Showing posts with label Credo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Credo. Show all posts

Saturday, June 9, 2012

An It Harm None

Another serious post, but much more informational than the last.

Every religion, faith, or path has a base tenet that acts as a guideline for its worshiper's actions and behavior. Christianity as its Golden Rule, Hindu and Buddism have Karma, and Wicca has the Rede. It is written in many different forms but the most commonly used is, "An it harm none, Do what ye will." Basically a Wiccan/Wytch/Pagan can perform any act as long as the repercussions do not harm. Generally harm includes not only physical injury but emotional turmoil, manipulation, and any form of domination or control.

You can also find the Rede in mainstream philosophy, though it prefers to go by a different alias. The Harm Principle is a major tenet of the Utilitarian standpoint and was strongly backed by the English philosopher John Stuart Mills. He stated that "the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others." Going hand in hand with the Rede, the Harm Principle states that a person is free to do whatever he or she pleases, a right that not even government can impede, except for when their actions negatively impact another.