I believe that is a metaphor to describe how most people handle hostility. Also, I believe it was used to describe the death penalty if someone commits murder. Eye for an eye, or life for life, since taking a life is forfeiting your own.

No. Or at least it is a VERY immature version of it. the wording 'eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth' originated in the Law of Hammurabi which the Jews apparently adopted, at least partly. The doctrine expressed is "Justice through exact equal vengance", and the problems with it are many. As in the below example: Man A have 3 sons and 2 daughters. Man B have 1 son Somehow somebody in man B's household come to cause the death of Man A's youngest child (a daughter). So by the law Man B (who is a patriarch and responsible for his household) must now pay with the life of his youngest child right ? But man A's youngest child is a son, not a mere daughter !!! But man A's youngest child is the heir and future patriarch of the tribe, he MUST NOT be lost, lest the patriarchal line founders and the tribe dissolves (yes it would). You cannot just equate things with eachother like that. Nobody is satisfied. And grudges will accumulate. ---------- 'treat others as you want to be treated' on the other hand is not about Justice and restoring a proper balance. It is about avoiding trouble in the first place. Be nice, be kind, be forgiving. That too have its problems, but on the whole I would say it is a much better idea. Enabling a society with less anger, less vengance, more trust. I suppose that is why you can find it in just about every religion ;-)) http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc.htm regards JakobA