Universal invisible verities are like ancient moral laws.
WHERE IS TRUTH?
The bottom layer gray highlights scientific design. This next blue level deals "with" science or matters of "con"science - conscience.
Knowledge requires a sense of right and wrong - a moral compass to guide those with knowledge to what is good or evil.
From the start, humanity has had a keen sense of justice as evidenced by these tablets in cuneiform from ancient Sumeria, which predates the Xia Dynasty in China.
This is the oldest known legal code: Urukagina
“The rich must use silver when purchasing from the poor, and if the poor does not wish to sell, the powerful man (the rich man or the priest) cannot force him to do so.”
ROOTED IN REALITY!
The Urukagina code of ethics (2380 BC) dates about 900 years before the Ten Commandments. We find Abraham using commercial standard silver to purchase land in Genesis 23:16. The Urukagina Code is perhaps the oldest statement of law in human history preserved in its original form. “Urukagina.” Wikipedia. Accessed April 26, 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urukagina.
"The first copy of the code, in two fragments found at Nippur, was translated by Samuel Kramer in 1952; owing to its partial preservation, only the prologue and 5 of the laws were discernible. Further tablets were found in Ur and translated in 1965, allowing some 40 of the 57 laws to be reconstructed. Another copy found in Sippar contains slight variants. "Although it is known that earlier law-codes existed, such as the Code of Urukagina, this represents the earliest legal text that is extant. It predated the Code of Hammurabi by some three centuries Jeremy Norman's HistoryofInformation.com
Videos:
Video One: 4 minutes "Ancient Mesopotamia by National Geographic"
Video Two: 5 minutes: "The Code of Ur-Nammu (Full Text)"
Video Three: 12 minutes "The Cradle of Civilisation"
Video Four: 14 minutes: "Rise of Sumer: Cradle of Civilization DOCUMENTARY"
18
The Code of Hammurabi was one of the earliest and longest legal documents, proclaimed by the Babylonian king Hammurabi, who reigned from 1792 to 1750 B.C. (or about 3800 years ago).
WHERE IS TRUTH?
The Hammurabi code of ancient Bablylon consists of 282 rules. Rule #200 says this:
"If a man has made a tooth of a man that is his equal to fall out, one shall make his tooth fall out."
ROOTED IN REALITY!
The Hammurabi code of laws, a collection of 282 rules, established standards for commercial interactions and set fines and punishments to meet the requirements of justice. Hammurabi’s Code was carved onto a massive, finger-shaped black stone stele (pillar) that was looted by invaders and finally rediscovered in 1901.
This is regulation #200
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/hammurabi
This is complete work
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/ancient/hamframe.asp
Videos:
Video One: 4 minutes: "The Code of Hammurabi"
Video Two: 10 minutes: "Hammurabi's Code and Babylonia"
Video Three: 12 minutes: "The Ten Commandments and the Code of Hammurabi"
Video Four: 38 minutes: "Moses and the Code of Hammurabi"
19
Aesop was a Greek storyteller, famous for his fables, who lived about 2600 years ago.
WHERE IS TRUTH?
Aesop's Fables on proper living: Slow and steady wins the race.- The Hare and the Tortoise
Don't count your chickens before they hatch.-The Milkmaid and her Pail.
Familiarity breeds contempt. -The Fox and the Lion
ROOTED IN REALITY!
His actual existence remains unclear but the universal populairty of his fables using animals and inanimate objects to teach universal truths about human behaviour is undisputed.
Videos:
Video One: 2 minutes: "The Hare And The Tortoise - Aesop's fables"
Video Two: 3 minutes: "The Fox and the Stork - Aesop's fables"
Video Three: 4 minutes: "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse- Aesop's fables"
20
An Asian example of great moral teachers from antiquity: Confucius.
WHERE IS TRUTH?
Of justice and kindness he said: Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.
ROOTED IN REALITY!
Confucius lived (551-479) BC or about 2500 years ago. Humanism is the central feature of Confucianism, which revolves almost entirely around issues related to the family, morals, and the role of the good ruler. It stresses the need for benevolent and frugal rulers, the importance of inner moral harmony and its direct connection with harmony in the physical world.
http://www.azquotes.com/author/3177-Confucius/tag/justice (30 July 2018)
https://www.ancient.eu/Confucianism/ (1 August 2018)
Videos:
Video One: 4 minutes: "04 Confucianism in China"
Video Two: 10 minutes: "10 Life Lessons From Confucius We Should All Follow"
Video Three: 13 minutes: "Amazing: Christian symbols hidden in ancient Chinese characters"
21
Islam includes elements of moral truth.
WHERE IS TRUTH?
Islam's version of the Golden Rule
Anas reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "None of you can truly be said to believe until he wants for his brother what he wants for himself."
ROOTED IN REALITY!
Muhammad is the prophet and founder of Islam. He lived from 570 to 632 AD, that is about 1500 years ago. Original sources found with assistance from: ourpathtogod.com. (30 July 2018) sunnah.com (31 July 2018) abuaminaelias.com (31 July 2018) abuaminaelias.com (1 August 2018 )
22
Buddhism includes elements of moral truth.
WHERE IS TRUTH?
Buddhism's version of the golden rule:
In five ways should a clansman minister to his friends and familiars: By generosity, courtesy and benevolence, treating them as he treats himself and by being as good as his word.
ROOTED IN REALITY!
Guatama Buddah (buddha means the "enlightened one") lived in India about 500 BC, about 2500 years ago. The Aryan Eightfold Path of the Buddha, by K. Manohar Gupta Publisher: Sandeep Prakashan (March 30, 2005) ISBN-13: 978-8175741560
23
Jesus spoke pure moral truth.
WHERE IS TRUTH?
Jesus said, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
ROOTED IN REALITY!
Jesus issued the famous "golden rule". In one sentence he summarized all the teachings of Moses and the Prophets - the entire Old Testament. Note how this golden rule exists in various, albeit weaker forms in other world religions. Matthew 7:12 English Standard Version . ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
24
Like gravity which affects everyone uniformly, moral truth also affects all people in the same way.
WHERE IS TRUTH?
God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
ROOTED IN REALITY!
Acts 10:35 English Standard Version . ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
25
Uneducated and illiterate people have an innate sense of justice such that the punishment should fit the crime.
WHERE IS TRUTH?
When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, JUSTICE has not allowed him to live."
ROOTED IN REALITY!
The natives on the island of Crete were not literate. They had not been taught by Jews or Christians, yet they had an innate sense of justice. They believed that death should come swiftly to those who are murders. Acts 28:3-4 New American Standard Bible Copyright © The Lockman Foundation 1999-2015.
26
All human beings have a conscience designed by God to be with-science, that is, to guide them in the use of science.
WHERE IS TRUTH?
Whenever non-Jews, who don't have laws from God, do by nature the things that Moses' Teachings contain, they are a law to themselves even though they don't have any laws from God. They show that some requirements found in Moses' Teachings are written in their hearts. Their consciences speak to them. Their thoughts accuse them on one occasion and defend them on another.
ROOTED IN REALITY!
Romans 2:14-15 God's Word Translation. (GWT) Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations.
27
Instinctively, everyone (literate or illiterate) knows that there is an invisible Spirit-Creator possessing enduring power and incredible intelligence.
WHERE IS TRUTH?
They [all people] know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature
ROOTED IN REALITY!
Romans 1:19.20 Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All Rights Reserved.
28
The ruler of ancient Egypt knew that adultery was wrong even before written commandments against it.
WHERE IS TRUTH?
Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? “Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go."
ROOTED IN REALITY!
Genesis 12:18,19 New American Standard Bible Copyright © The Lockman Foundation 1999-2015.
29
Roman law was not Jewish or Christian yet it reflected natural law which demands that everyone gets a fair trial.
WHERE IS TRUTH?
The [Roman] centurion answered, "It is not the custom of the Romans to hand over any man before the accused meets his accusers face to face and has an opportunity to make his defense against the charges."
ROOTED IN REALITY!
Roman law was not Jewish nor Christian, yet it reflected Natural Law in that it gave the person accused of a crime the human right to face his accuser before a judge. The Apostle Paul had to right to face his accusers before a judge. Acts 25:16 New American Standard Bible Copyright © The Lockman Foundation 1999-2015.
30