I can’t believe that one would seriously suggest that a widely believed good found in the text doesn’t exist. “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” – the principal of empathy that many atheists on this board seem to think they have copyrighted and patented – is one such widely believed good. EOb
Believing it and then ignoring it, or actively trashing it with every word that comes out of your mouth and every action you do is hardly an example of textural good morality.
The Pentateuch version is Lev 19:18 "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord" is hardly a radical moral edict for a social animal or a tribal human. But OK if practiced dilligently. For Jews does that mean Hasidim are loved? I understand that some Jews have rejected them. For Christians are JWs and LDS Christian and vice versa? For Muslims is ISIS your neighbor?
Jesus radicalized the whole thing. When challenged "Who is your neighbor" told the parable of the Good Samaritan. Keep in mind that it was a Samaritan who refused Jesus hospitality, causing him to shake the dust off his sandals. In modern day terms think of dark skinned immigrants without documentation. Or for Paul competitive sects that practiced temple prostitution. Are either "loved as thyself?"
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