[James C. Bennett]

Basically you see the OT in a view that relegates it to a collection of metaphors. Jonah didn't really dwell in the belly of a fish and God / Jesus didn't order the slaughter of the Amalekite infants, in spite of what the OT says, in plain words.

I forgot to tell you: the cow and the human were anesthetized - unconscious.

Would a human being following the Golden Rule want another to have the weight be dropped unto him, when the places are switched? Do not do unto others what you don't want done unto you.

"Here certainly is the golden maxim: Do not do to others that which we do not want them to do to us."

- Confucius

 "Is there one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one's life?" The Master said, "Is not RECIPROCITY such a word?^"

- Zi Gong, Confucius, Analects XV.24 (tr. Chinese Text Project)

"Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself."

- Confucius, Analects XV.24 

[D-fendr]

Basically you see the OT in a view that relegates it to a collection of metaphors.

Way oversimplified. Have you studied the OT much? I don't mean that pejoratively, but it's a huge work - it's not just metaphor or just history or just myth or just literature or just songs or just theology or...

Would a human being following the Golden Rule want another to have the weight be dropped unto him…

How about the cow? Seriously, I got no problem with the golden rule being applied here. My questions to you are about why you think it's a good rule.

Is it because Confucius said so?

:)