Jain Journal 2007 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 14

Kanoko Tanaka:Onthelife-Centred Ethics of Zoroastrianism
power of “life and death' over His own creation. He gives the agony even to those who follow His Words. As it is sometimes accepted as unreasonable and unbearable beyond the limitations of the human thoughts, they even curse the Almighty God. It makes a clear contrast with the Zoroastrian God who would never try the faith of Man on purpose, but creates only the good to 'life' itself.
When Abraham was about to obey God's orders to slay his own son Isaac for a burnt offering, God sent him a ram caught in a thicked by its horns (Genesis 22:10-13). Abraham is known as the man who feared God with his purest faith and have become the common focus of reverence in Judaism, Christianity and Islām.
When God commanded the people of Israel to make an alter of earth and sacrifice thereon their offerings, Moses never hesitated to ‘kill'sheep and oxen for God's own sake (Exodus 20:24) in spite of the fact that he had just been revealed the Words; "Thou shalt not kill" at Mount Sinai. Here the most righteous and important is that he immediately responsed to the commandment on animal sacrifice. At least, 'Non-killing' cannot become the absolute Law to be observed at any cost, as long as God is believed to hold the right to give 'life' or death'. His decision is almost a mystery.
In this way Semitic God is the mysterious Law-giver, and Man can only search for His true intention by actually following the Law. God's Will comes first, and the human ethics can be formed the next. The same logic applies to the life-ethics; it is God-centred, not Lifecentred.
The above mentioned findings from the Bible are not enough to describe the essence of God-centred ethics on the respect for life," because the New Testament, the Book of Christian faith, positively makes reference to the love of God towards His creation in connection with the role of Jesus Christ in history (John 3:16-17).
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.