Ethics of World Religions - RKUD 4251

Introduction

• Religion is as old as humanity
• Humans are born religious (homo religious)
• Religion began with Tawhid, as practiced by Prophet Adam
• Religion's meaning varies across different faiths and communities
• Religion nurtures individuals and strengthens societies

Overview of Religion

• Each religion possesses a unique identity
• Each religion is a complete entity in itself
• Every religion defines "religion" in its own way
• Religions include faith aspects and social aspects
• Each religion interprets faith aspects according to its own framework
• Religious practice differs across communities

Typology of Religions

• Revealed religions are based on revelations
• Historical religions developed over time
• Cultural religions stem from distinct cultures
• Philosophical religions originated from philosophical thought
• Ancestral religions center around ancestral worship
• Spiritual religions focus on spiritual development
• Syncretic religions blend teachings from various religions
• Ethnic religions are rooted in ethnicity

Conceptions of Religion

• Religions are perceived differently
• Some consider religion to encompass everything
• Others divide religion into sacred and profane aspects
• Some religions focus on spiritual matters
• Other religions focus on events of death and the afterlife
• Some religions center on scripture
• Certain religions are guided by scriptures
• Some religions aren't scripture-based
• Some religions' teachings are constantly developing

Constituents of Religion

• Religion includes faith and social aspects
• Faith dimension includes intra-personal aspects (the individuals beliefs)
• Faith items include worldviews and patterns of thought
• Social dimension comprises inter-personal aspects (relationships between individuals)
• Social items involve value systems and behavioral patterns

Faith Dimension

• Each religion defines "religion" in its own unique way
• Faith items shape adherents' worldviews and thought patterns
• Each religion has its own worldviews and thought patterns
• Worldview: how individuals perceive the world and its issues
• Thought patterns: how individuals think and understand things (intra-personal)

Faith Items

• Faith consists of:
• Prophets and founders: individuals who established religions
• Scriptures and sacred texts: foundational teachings of a religion
• Belief systems and theologies: basic concepts and doctrines about the divine
• Doctrines and dogmas: core teachings of a religion
• Rituals and rites: formal religious practices

Social Dimension

• Worldviews and thoughts translate into value systems and behaviors
• Value system defines what is considered good and bad
• Behavioral patterns show how people act and relate to others (interpersonal)
• Each religious community establishes its own value system and behavioral structure

Social Items

• Social dimension comprises:
• Moral codes and ethics
• Etiquettes and norms
• Religious infrastructures and institutions
• Social dimension stems from the faith dimension
• Relationships and behaviour towards others (interpersonal)
• Social Items facilitate personal and social discipline

Comparatives

• Religions share faith items, but define them differently
• Religions are unique in their faith dimension, marked by exclusivity
• Religions share value systems and often have parallel values
• Religions are often inclusive in their social dimension, absorbing values from other communities

Common Concepts

• Religions share common origin, considering humanity as a whole
• All humans are considered fellow creatures, emphasizing kinship
• Religions often share concepts of body, soul and mind
• Buddhism considers the five skandhas (components of existence)
• Religions share a concept of human nature (fitrah)
• Interdependence of all beings.

Implications

• Kinship of humanity connects people at a social level
• Common human nature is mirrored in parallel moral codes across religions
• A responsible person in one community is often respected in other communities
• Parallel moral codes promote unity
• Shared values enable societies, nations and global enterprises
• Shared values foster cooperation between different people

Social Involvement and Concern

• Religions often take an interest in the well-being of society
• The degree of concern and involvement in society varies by religion
• Some religions prioritize spirituality over worldly affairs
• Religions establish social institutions and support civil society
• Religious involvement can be charitable work

Moral Codes

• Religions emphasize good conduct and behavior
• Moral codes are guidelines for conduct and relationships
• Codes are obligatory upon members of religious communities
• Enforced via religious mechanisms like sanctions and concepts of sin/retribution
• Adherence to codes ensures that communities develop responsibly

Ethics and Morality

• Ethics originates from faith
• Ethics embodies personality and character
• Morality focuses on actions and behaviors
• Ethics helps maintain social discipline
• Religious doctrines promote a good and compassionate society

Etiquettes and Norms

• Etiquettes are personal actions and manners typical of a community
• Norms are acceptable practices within a society or community
• They often become customs, traditions and part of cultures.

Infrastructures and Institutions

• Religions have physical and social structures
• Religious structures like mosques, temples and monasteries cater to religious needs
• Social institutions, such as family structures, are also often intertwined with religious traditions
• Family unit is recognized as a crucial institution across religions
• Some religions incorporate moral codes into legal structures

Judaism and Christianity

• Moral codes in Judaism and Christianity stem from the Ten Commandments
• The Ten Commandments were given to Prophet Moses, as per tradition
• The Commandments present a set of moral principles, covering topics like God worship, Sabbath, honor, murder, adultery, theft, etc

Buddhism (1)

• Buddhist moral codes are found in the ten precepts
• The precepts advocate non-killing, non-stealing, avoiding adultery, dishonesty, and intoxication among other things

Buddhism (2)

• Further precepts in Buddhism include avoiding food after noon, unnecessary entertainment, luxuries and comforts and owning wealth.
• Not all precepts are applicable to all Buddhists; different levels of adherence exist