Introduction
World religions have offered various approaches to dealing with ethical issues throughout history. Different world religions have been at the core of providing guidelines towards morality and ethics based on their traditions, customs and religious beliefs. Within the diverse range of laws and customs that govern communities, religious traditions and practices co-exist with modern frameworks of ethics such as utilitarianism and humanism to ensure world order. The diverse religions that significantly contribute to law and order include Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism and Islam. The diverse religions have fostered significant ethical values in society, such as defining wrong and right actions, issues on corruption, justice, equality, wealth distribution and living together as one community created by God. Although each religion has distinct values and traditions with different interpretations, most beliefs have a common ground that addresses various ethical factors in society. This essay explores various ethical principles and moral values that Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism can agree upon to promote humanity and morality and end world conflicts today.
Compassion
The most significant ethical insight the four religions can agree upon is compassion to foster humanity and morality in society. Compassion is a golden rule upon which humankind can show concern for others without bias and discrimination. By being compassionate, people can treat others with respect, humility, reverence and kindness, which fosters excellent vices and community oneness. Thus, the major world religion would agree on practicing compassion to promote humanity, equality and world order among communities. In Judaism, the Torah insists on being compassionate, loving and kind to others, which defines true discipleship and Godliness (Ward, 42). Believers are encouraged to help each other and members of society needing help, such as the poor, sickly and those dying of hunger. The Islamic religion insists upon distributing wealth and sharing it with others in need as a sign of compassion (Gensler, 63). The ethical insight of compassion further insists upon giving without expecting profits in return. Thus, the religion opposes heavy fines, penalties and interest on loans which may oppress the poor and less advantaged populations.
Similarly, Buddhism considers compassion an ethical value in one life. In Buddhism, believers follow Buddha’s word to benefit many and make them happy as a sign of compassion for others (Boyd, 265). Monks, religious leaders, and the Buddhist community perform many charitable works and donations in the temple to show their support for the needy and strengthen their spirituality since Buddha commands sharing and helping those in need. Lastly, Hinduism encourages compassion by giving alms to the poor and needy (Ward, 43). People who give are guaranteed a good life on earth and afterlife, making them generous to communities in need worldwide. Thus, compassion can help eradicate world disputes by promoting unity and suppressing social oppression among communities fostering humanity and morality.
Justice and Equality
Other ethical values that world religions can agree upon to promote morality and humanity are justice and equality. All four world religions believe in practicing justice and fairness in society, which indicates righteousness and morality before the supreme being. Judaism is based on the principle that world order is based on honesty and fairness. A true believer of the Judaic religion must be truthful and practice fairness and equality among fellow believers and other members of society (Gensler, 158). According to Judaism, justice is better than sacrifice when one aspires to be close to God. Further, justice comes from God, the creator of all beings and must be practiced by all regardless of social status, race or economic status. Equality is the core of humanity since human beings were made in the image and likeness of God and have the same value as the supreme being.
Similarly, the Islamic religion is founded on the ethical values of justice and equality. Islams believe that brothers and sisters under the Islamic umbrella can only be believers if they practice fairness. One must treat a brother the same way they expect to be treated regardless of status, race and socio-cultural background. The Quran dictates that all Muslims bear witness to the truth and impartiality of the parties concerned (Ward, 190). At the same time, one should not bear hatred against another, which may lead to impartial judgment and false witnessing, which is a sin. Likewise, Buddhism and Hinduism argue that revenge is unethical because it can lead to other evils, such as murder and witnessing against an innocent person (Boyd, 267). Thus, religions have a common ground on justice and equality for all, a significant ethical value in resolving significant world conflicts and fostering humanity among diverse populations worldwide.
Straightforwardness
World religions insist upon straightforwardness as an approach to living righteous lives before God and promoting human and ethical values. Being straightforward includes truthfulness, integrity, transparency and selflessness (Gensler, 115). The major world religions would agree on straightforwardness as an ethical value because they all prohibit stealing and holding another’s possession unlawfully due to self-interests. The four religions understand that human beings have physical desires that must be achieved to make them complete. At the same time, the changing modern way of living has brought many demands to possess material wealth and power, which gives one a higher social standing. Regardless, one must create wealth through the proper channels that do not involve oppressing others, particularly the lowly in society.
Similarly, Buddhists believe in honesty and trustworthiness in living a righteous life. The religion is against stealing, corruption and dishonesty, which are unethical to self and the community. Greediness is considered ethically wrong since it leads to sinning to fulfill one’s desires. The third noble truth of Buddhism declares that one should get rid of something that might lead to sinning (Gensler, 122). For instance, if one’s desires can make them dishonest or corrupt, one should get rid of the desire and live a fulfilling life that does not demand committing crimes. Likewise, Islamic and Hinduism religions encourage believers to be morally upright and use direct methods of achieving their goals. Thus, major world religions have collective ethical beliefs on justice which can foster humanity and help in conflict resolution globally.
Nonviolence
Peace is one of the fundamental values major world religions agree upon in ensuring an orderly and harmonious community. Many religions have contributed to world peace through their spirituality and religious insights, values and beliefs. In Judaism, peace is one of their core principles, strengthening their brotherhood and relations with others in society (Long & Michael, 52). The religion bases the concept of peace on Old Testament scriptures and prophets sent by God to preach and maintain peace among His people. Buddhist believers have maintained and spread the concept of peace from their way of life as monks and vegetarians. The Buddhist leaders believe in the sanctity of life for humans and animals, which has ensured non-violent acts such as killing animals for food or harming human beings, which causes suffering (Long & Michael, 68). Modern Buddhists have promoted harmony with other societies through generations of practicing the culture, contributing to world peace and humanity.
In Islam and Hinduism, religions are opposed to violence because it increases human suffering. In Hinduism, people from a specific caste system are the only ones allowed to fight since their position in the community dictates that they fight to protect innocents. Similarly, the Islamic religion makes exceptions for violent attacks where the believers can wage war to protect innocents and stop progressive violence (Boyd, 266). Using violence to stop a war is considered noble since it involves getting rid of the cause of human suffering. Nonetheless, the four religions agree that violence is immoral and must be practiced minimally in situations that require force to protect society. Thus, the four religions can promote conflict resolution and humanity by agreeing on the ethical values of peace and being violent if it means protecting innocents.
Conclusion
The significant ethical insights and moral values that major world religions can agree upon include compassion, justice and equality, nonviolence and straightforwardness. All four religions encourage believers and other members of society to show compassion to each other as a show of love for God. The four religions insist on straightforwardness in pursuing righteousness before God and man. Despite life’s challenges, diverse religions encourage believers to stay strong in their spirituality and persevere through life without breaking the law and being dishonest. Consequently, the major world religion insists on justice and equality as ethical since the creator gave everyone equal value in society. Therefore, people should practice fairness which discourages the oppression of the less advantaged. Lastly, the four religions are against violence because it causes suffering. One should not kill or engage in activities that may harm innocents, leading to sinning. Considering the ethical values that the major world religions uphold and would agree upon, people from diverse religious communities can work collectively to end world conflicts such as terrorism, hunger and social oppression.
Works Cited
Boyd, Robert. Approaching the World’s Religions. Cascade Books, 2017, p. 1-300.
Gensler, Harry J. Ethics: A Contemporary Introduction. Routledge, 2018, p. 101-186.
Long, Jeffery D., and Michael G. Long. Nonviolence in the World’s Religions: A Concise Introduction. Routledge, 2022, p. 1-102.
Ward, Keith. Religion in the Modern World: Celebrating Pluralism and Diversity. Cambridge University Press, 2019, p. 7-213.