Ethical Teachings Matrix
Explore the moral and ethical principles shared across Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Latter-day Saints. Each teaching is accompanied by a direct quotation from the tradition's sacred texts.
Christianity
Judaism
Islam
Hinduism
Buddhism
Taoism
Latter-day Saints
Book of Enoch
Sikhism
Confucianism
Shinto
Lutheranism
Zoroastrianism
Jainism
Bahá'í
Ancient Egyptian Religion
Ancient Mesopotamian Religion
Islam: Hadith
Catholicism
Eastern Orthodoxy
Kabbalah
Sufism
Gnosticism
Hermeticism
The Golden Rule
Christianity
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 7:12
Judaism
“What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary.”
Talmud, Shabbat 31a
Islam
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 13
Hinduism
“One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one's own self.”
Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva 113.8
Buddhism
“Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”
Udanavarga 5:18
Charity & Generosity
Christianity
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
2 Corinthians 9:7
Judaism
“If there is among you a poor man, one of your brethren, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.”
Deuteronomy 15:7
Islam
“And establish prayer and give zakat, and whatever good you put forward for yourselves, you will find it with Allah.”
Quran 2:110
Hinduism
“The gift which is given without expectation of return, at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person, that gift is held to be sattvic.”
Bhagavad Gita 17:20
Buddhism
“If beings knew, as I know, the fruit of giving and sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would they allow the stain of meanness to obsess them.”
Itivuttaka 26
Honesty & Truth
Christianity
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”
John 8:32
Judaism
“Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous.”
Exodus 23:7
Islam
“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are truthful.”
Quran 9:119
Hinduism
“Satyameva jayate nanritam. Truth alone triumphs, not falsehood.”
Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.6
Buddhism
“Herein someone avoids false speech and abstains from it. He speaks the truth, is devoted to truth, reliable, worthy of confidence.”
Anguttara Nikaya 10.176
Taoism
Justice
Christianity
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8
Judaism
“Justice, justice shall you pursue, that you may live and inherit the land which the Lord your God gives you.”
Deuteronomy 16:20
Islam
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin.”
Quran 4:135
Hinduism
“Dharma exists for the welfare of all beings. Hence, that by which the welfare of all living beings is sustained, that is dharma.”
Mahabharata, Shanti Parva 109.10
Buddhism
“A king who rules by the Dhamma, establishing justice and equity for all his people, such a king the people will follow.”
Cakkavatti-Sihanada Sutta, Digha Nikaya 26
Forgiveness
Christianity
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Matthew 6:14
Judaism
“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?”
Micah 7:18
Islam
“The repayment of a bad action is one equivalent to it. But whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah.”
Quran 42:40
Hinduism
“Forgiveness is the might of the mighty; forgiveness is sacrifice; forgiveness is quiet of mind. How can one such as I abandon forgiveness?”
Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva 33.48
Buddhism
“Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.”
Dhammapada 1:5
Stewardship of Earth
Christianity
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”
Genesis 2:15
Judaism
“When God created Adam, He led him around all the trees of the Garden of Eden and said: See My works, how beautiful they are. Take care not to spoil or destroy My world.”
Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13
Islam
“It is He who has made you vicegerents upon the earth. So whoever disbelieves, upon him is his disbelief.”
Quran 35:39
Hinduism
“The Earth is our mother, and we are all her children. Let us treat her with respect.”
Atharva Veda 12.1.12
Buddhism
“As a bee, without harming the flower, its colour or scent, flies away collecting only the honey, even so should a sage dwell in the village.”
Dhammapada 4:49
Treatment of the Poor
Christianity
“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
Matthew 25:40
Judaism
“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner.”
Leviticus 23:22
Islam
“Have you seen the one who denies the recompense? For that is the one who drives away the orphan and does not encourage the feeding of the poor.”
Quran 107:1-3
Hinduism
“He who gives liberally goes straight to the gods; on the high ridge of heaven he stands exalted.”
Rig Veda 1.125.5
Buddhism
“If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it.”
Itivuttaka 26
Marriage & Family
Christianity
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
Genesis 2:24
Judaism
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
Exodus 20:12
Islam
“And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your hearts.”
Quran 30:21
Hinduism
“Where women are honored, there the gods are pleased; but where they are not honored, no sacred rite yields rewards.”
Manusmriti 3.56
Buddhism
“Supporting one's father and mother, cherishing wife and children and a peaceful occupation, this is the greatest blessing.”
Mangala Sutta, Sutta Nipata 2.4
Speech & Words
Christianity
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Ephesians 4:29
Judaism
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
Proverbs 18:21
Islam
“O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; indeed some suspicion is sin. And spy not, neither backbite one another.”
Quran 49:12
Hinduism
“One should speak the truth and speak it pleasantly; one should not speak the truth in an unpleasant manner, nor should one speak untruth because it is pleasing.”
Manusmriti 4.138
Buddhism
“Monks, a statement endowed with five factors is well-spoken: spoken at the right time, spoken in truth, spoken affectionately, spoken beneficially, spoken with a mind of goodwill.”
Anguttara Nikaya 5.198
The 42 Negative Confessions (Ma'at)
Ancient Egyptian Religion
“The 42 Negative Confessions (Ma'at)”
Book of the Dead, Chapter CXXV
Nonviolence
Christianity
“But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
Matthew 5:39
Judaism
“Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.”
Psalm 34:14
Islam
“If anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder or to spread mischief in the land, it would be as if he killed all mankind.”
Quran 5:32
Hinduism
“Ahimsa paramo dharma. Nonviolence is the highest duty.”
Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva 116.37-41
Buddhism
“All tremble at violence; all fear death. Putting oneself in the place of another, one should not kill nor cause another to kill.”
Dhammapada 10:129
Care for the Poor and Weak
Ancient Egyptian Religion
“Care for the Poor and Weak”
Pyramid Texts
The Code of Hammurabi's Spiritual Root
Ancient Mesopotamian Religion
“The Code of Hammurabi's Spiritual Root”
Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet X
Friendship and Loyalty
Ancient Mesopotamian Religion
“Friendship and Loyalty”
Epic of Gilgamesh, Tablet II
Intention and Action
Islam: Hadith
“Intention and Action”
Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 1, Hadith 1
Brotherhood and Empathy
Islam: Hadith
“Brotherhood and Empathy”
Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 2, Hadith 11
Restraint of Anger
Islam: Hadith
“Restraint of Anger”
Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 76, Hadith 481
Friendship as Sacred
Catholicism
“Friendship as Sacred”
Sirach 6:14-16
Social Justice and the Poor
Catholicism
“Social Justice and the Poor”
Sirach 13:20-21
Wisdom as the Foundation of Ethics
Catholicism
“Wisdom as the Foundation of Ethics”
Wisdom of Solomon 8:7
Dispassion (Apatheia) as Moral Ideal
Eastern Orthodoxy
“Dispassion (Apatheia) as Moral Ideal”
Philokalia, St. Hesychios the Priest
Love as the Goal of All Virtue
Eastern Orthodoxy
“Love as the Goal of All Virtue”
Philokalia, St. John Climacus
Control of the Passions
Eastern Orthodoxy
“Control of the Passions”
Philokalia, Abba Dorotheos
Tikkun Olam — Repair of the World
Kabbalah
“Tikkun Olam — Repair of the World”
Zohar, Lurianic Kabbalah
The Sephirot as Ethical Map
Kabbalah
“The Sephirot as Ethical Map”
Sefer Yetzirah 1:3
Annihilation of the Ego (Fana)
Sufism
“Annihilation of the Ego (Fana)”
Rumi, Masnavi Book 1
Love as the Highest Law
Sufism
“Love as the Highest Law”
Rumi, Masnavi Book 5
The Journey of the Soul
Sufism
“The Journey of the Soul”
Attar, Conference of the Birds
The Inner Light
Gnosticism
“The Inner Light”
Gospel of Thomas, Logion 24
Self-Knowledge as the Path
Gnosticism
“Self-Knowledge as the Path”
Gospel of Thomas, Logion 3
As Above, So Below
Hermeticism
“As Above, So Below”
Emerald Tablet
The Ascent of the Soul
Hermeticism
“The Ascent of the Soul”
Poemandres, Corpus Hermeticum I