Principles Of A Global Ethic

SR No.: 269592
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Total Pages: 8
Language: English
Classification: Article
File Size: 2 MB

Page 4

993 Parliament of the World's Religions A Global Ethic It is the intention of this Global Ethic to clarify what this means. In it we wish to recall irrevocable,' inconditional ethical norms. These should not be bonds and chains, but helps and supports for people to sind and realize once again their lives' direction, values, orientations, and meaning. s trafficking and organized crime, olten equipped with new lcchnicn' possibilities, has reached global proportions. Many places still are ruled by terror "from above;" dictators oppress their own people, and institutional violence is widesprcail. Even in so:ne. countries wlerc laws exist to prolcct ir vidual freedoins, prisoners are tortured, men and women re mutilatou, hostages are killed. i Coin There is a principle which is sound and bas persisted in many religious and cthical traclilions of humankind for thousands of years: What you do not ivish clonic to yourself, clo not do to others. Or in positive terms: What you wish done to yourself, do to, atliers! This should be the irrevocalyle, unconditional Vidrin for all areas of life, for families and communitics, - for races, (nations, and religions.. . Ever form of egoisin should be rejected: All Swisliness whether individual or gollective, whether in the form of class thinking, racista, nationalisin, or. sexism We condemn these because they prevent human from being authentically human. Selfdetermination and self-realization, agc thoroughly ..! legitimgte so long as they are not separated from time huinanoll-responsibility and global responsibility, that is, from responsibility for fellow humans and for the planet Earth..... This principle implies very concrete standards to which we humans should hold firin. From it arise four broaci, ancient guidelines for human behavior. which are found in most of the religions of the world. . a) In the great ancient religious and ethical traclitions of humankind we find the directive: You : shull not killl Or in positive terms: Ilave respect for life! Let us reflect anew on the consequences of this ancient directive: All people have a right to life, safely, and the free clevelopment of personality insofar as liey do not injure the riglits of others. No one has the right physically or psychically to torture, injurc, inuch less kill, any other human being. And no people, no slale, no race, no religion has the right to hate, to ! discriminate against, to "cleanse, to exile, much less to liquidate a "Toreign" minority which is different in behavior or holds different beliefs. b). Of course, wherever there are humans there will be conflicts. Such conflicts, however, should be resolved without violence within a framework of justice. This is true for states as 'vell as for individuals. Persons who hold political power must work within thic Crainework of a just order and commit themselves to the most non-violenc, peaceful solutions possible. And they should work for this within an international order of icace which itself has need of protection and defense against perpetrators of violence. Armament is a mistaken patli; clisarmament is the cominancuanto th?c times. Let no one be dcccived: There is no survival for humanity without global peace! 111CUOCOU TA !?! ? motiu 1. Comitment to a Culture of Non-violence and Respect for Life. . ! . Numberless women and men of all regions and religions strive to leac lives not determined by egoism but by commitment to their fellow humans and to the world around them. Nevertheless, all over the world we lind endless haired, cniyy, jealousy, and violence, not only between individuals but also between social and ethnic groups, between classes, races, nations, and religions. The use of violence, drig .. c) Young people must learn at home and in school that violence may not be a means of selling clifferences with others. Only thus can a culture of non-violence be created. d) A human person is infinitely precious and must be inconditionally protected. But likewise liic lives of animals and plants which inhibit this planet with us descive protection, preservation, and care. Limitless exploitation of the natural foundations of life, ruthless destruction of the biosphere, and militarizalion of the cosinos are all outrages. As human beings we have a special responsibility-especially with a view to future