Moral Codes (Ethics) of World Religions PDF

INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF MALAYSIA DEPARTMENT OF USULUDDIN AND COMPARATIVE RELIGION RKUD 4251 MORAL CODES (ETHICS) OF WORLD RELIGIONS PROF. DR KAMAR ONIAH KAMARUZAMAN  INTRODUCTION Religion is as old as humanity itself Human beings are homo religiou...

INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY OF MALAYSIA DEPARTMENT OF USULUDDIN AND COMPARATIVE RELIGION RKUD 4251 MORAL CODES (ETHICS) OF WORLD RELIGIONS PROF. DR KAMAR ONIAH KAMARUZAMAN  INTRODUCTION Religion is as old as humanity itself Human beings are homo religious (born religious) Religion started with one i.e the prototype which is tawhid as held by Prophet Adam a.s. Eventually other religions were developed Religion means different things to different faith community and is practiced differently Religion nurture individuals and develop society  OVERVIEW OF RELIGION Each religion has its own unique identity Each religion is a wholesome entity on its own Every religion has own definition of “religion’’ Every religion has Faith Items and Social Items Each religion understands the Faith Items in its own way Each religious community practices religion in its own ways  TYPOLOGY OF RELIGIONS 1. Revealed religion- teaching based on revelations 2. Historical religion- developed in history 3. Cultural religion- dominant cultural elements 4. Philosophical religion- started as philosophy 5. Ancestral religion- Ancestral worship 6. Spiritual religion- focus on spiritual and development 7. Syncretic religion- combines teachings of various religions 8. Ethnic religion- based on ethnicity CONCEPTIONS OF RELIGION Religions are perceived in many ways: All comprehensive- everything is religion Secular- division into sacred and profane Spiritual- religion only on spiritual matters Other worldly- focus on dying, death, afterlife Scripture- centered- based on scriptures Scripture- guided- scriptures inspire teachings Non- scriptural- not based on scriptures Open- ended- teachings ever growing CONSTITUENTS OF RELIGION Religions constituents the Faiths and the Social Dimensions Faith Dimension Intra- personal Faith Items oWorldviews and thought patterns Social Dimension Inter- personal Social Items Value system and behavioural patterns  FAITH DIMENSION Each religion defines “religion” and the Faith Items in its own ways The Faith Items shape the worldviews and thought pattern of the adherents Each religion has own worldviews and thought patterns Worldview is how things, matters and issues are perceived and regarded, i.e. view of things Thought patter is how a person thinks and understand- intra- personal  FAITHS ITEMS Faith Dimension consists of the Faith Items: 1. Prophets and Founders i.e. the persons responsible for introducing the religion 2. Scriptures and Sacred Texts- where the teachings of the religion are found 3. Belief Systems and Theologies- B.S. basic concept about God; T. elaborated concepts 4. Doctrines and Dogmas- teachings of the religion 5. Rituals and Rites- formal performances  SOCIAL DIMENSION The worldviews and thought patterns are translated into the value systems and behaviour patterns of the adherents Value system is what are considered as good or bas, proper or improper Behavioral pattern is how people behave or conduct themselves Behavioral patterns includes relationship with others, i.e. inter- personal Each religious community has its own value system and behavioural patterns  SOCIAL ITEMS Social Dimension consists of the Social Items - Moral Codes - Ethics and Morality - Etiquettes and Norms -Religious and Infrastructures and Institutions The Social Dimension (inter- personal) grows from Faith Dimension (intra- personal) The Social Dimension is relationship, behaviour vis-à- vis other people i.e. inter- personal Social Items are mechanisms for personal and social discipline  COMPARATIVES Faith Dimension All religion have the Faith Items, but each defines these in its own ways At the faith Dimension, religions are unique, exclusive- have own special identity Social Dimension All religions have Value System and there are many parallel values across the religions At the Social Dimension, religions are inclusive, accepting values of other communities  COMMON CONCEPTS There are parallel concepts across the religions: Common origin and parentage of humanity All human beings are fellow creatures Kinship (brotherhood) of humanity Common human constituents o Most religion- body, soul and mind o Buddhism- the 5 skandas: Body, feeling, perception, mental formation, awareness of other trimental. Common human nature (fitrah) Interdependency of beings with one another  IMPLICATIONS Kinship of humanity- at social level humans relate to one other as fellow beings Common human nature are seen in the parallel Moral Codes and Ethics of the religions A responsible person in one community is respected by other communities too Possible for different peoples and communities to live together Ability to live together makes it possible to develop societies, nations, global enterprises Possible for symphaty, emphaty, cooperation with all  SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT AND CONCERN All religions take interest in social well- being Degree of social concern and involvement in society vary from religion to religion Some religion give more attention to spirituality than worldly matters Some religions develop social institutions Some religions adopt and support civil social institutions Some religions involvement in society only in form of good deeds and charity  MORAL CODES All religions insist on good behaviour, conduct Moral Codes are itemized guidelines on conduct and relationship Mandatory upon all adherents and community Enforceable through various religious mechanisms and concepts, eg. Sanctions, concept of sin, retributions Ensure adherents behave appropriately and responsibly so society can develop  ETHICS AND MORALITY Foundation for ethics is faith i.e. ethics is the manifestations and expressions of faith The more committed a person is to the religio, the more ethical he is Ethics is the personality, character aspect Morality is the action or behaviour aspect Ethics is a mechanism for social discipline Religious social maxim- good individual make good society  ETIQUETTES AND NORMS Etiquettes are personal actions or mannerisms accepted and practiced by society, e.g. ways of greetings, eating Norms are acceptable practices of the community or society, e.g. ways society carry out their social activities, e.g. in family life, business transactions These often become the social customs, grow into tradition, develop into culture and form civilizations INFRASTRUCTURES AND INSTITUTIONS Religions have infrastructures and social institutions Religious infrastructures take care of religious matters e.g. mosque, clergy, monasteries Some social institutions are also religious institutitons e.g. family institution The family institution is fundamental in all religions and is regarded as sacrosanct The Moral Codes are part of the legal institution of some religions JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY Moral codes for Judaism and Christianity can be found in the 10 Commandments 10 Commandments received by Prophet Moses The Ten Commandments 1. You shall not have other gods than me 2. You shall not make any images 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain (lightly) 4. Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy  JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY 5. Honor your father and your mother 6. You shall not kill 7. You shall not commit adultery 8. You shall not steal 9. You shall not bear false witness 10. You shall not covet/desire Numbers 1-4 to pertains to faith Numbers 5 to 10 are Moral Codes  BUDDHISM (1) Buddhist Moral Codes are found in the Precepts The 10 Precepts 1. One should not kill all living things 2. One should not take what is not given, i.e. steal 3. One should not commit adultery 4. One should not lie or cheat 5. One should not get intoxicated  BUDDHISM (2) 6. One should not eat after noon 7. One should not indulge in entertainments 8. One should not have luxuries 9. One should not have comforts 10. One should not own wealths Precepts 1 to 5 are observed by all Buddhists Precepts 1 to 10 are observed by minks Precepts 1 to 8 are observed by Buddhist who practice monasticism periodically  HINDUISM The Hindu Moral Codes are found in the Yamas The Yamas 1. Non- Violence (killing) 2. Do not lie 3. Do not steal 4. Do not lust 5. Discipline desire  JAINISM (1) The Moral Codes of Jainism are found in the Vows The 5 Vows for Ascetics: 1. I renounce all killing 2. I renounce all vices 3. I renounce stealing 4. I renounce sexual pleasure 5. I renounce all attachments The 12 Great Vows for all Jainas 1. I vow never to kill knowingly 2. I vow never to lie  JAINISM (2) 3. I vow never to steal 4. I vow never to be unchaste 5. I vow to check greed 6. I vow to avoid temptation 7. I vow to limit number of things 8. I vow to guard against evils 9. I should observe periods of meditation 10.I should observe periods of self- denial 11. I should spend periods as monk 12. I should give alms  SIKHISM (1) Five Major Vices and Sins (Rehat Maryada) 1. Lust 2. Anger 3. Greed 4. Worldly attachment 5. Pride 6. Atheism 7. Indolence (sloth and laziness) 8. Deceit 9. Slander 10.Ingratitude  SIKHISM (2) Other Prohibitions 1. Eating slaughtered meat 2. Cutting hair 3. Intoxicants and tobacco 4. Adultery 5. Asceticism and some spiritual behaviour: 6. Material obsession 7. Sacrifice of creatures 8. Non- family- oriented living (beggar, celibacy) 9. Worthles talk (Bragging, gossiping, etc) 10.Priestly class  ISLAM The Moral codes of Islam are found in the Hadd and Qisas al Hadd )‫ (احلد‬and al- Qisas (‫(القصاص‬ 1. Theft 2. Banditary or violent robbery 3. Adultery 4. Slanders on adultery 5. Intoxication 6. Apostasy 7. Murder  PARALLEL PROHIBITIONS Acts prohibited across the religions: 1. Murder, killing (all) 2. Adultery, fornication, unchaste or lust (all) 3. Stealing, theft or robbery (all) 4. Lying, cheating, deceit or bearing false witness (all) 5. Slandering or back- biting (all) 6. Intoxification (Buddhism, Sikhism, Islam)  VIRTUES AND VICES Other than the Moral Codes, religions also have concept of virtues and vices Virtues are good, praiseworthy acts and conduct Vices are bad, condemned acts and behaviour Acts of virtues will have positive retributions, i.e. rewards or merit in next life Acts of vices are also regarded as sins by some religions and will have negative retributions, i.e. punishment or demerits in next life PARALLEL ITEMS OF VIRTUES (1) There are many common items of virtue among religions The 5 Constant Virtues of Confucianism are regarded as virtues by all religions 5 Constant Virtues of Confucianism: 1. Jen/ Ren- benevolence 2. I/Yi – just 3. Li- propriety (etiquettes, proper manners) 4. Chih- wisdom 5. Hsin/ Xin- sincerity PARALLEL ITEMS OF VIRTUES (2) The Hindu Niyamas are also regarded as virtues in most religions The Niyamas of Hinduism 1. Be pure in body, mind and speech 2. Seek contentment 3. Cultivate devotion 4. Educate yourself 5. Be steadfast in hardship PARALLEL ITEMS OF VIRTUES (3) The 7 Cardinal Virtues of Christianity are also regarded as virtues by most religions: 1. Chastity, modesty 2. Abstinence, self- control 3. Generosity 4. Diligence 5. Patience 6. Kindness 7. Humility PARALLEL ITEMS OF VICES (1) Most religions also have same items of vices e.g. The 7 Cardinal Vices of Christianity The 7 Cardinal Vices of Christianity: 1. Lust 2. Gluttony 3. Greed 4. Sloth (laziness) 5. Anger 6. Envy 7. Pride  SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGIONS (1) Religions start with the nurturing of individuals, than families, and the society Good individuals make good families and good families make a good society Family institution is the fundamental social institution of religions and is sacrosanct Through the family institution, religion is sustained from generation to generation Every individual has social responsibilities and are accountable  SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGIONS (2) The Confucianism social philosophy reflects all religious philosophies- the will of heaven is reflected in the human hearts A person is to be good and to do good Treat others as how you want to be treated Personal responsibility and accountability- justifiable in this world and the next Concepts of retributions and rebirth are religious mechanisms for personal and social discipline  SOCIAL PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGIONS (3) Religious concept of relationship are similar to the Confucian Etiquette on Relationship (Hsio) Superiors are to be loving, caring, protective Subordinates are to be obedient and loyal 5 Relationships: (1) Husband- wife (2) Children- parents (3) Seniors- juniors (4) Employees- employers (5) King- subjects Religions are on the side of the weak and less fortunate- concepts of love, compassion- to be cared for by the strong and fortunate RELIGION AND CIVILIZATION The Faith Items are translated into the worldviews and value- systems of the religion Worldviews and value- systems implemented into infrastructures and institutions Infrastructures and institutions grow into culture and civilization of the religion Religious civilizations support the Faith Items, worldviews and value- systems of the religion All religious civilizations reflect the identity of the religion and are therefore unique  ISLAM Islam is a revealed religion Islam is scripture- centered Islam retains the original religion of tawhid Tawhid is inclusive- every existence is connected to and dependent upon Allah the Creator Almighty of everything Every existence is interconnected and interdependent upon each other Islam is comprehensive- everything is part of religion and are religious concerns  ISLAM- ACCOUNTABILITY Every Muslim has rights and responsibilities over himself, family, society and the world Every night and responsibility carries accountability Rights, responsibilities and accountability are enforced through retributions Society and social responsibilities are personal responsibility and part of faith Muslims are khalifah fi al-ard, therefore responsible for the human world as well as the non- human world  ISLAM- INSTITUTIONS Faiths and social Items of Islam are based on revelations All religious infrastructures and social institution ae based on Islamic teaching Moral Codes of Islam are part of Islamic laws and are enforceable Main social institutions of Islam are family, economic (zakat, bait al-mal), legal (shar’iah), education, political Islam is a religion of faith and civilization WASSALAM THANK YOU