In that order, we see stark imperatives, includingġ1) Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans or nature.ġ2) Do not kill. In Buddhism, there are multiple prohibitions of killing persons, from the third pãrãjika to the fourteen precepts of the Order of Interbeing. In the Western monotheisms, humans are made in the image of God, sometimes called the imago dei. For instance, in Hinduism, at the core of a person is an atman, or a drop of Brahman. The answer to Cain’s question to God is “Yes, we are our sister and brother’s keeper.” In some religions, humanity reflects the divine. They describe us as having immense value and our value corresponds to an obligation to look after one another. Religions also seem to be united on the subject of human worth and the corresponding duty we have towards others. Sutrakritanga Book 1, Lecture 11, Verse 33 Indifferent to worldly objects, a man should wander about treating all creatures in the world so as he himself would be treated. No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger. What is hateful to you, do not to your neighbor: that is the whole Torah, while the rest is the commentary thereof go and learn it. Not one of you believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself. In everything do to others as you would have them do to you for this is the law and the prophets. This is the sum of duty: do not to other what would cause pain if done to you. “Moral Injunctions,” in T’ai Shang Kan Ying P’ien Regard your neighbor’s gain as your own gain, and your neighbor’s loss as your own loss. Look where you will, there is nothing dearer to man than himself therefore, as it is the same thing that is dear to you and to others, hurt not others with what pains yourself. Table: Principle of Reciprocity in the texts of World Religions Below is a table that lists the principle of reciprocity in a variety of sacred texts belonging to various religious traditions. īut this commonality is not limited to Judaism and Christianity. We might attribute this to Jesus’ golden rule, but Jesus himself was paraphrasing Rabbi Hillel, as he sometimes did. In all of the major religious traditions, there is the principle of reciprocity, the idea that one should treat others as one would like to be treated. Religion scholars will sometimes claim that the only thing all the religions have in common are their core ethical principles. Data taken from the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures report from 2015. A Common Ethic? Religions by Percentage of Population. Consider these next few sections as representative artifacts rather than a systematic, thick description. We can only speak in the broadest of strokes here. If this many people are religious, then it is worth taking a moment to look at how their religion informs their ethics. See the graphic “ Religions by a Percentage of Population” to get a sense of how many people are religiously affiliated around the globe. – Paul of Tarsus, Letter to the Romans 2:15, NRSV Religion and EthicsĪ great many people around the world are religious and look to their religion for moral guidance. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them.
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