Understanding Major World Religions and Universal Ethics
The Importance of Religions
Christianity
Christianity was founded by Jesus of Nazareth. Its holy book is the Bible. The moral code that Jesus preached was based on love for one’s neighbor and God. He defended the dignity of all human beings as children of God, forbade violence and hatred, and ordered respect for parents. He was an advocate of peace and helping the weak.
Islam
The Muslim religion was founded by Muhammad, who presented himself as a prophet of Allah (the one God). It is the main religion in Arab countries and in parts of Asia. Its holy book is the Quran. Its moral code is based on five pillars:
- The profession of faith in Allah
- Prayer five times a day
- Alms
- Fasting during Ramadan
- The pilgrimage to Mecca
Hinduism
Hinduism is the main religious tradition of India. Its holy books are the Vedas. Hindus believe in Brahman, the eternal and infinite principle that is the source of everything that exists. They believe that actions determine the future of souls. Salvation takes place when one is released from the cycle of death and rebirth. To attain this, one must strive for goodness through virtuous deeds.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a variation of Hinduism. It was founded by Buddha and spread throughout East Asia. For Buddhists, the world is a prison. Salvation is to discover that nothing remains and that the cause of suffering is attachment to material things. To achieve perfection, one must discard desires and resign oneself.
Common Moral Elements in Religions
In all religious traditions, there are common moral elements that should be considered as a fundamental contribution to the construction of a universal ethic. All these noble traditions suggest ways of life and develop moral values that, together, contain more points of agreement than disagreement between the religions.
The Search for Good Solutions
Moral values have been specified over time. For example, freedom was not considered important until 2500 years ago. Ancient cultures considered solidarity the most important value. Religious thinkers, social movements demanding their rights, and politicians have been involved in trying to promote a particular moral life. Morality is a creation of shared intelligence.
Each of us has a personal intelligence, the kind that intelligence tests measure. But that intelligence is developed and utilized better or worse through contact with others. Shared intelligence arises from the interaction of many minds that learn, teach, reason, debate, and criticize the solutions given to problems. It is an endeavor to discover the fundamental values that are derived from human dignity and to design a common house project of universal morality.
Criteria for Finding Valid Solutions
- Values and standards must be compatible with each other and satisfy the basic needs of human nature, which is intelligent and social.
- The way of life that must be defended should look fair and desirable to any intelligent, informed person, able to put themselves in the place of others and then judge the proposal as an impartial observer.
- The solution must be universalized: it must be true for everyone. There cannot be one solution for whites and another for blacks.
- The implementation should ensure that the effects produced are beneficial. Sometimes a solution that seems good in theory causes harmful effects.
The Golden Rule
The Golden Rule is a general moral principle that states: Treat your fellow human beings as you would like to be treated. It is found in almost all cultures, often as a fundamental rule.