Etusivu Globaali etiikka In English

The original exhibition “World Religions – Universal Peace – Global Ethic” is put together by the Global Ethic Foundation. It invites the viewer to become acquainted with world religions and to understand their ethical message for our contemporary society. The Finnish exhibition has been produced by Kulttuuri- ja uskontofoorumi FOKUS - Forum for Culture and Religion.

The question of a Global Ethic stems from Professor Hans Küng’s book Global Responsibility. According to Küng, world religions can make a contribution to the peace of human kind only if they reflect on the ethical elements which they have in common. Such elements are a fundamental consensus on binding values, irrevocable standards and personal attitudes. Underlying the Global Ethic project is the basic conviction that there can be:

• No peace among the nations without peace among the religions.

• No peace among the religions without dialogue between the religions.

• No dialogue between the religions without global ethical standards!

• No survival of our globe without a global ethic, supported by both religious and nonreligious people

The first major result of this investigation of the foundation of the religions was the “Declaration towards a Global Ethic” which was endorsed by the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1993. Representatives of all the religions reached agreement on two principles for a global ethic:

1. The principle of humanity: every human being must be treated humanely.
2. In practically all cultures and religions of humankind there is a formal basic principle the ‘Golden Rule’ of reciprocity: ‘What you do not wish done to yourself, do not do to others.’

These two principles include concrete directives for four central spheres of life which are formulated as commitments:

• Commitment to a culture of non-violence and respect for life.

• Commitment to a culture of solidarity and a just economic order.

• Commitment to a culture of tolerance and a life of truthfulness.

• Commitment to a culture of equal rights and partnership between men and women. 

For more information, please contact:

Forum for Culture and Religion - FOKUS

tel. 040 826 7777

info@kulttuurifoorumi.fi

"What you do not wish done to yourself, do not do to others."