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 8

1993 Parliament of the World's Religions. A Ciobal Ethic WWW. S I To be authentically human in the spirit of our great religious and cthical traclitions incans the even for many controversial questions, suitable: solutions should bc alfainable in the spirit of the fundamental principles we have jointly devolepice here. following: 1. We need mutual respect, partnership, and understanding, instead of patriarchal cloinination and cigindation, which are expressions of violence and engencler counter-violence. 2. In many areas of life a new consciousness of cthical responsibility has alreally arises. Taclor ve would be pleased if as many professions as possible, such as those of physicians, scientists, business people, journalists, and politicians, would develop up-to-tate codes of ethics which would provide specific guidelines for the vexing questions of these particular professions. .. We need mutual concern, tolerance, readiness for reconciliation, and lovc, instead of any form of possessive lust or sexual misuse. Only what has alreadly licen experience in nersonal and familial relationships can be practiced on We level of nations and religions... 3. Above all, we urge the various commilis of faith to formulate their very specific chies: Whites cacli saith tradition have to s:ly, for example, inbout the meaning of life and death, the enduring of suffering and the forgiveness of guilt, about selfless sacrifice and the necessity of renunciation, about compassion and joy. These will deepen, and make more specilie, the already discernible global ethic. : A Transformation of Consciousness! * Historical experience demonstrates the following: Earth cannot be changed for the betler unless we achieve a transformation in the consciousness of individuals and in public life. The possibilities for transformation have already been glimpsed in areas such as war and peace, economy, and ccology, wlicre in recent decacles fundamental changes have taken place. This transformation must also be achicvce in the area of cthics and values! In conclusion, we appeal to all the inhabitants of this planet. Earth cannot be changes for the better unless the consciousness of individuals is changeci. 10 pleciye to work for such transformation in individual and collective consciousness, for the wakening of one spiritual powers thougl: reflection, meditation, partiyer, or positive thinking, for a conversion of delicat. Together we can inove moulains! Withoniai willingness to take risks and a reariiness to solice there can be no fundamental change in our situation! Thierelore we commit ourselves to a con o ba to a comment global cthic, to better mutual understandiing, as well as to socially beneficial, peace-fostering, and Fut-friendly ways of life. Every individual bas intrinsic dignity and lalicnable rights, and cach also has an inescapable responsibility for what she or he clocs and does not do.' All our clecisions and cleeds, even our omissions and lures, have consequences. Keeping this sense of responsibility alive, deepening it and passing it on to future generations, is the special task of religions. We invite all men and women, i whether religious or not, to do the sime.. We are rcalistic about what we have achieved in this consensus, and so we urge that the following be obscived: 1. A universal conscasus on many clisputed ethical questions (from bio- and sexual cthics through mass incdia and scientific ethics to economic and political cthics) will be difficult to attain. Nevertheless,