I think you’ve taken that out of context:
Matthew 22:25-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Because some do not seem to grasp the meaning of the word ‘neighbour’, Jesus then tells the parable of The Good Samaritan*** The lesson is every man is my neighbour.
Yet it is my observation that the second commandment is the most egregiously ignored of all commandments by those claiming to believe.
**Samaritans were and are a dissident Jewish sect despised by orthodox Jewry as “not even real Jews”. Jesus’ use of a Samaritan in the parable would have been very powerful to his disciples.
An interesting and very common claim made by believers.Also a very old claim, usually expressed by claiming that morality comes from god/christianity/religion. A quick glance at some of pre Socratic philosophers give that the lie.
Implicit is the claim that christian morality is in fact ‘the best’ , which is demonstrable nonsense :
EG: Hedonism is a very different moral code, but perfectly workable. Seems to be increasingly common in affluent countries such as Australia, Japan, Western and Northern Europe
I lean towards ethical egoism. Viz that it is to my advantage to obey some moral precepts. Especially those which carry sanctions for breeches.
The strongest moral value I hold refers to the way I treat others, including not harming others.
The genesis of those values began with Catholicism and ended with Buddhism;
“The Buddha said: above all loving kindness” An ideal I have ye to reach. reached.
The astute of those who have read this post may notice an apparent contradiction between my ideals and the way I claim to actually live. Yup, guilty, I remain a flawed human being. I’ve long since given up trying to be perfect. These days I’m content to do better from time to time.