dangers of climate change while ensuring that solutions mitigate rather than compound economic injustices.”
• Petitioning the president and Congress for bold federal action. The national Interfaith Power and Light Action Center has generated thousands of letters petitioning for energy efficiency standards, fuel economy standards, green stimulus funding, and clean energy tax incentives.
• Committing to tread lightly and act boldly. Catholics are committing to the Catholic Climate Covenant, reducing their carbon emissions and aiding the poor who will feel the impact of climate change the most.
• Working to build the green collar economy. Faith-based advocacy partners in Michigan have joined with business, labor, and environmental organizations for the Green Today, Jobs Tomorrow conference put on by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

Global services

• Advocating for the world’s marginalized groups – the forests, animals, and ecosystems. Restoring Eden is a grassroots church and campus ministry that advocates for “the least of these” in the modern political arena and facilitates practical service projects that benefit the indigenous peoples that rely on health natural resources.
• Planting trees with purpose. Floresta is an international NGO that helps people in desperate environments find development opportunities that protect the land, sustain local economies, and build faith. They have planted over 4 million trees and made over 6,000 small business loans worldwide, helping more than 100,000 people in 234 villages lift themselves out of poverty.

This article is being published with permission of the Center for American Progress

What is creation?……A failure

What is life?……A bore

What is man?……A fraud

What is woman?……A fraud and a bore

What is beauty?……A deception

What is love?……A disease

What is marriage?……A mistake

What is a wife?……A trial

What is a child?……A nuisance

What is the devil?……A fable

What is good?……Hypocrisy

What is evil?……Detection

What is wisdom?……Selfishness

What is happiness?……A delusion

What is friendship?……Humbug

What is generosity?……Imbecility

What is money?……everything

What is everything……nothing

Were we, perhaps, not happier
when we were monkeys? -Edward Ward in The Scrap Book (1899)

sin (noun) – an offense against religious or moral law b: an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible

Generally speaking, sin is a relative term. Is it a sin to waste food? To some it is, to others it is not. If it is a sin, is it a mortal sin, a deadly sin, a venial sin, a major sin?

Religious speaking, sin is often times explicitly listed for the faithful to follow.

The Eight Sins of Evagrius Ponticus- Evagrius Ponticus was a 4th century monk who compiled the following list that would become a precursor to “The Seven Deadly Sins.

• Gluttony
• Fornication
• Avarice
• Dejection
• Anger
• Weariness
• Vainglory
• Pride

The Seven Deadly Sins- In the late 6th century, Pope Gregory the Great reduced the list to seven items, combining vainglory into pride, weariness into sadness, and adding envy.

• Lust
• Gluttony
• Greed
• Sloth
• Wrath
• Envy
• Pride

Seven modern mortal sins- In April of 2008, Vatican Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti announced a more modern update to the 7 deadly sins.

• polluting
• genetic engineering
• being obscenely rich
• drug dealing
• abortion
• pedophilia
• causing social injustice

Seven noxious things of Islam -According to Sahih Bukhari, a book of oral tradition of the life of the Prophet Muhammad, there are seven noxious sins that a Muslim must not commit. There is also a list of “70 major sins” compiled by scholars since the death of Muhammad.

• associating anything with Allah
• magic (Equivalent to Witchcraft and Sorcery in English)
• killing one whom Allah has declared inviolate without a just case
• consuming the property of an orphan
• devouring usury
• turning back when the army advances
• and slandering chaste women who are believers but indiscreet

Gandhi’s seven deadly sins- Mahatma Gandhi listed seven things that will destroy us. Notice the social and political slant of his list.

• Wealth without work
• Pleasure without conscience
• Knowledge without character
• Commerce without morality
• Science without humanity
• Religion without sacrifice
• Politics Without Principle

Buddhist Pañcasila- Sin is not recognized in Buddhism, instead there is a philosophy that good deeds produce good results and bad deed produce bad results.

• I undertake the rule to refrain from destroying living creatures.
• I undertake the rule to refrain from taking that which is not given.
• I undertake the rule to refrain from sexual misconduct.
• I undertake the rule to refrain from incorrect speech.
• I undertake the rule to refrain from intoxicants which lead to carelessness.

Nine Satanic Sins- Not to be outdone, Church of Satan founder Anton Szandor LaVey compiled this list in 1987 for his followers to refrain from.

• Stupidity
• Pretentiousness
• Solipsism
• Self-deceit
• Herd conformity
• Lack of perspective
• Forgetfulness of past orthodoxies
• Counterproductive pride
• Lack of aesthetics

Sometimes road rage can drive people to sin.

In June 2007, the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People offered the following ten “driving commandments.”

Catholics who wish to remain on the road to heaven would do well to keep these in mind.

1. you shall not kill
2. the road shall be a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm
3. courtesy, uprightness, and prudence will help you deal with unforeseeable events
4. be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents
5. cars shall not be an expression of power and domination, or an occasion of sin
6. charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so
7. support the families of accident victims
8. bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness
9. on the road, protect the more vulnerable party
10. feel responsible toward others

Mega-churches are big business, no question about it. But, how does one go about building a church with thousands of members? Here are tips straight from the pastors of the 10 largest mega-churches in America.

1. Tell Jokes
Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church (Houston Texas).
Average weekly attendance: 43,500*

2. Be extremely humble, or at least pretend to be
Ed Young Sr. of Second Baptist Church (Houston, Texas)
Average weekly attendance: 23,659

3. Use comic props
Andy Stanley of North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, Georgia)
Average weekly attendance: 22,557

4. Be pals with Bono
Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, Illinois)
Average weekly attendance: 22,500

5. Cohort with the devil
Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, Oklahoma)
Average weekly attendance: 20,823

6. Make it a rock concert
Charles Blake of West Angeles Church in Christ (Los Angeles, Caliornia)
Average weekly attendance: 20,000

7. Cartoons and rope swinging
Ed Young Jr. of Fellowship Church (Grapevine, Texas)
Average weekly attendance: 19,913

8. Be so sincere, it almost hurts
Rick Warren of Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, California)
Average weekly attendance: 19,414

9. Try to appeal to the youth
Bob Coy of Cavalry Chapel (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)
Average weekly attendance: 18,000

10. Add an “ah” syllable to every word for emphasis. i.e: God-ah, Jesus-ah
T.D. Jakes of The Potter’s House (Dallas, Texas)
Average weekly attendance: 17,000

*Attendence numbers according to Outreach Magazine’s 2008 list of the top 100 largest churches in America.

No other character, historical or mythical, has inspired as many movies as Jesus Christ has. Some are excellent (Ben Hur), some are mediocre (Nativity Story), some are terrible (The Greatest Story Ever Told), and some are just silly (Ultrachrist!).

The editors of Not About Religion have compiled a list of 30 of some of the more notable titles in the Jesus movie genre.

Life and Passion of Jesus Christ (1905) This silent film tells stories of Christ not as drama, but as a uniquely visual piece of art.

From the Manger to the Cross (1912) The first Biblical epic to be filmed in the Holy Land.

King of Kings (1927) During the filming, director Cecil B. Demille required all of his actors to sign legal documents preventing them from engaging in “sinful activity.”

Golgotha (1935) This is the first direct portrayal of Christ is a sound film.

The Robe (1953) A Roman tribune, assigned by Pilate to oversee the crucifixion, wins Jesus’ robe in a game of dice. The power of the robe turns the tribune into a true believer.

Ben Hur (1959) Stands out above the campy, awkward, Biblical-inspired epics coming out of Hollywood at the time.

King of Kings (1961) Robert Ryan is the best John the Baptist you’ll ever see.

The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964) Italian filmmaker Pasolini’s film is widely considered the masterpiece of the genre among critics.

The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) But not the greatest film ever made. Honestly, how could you cast John Wayne in a Biblical epic?

Godspell (1973) One of three Jesus themed musicals released in 1973, the film is set in New York city and featured Jesus in clown makeup.

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) Hippy Jesus musical with words and music by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The Gospel Road (1973) Johnny Cash vehicle shot in Israel. His wife June Carter is cast as Mary Magdalene.

The Messiah (1975) Roberto Rossellini’s subtle biopic downplays miracles and dramatic effects and emphasizes the brotherhood of men.

Jesus of Nazareth (1977) At six and a half hours, this made-for-TV miniseries explores the Gospels in unprecedented depth. Some call this the best Jesus film.

Life of Brian (1979) The Monty Python troupe asks the question: What if the three wise men visited the wrong manger? Hilarity ensues.

The Day Christ Died (1980) Jim Bishop’s minute-by-minute account of the fateful day is the basis for this TV movie.

Hail Mary (1985) This modern day parallel of the Jesus story was condemned by the Vatican. Reason enough to make this film a must-see.

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) Scorsese’s controversial adaptation of the novel, in which Jesus is very human and Judas is just following Christ’s orders.

Jesus of Montreal (1989) A satire set in modern day Quebec, the film follows five actors as they put on a controversial passion play which and finds the life of the groups leader mirroring that of Jesus whom he plays in the film.

The Book of Life (1998) In this satire, Jesus has been sent down to end the world by breaking the Seven Seals on a computer disk in a bowling alley locker room.

Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999) Tells the Gospel story through the eyes of Jesus’ mother Mary. Christian Bale, who plays Christ, reportedly had nightmares after working on the film each day.

The Miracle Maker (2000) This claymation feature length story of Jesus casts Ralph Fiennes in the title role.

Jesus (2000) CBS mini-series with Gary Oldman as a Pontius Pilot.

Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter (2001) Jesus returns for the second coming only to find the earth overrun by vampires. He teams up with a Mexican wrestler to make the world safe for judgment day. Oh, and it’s a musical!

Joshua (2002) What if Jesus returned to a small community in America? What would happen?

The Gospel of John (2003) The screenplay is a verbatim transcript of the Good News translation of this Gospel—with no words added or subtracted.

Ultrachrist! (2003) Jesus takes on the persona of a superhero in spandex; fights Jim Morrison, Dracula, Hitler, and Richard Nixon.

Passion of the Christ (2004) Mel Gibson’s gore-fest is both heralded as divine revelation and hated as anti-Semitic and historically inaccurate.

Son of Man (2005) Told as an African fable, it won Best feature at L.A. Pan African Film Festival.

Color of the Cross (2006) Featuring a black Jesus, asks was the crucifixion racially motivated?

Nativity story (2006) Faithful depiction of the Immaculate Conception and subsequent journey of Mary. There’s no crucifixion scene to ruin the happy ending.

The Bible is an important book, there’s no getting around it. Whether you are Jewish, Atheist, pagan, or Fundamentalist Christian, if you want to be an educated, cultured, informed, citizen of the world, you simply must know the basics of the Bible.

Those who don’t want to bogged down with a thick, leather-bound tome with microscopic print have plenty of other options. Here are 10 such niche alternatives to the thing we call the Bible.

10. Bible Illuminated
A glossy magazine format that includes the New Testament in its entirety along with contemporary, and very striking, full-color photographs. From the producer: “You don’t see [the Bible] on tables. You don’t see it at home, open. You don’t see people reading it on the subway. That, we’re going to change.” An Old Testament version is also available.
Who is it for? Fashionistas, hipsters, and general pretentious elites.

9. Inspired By . . . The Bible Experience
An audio book of the entire Bible read by an all-star cast including Samuel L. Jackson, LL Cool J, Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, and others. Original music by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and Hollywood-style sound design make this a pretty slick production.
Who is it for? The iPod generation

8. Surfers Bible
Christian Surfers International put out this Bible hoping surfer bros would ride the wave straight to Jesus. It’s available in New Testament or the entire Bible, complete with 18 testimonies from wave riders telling their stories of how they found God. Body boarder Glen Thurston said: “I was in hospital after a severe surfing accident and the only thing I had to read was the Surfers Bible. By the end of my recovery I had not only been healed of my injury, but I had come to a faith in Christ.” Whoa, that’s pretty Gnarly.
Who is it for? Dude, is this like…a trick question?

7. Revolve and Refuel
Revolve and Refuel are published, by a company called Biblezines, for teenage girls and boys respectively. In addition to the complete text of the New Testament, these magazine-style Bibles feature articles, lists and how-to sections. The cover of Revolve looks like a typical teenybopper magazine. Inside, you’ll find articles like “Have a Blast Hangout Ideas,” or “Rock Your Outlook…Ways to Make a Difference.” Refuel looks like an extreme sports magazine. Inside, read “How to Attract Godly Girls,” and “Radical Faith: 70 Ways To Apply Truth.”
Who is it for? Those goody-goody kids in high school that you couldn’t stand.

6. LOLCat Bible
If you don’t know what LOLCat is, you’re better off for it. But if you are a fan of those cat photos with the broken English captions, this Bible is for you. The LOLCat Bible is an ongoing wiki that aims to translate the Holy Scriptures in its entirety into LOLCat speak.

Genesis 1:1,2 – “Oh hai. In the beginnin Ceiling Cat maded the skiez An da Urfs, but he did not eated dem. Da urfs no had shapez An haded dark face, An Ceiling Cat rode invisible bike over the waterz.” Had enough?
Who is it for? Fans of LOLCat, apparently. And people who don’t get out of the house too often.

5. Princess Diana Bible
In this gay version of the Bible, instead of God creating Adam and Eve, He creates Aida and Eve. The full work is not completed yet, but portions of Genesis and Leviticus can be read on the official website. Once completed, Mitchell plans to adapt his Bible as a two-part mini-series, the Gay Old Testament and The Gay New Testament. “There are many different version of the Bible,” says creator Max Mitchell. “I don’t see why we can’t have one.”
Who is it for? The GLBT community. Definitely not for Fundamentalist Christians

4. The Brick Testament
The Lego Bible has been around since 2001—first online, then as a series of books. Creater Rev. Brendan Powell Smith bills his work as “the largest, most comprehensive illustrated Bible in the world with over 3,600 illustrations that retell more than 300 stories from the Bible.”

While presented in a satirical manner, the Brick Testament is surprisingly accurate, not taking too many liberties in the name of humor. After all, there’s enough humor in the Bible as is. Warning: the website features nude Lego people, Lego people having sex, Lego violence, and Lego murder.
Who is it for? Sunday school teachers, Lego geeks of all ages.

3. Jesus Loves Porn Stars Bible
The XXXChurch, an organization devoted to helping porn addicts, prints this bible to give out free at porn conventions. It’s not a unique translation. There is no more, or no less, sex in it than other versions of the Bible. It is simply “The Message” Bible with a cover reminiscent of 70’s era porn artwork. Really interesting idea, although some may be disappointed when opening it to find no centerfold.
Who is it for? Porn addicts, recovering porn addicts, and porn stars

2. The Bible in Cockney: Well Bits of It Anyway…
This could be the best idea ever. Here is the Lord’s Prayer from Luke 11:2-4:

HELLO, Dad, up there in good ol’ Heaven,
Your name is well great and holy, and we respect you, Guv.
We hope we can all ‘ave a butcher’s at Heaven and be there as soon as possible: and we want to make you happy, Guv, and do what you want ‘ere on earth, just like what you do in Heaven.
Guv, please give us some Uncle Fred, and enough grub and stuff to keep us going today, and we hope you’ll forgive us when we cock things up, just like we’re supposed to forgive them who annoy us and do dodgy stuff to us.
There’s a lot of dodgy people around, Guv; please don’t let us get tempted to do bad things. Help keep us away from all the nasty, evil stuff, and keep that dodgy Satan away from us, ‘cos you’re much stronger than ‘im.
Your the Boss, God, and will be for ever, innit? Cheers, Amen.
Who is it for? Geezers and birds, oi, oi, oi

1. The Manga Bible
Illustrated Bibles are nothing new, but Japanese-style Manga adaptations are a relatively new phenomenon. Siku’s “The Manga Bible”, published in 2007, claims to be the first of it’s kind. Covering the entire Bible in just 200 pages, Siku lets his illustrations do most of the storytelling. David, after slaying the monstrous Goliath, triumphantly holds the giant’s severed head high in the air with the caption, “Now the whole world will know that the God of Israel is Alive!”

Satan is thin, pale, and faceless (except for 2 beady eyes), Jesus is a dark, brooding, samurai superhero, and all the females are beautiful. “The Manga Bible” is a fast moving, entertaining, and fun Bible adaptation that can be read in a few hours.
Who is it for? Comic book geeks, Anime freaks, and the Archbishop of Canterbury (apparently he digs it).

Many consider Martin Luther King Jr. Day as nothing more than a day off from work. But there are many ways that we could remember and celebrate the life of America’s greatest civil-rights leader.

1. Educate yourself. Read a biography of King’s life. If you already have, read a biography of Gandhi, one of King’s chief influences in his fight for civil rights. If you don’t have the time to read an entire book, read (or re-read) Henry David Thoreau’s essay “Civil Disobedience
   ,” a chief inspiration to MLK’s non-violent approach.
2. Watch a documentary about MLK or the civil rights movement in general. Check the cable listings for this coming week and you’re likely to find several choices. Alternately, your local library is bound to have VHS or DVD choices on the subject.
3. Watch his “I Have a Dream” speech. It’s available on YouTube and several other sources. Sure you’ve seen it several times before, but the speech is so powerful it’s tough to take for granted. Watch it again and pretend it’s your first time. It will send chills up your spine. “I have a dream today!”
4. Attend a house of worship. Even if you’re not a regular churchgoer, make this important holiday an excuse to put on your Sunday best. Find out which local churches have special Martin Luther King Jr. Day services. Bring the kids and have a special family day.
5. Celebrate with your community. Most communities have special events and activities planned for MLK day. Talks, film screenings, discussions, and community service activities make for a great way to celebrate the ideals that King fought for. The United States govornment’s MLKDay.gov has several resources for individuals and organizations.
6. Have a birthday party. MLK day is observed on the third Monday of January, around the time of King’s actual birthday, January 15. So why not make it a birthday party? Play gospel music, make lots of southern food and live it up!
7. Return to segregation. Not literally of course, but perhaps mentally. As you go about your daily duties on Martin Luther King Day, do them as if segregation was still the norm: whites-only restaurants, movie-theaters, bathrooms, sitting at the back of the bus. Regardless of your race, gender, religion, age, or sexual orientation, think of yourself as the minority. Think about what it must have been like to be on the short end of segregation. This would be a powerful reminder of how important Martin Luther King Jr. was to civil rights and society in general.

World religions differ greatly in their individual beliefs, practices and traditions. But the one thing that they all share is the Ethic of Reciprocity, or the Golden rule as it is commonly known. Here is a list of several religious traditions’ version of the universal rule.

• Bahá’í Faith: 
  • "Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not
    have ascribed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not." "Blessed
    is he who preferreth his brother before himself."
    Baha’u'llah
  • "And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for
    thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself." Epistle to
    the Son of the Wolf
• Brahmanism: "This is the sum of Dharma [duty]: Do naught unto others which would
  cause you pain if done to you". Mahabharata, 5:1517 "
• Buddhism: 
  • "…a state that is not pleasing or delightful to me, how could I
    inflict that upon another?" Samyutta NIkaya v. 353 
  • Hurt not others in ways
    that you yourself would find hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18
• Christianity: 
  • "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men
    should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the
    prophets." Matthew 7:12, King James Version.
  • "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to
    them likewise." Luke 6:31, King James Version.
  • "…and don’t do what
    you hate…", Gospel of Thomas 6. The Gospel of Thomas is one of about
    40 gospels that were widely accepted among early Christians, but which
    never made it into the Christian Scriptures (New Testament).
• Confucianism:
  • "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to
    you" Analects 15:23
  • "Tse-kung asked, ‘Is there one word that can serve
    as a principle of conduct for life?’ Confucius replied, ‘It is the word ‘shu’ –
    reciprocity. Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.’" Doctrine
    of the Mean 13.3
  • "Try your best to treat others as you would wish to be treated
    yourself, and you will find that this is the shortest way to
    benevolence." Mencius VII.A.4
• Ancient Egyptian:
  • "Do for one who may do for you, that you may cause him thus
    to do." The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, 109 – 110 Translated
    by R.B. Parkinson. The original dates to 1970 to 1640
    BCE and may be the earliest version ever
    written.
• Hinduism: 
  • This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain
    if done to you. Mahabharata 5:1517
• Humanism:
  • "(5) Humanists acknowledge human interdependence, the need for
    mutual respect and the kinship of all humanity."
  • "(11) Humanists affirm that individual and social problems can
    only be resolved by means of human reason, intelligent effort,
    critical thinking joined with compassion and a spirit of empathy for
    all living beings. "
  • "Don’t do things you wouldn’t want to have done to you,
    British Humanist Society.
• Islam: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for
  his brother what he wishes for himself." Number 13 of Imam "Al-Nawawi’s
  Forty Hadiths."
• Jainism: 
  • "Therefore, neither does he [a sage] cause violence to others
    nor does he make others do so." Acarangasutra 5.101-2. 
  • "In happiness and
    suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self."
    Lord Mahavira, 24th Tirthankara
  • "A man should wander about treating all creatures as he
    himself would be treated. "Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
• Judaism: 
  • "…thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.",
    Leviticus 19:18 
  • "What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the
    law: all the rest is commentary." Talmud, Shabbat 31a.
  • "And what you hate, do not do to any one." Tobit 4:15
• Native American Spirituality:
  • "Respect for all life is the
    foundation." The Great Law of Peace.
  • "All things are our relatives; what we do to everything, we do
    to ourselves. All is really One." Black Elk
  • "Do not wrong or hate your neighbor. For it is not he who you
    wrong, but yourself." Pima proverb.
• Roman Pagan Religion: "The law imprinted on the hearts of all
  men is to love the members of society as themselves."
• Shinto: 
  • "The heart of the person before you is a mirror. See there
    your own form"
  • "Be charitable to all beings, love is the representative of God."
    Ko-ji-ki Hachiman Kasuga
• Sikhism: 
  • Compassion-mercy and religion are the support of the entire
    world". Japji Sahib
  • "Don’t create enmity with anyone as God is within
    everyone." Guru Arjan Devji 259
  • "No one is my enemy, none a stranger and everyone is my
    friend." Guru Arjan Dev : AG 1299
• Sufism: "The basis of Sufism is consideration of the hearts
  and feelings of others. If you haven’t the will to gladden someone’s heart, then at least
  beware lest you hurt someone’s heart, for on our path, no sin exists but this."

  Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order.

• Taoism:
  • "Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain, and your
    neighbor’s loss as your own loss." T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien.
  • "The sage has no interest of his own, but takes the interests
    of the people as his own. He is kind to the kind; he is also kind to
    the unkind: for Virtue is kind. He is faithful to the faithful; he is
    also faithful to the unfaithful: for Virtue is faithful." Tao Teh
    Ching, Chapter 49
• Unitarian:

"The inherent worth and dignity of every person;"
"Justice, equity and compassion in human relations…. "
"The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;"

"We affirm and promote respect for the
interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part." Unitarian
principles.

• Wicca: "An it harm no one, do what thou wilt" (i.e. do what
  ever you will, as long as it harms nobody, including yourself). One’s will is to
  be carefully thought out in advance of action. This is called the
  Wiccan Rede
• Yoruba: (Nigeria): "One going to take a pointed stick to pinch
  a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts."
• Zoroastrianism: 
  • "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto
    another whatsoever is not good for itself". Dadistan-i-dinik 94:5
  • "Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others." 
    Shayast-na-Shayast 13:29

Some philosophers’ statements are:

• Epictetus: "What you would avoid suffering yourself, seek
  not to impose on others." (circa 100 CE)
• Kant: "Act as if the maxim of thy action were to become by thy
  will a universal law of nature."
• Plato: "May I do to others as I would that they should do
  unto me." (Greece; 4^th century BCE)
• Socrates: "Do not do to others that which would anger you
  if others did it to you." (Greece; 5^th century
  BCE)
• Seneca: "Treat your inferiors as you would be treated by
  your superiors," Epistle 47:11 (Rome; 1^st century

  CE)

Examples from moral/ethical systems are:

• Humanism: "…critical intelligence, infused by a sense of
  human caring, is the best method that humanity has for resolving problems.
  Reason should be balanced with compassion and empathy and the whole person
  fulfilled." Humanist Manifesto II; Ethics section.
• Scientology: "20: Try to treat others as you would want
  them to treat you." This is one of the 21 moral precepts that form
  the moral code explained in L. Ron Hubbard’s booklet "The Way to
  Happiness."

Chief source for this list is from Religious Tolerance.