A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE ETHICS OF UNIVERSAL RELIGIONS

Abstract

Abstract

            This research study, ‘A Comparative Study on the Ethics of Universal Religions’ is aimed  1) to study about the Ethics and its Principles of Buddhism and Christianity, 2) to comparatively study and analyze the core and Judgment basis of goodness and badness in Buddhism and Christianity ,and 3) to find the similarities and the differences of Buddhism and Christianity through this study. This research is qualitative research in which documents from primary and secondary sources were analyzed and compared. The research results were analytically and descriptively presented.

            The research results reveal that

            1) According to Buddhist Principles, the Ethics of Buddhism consist of two main parts of the truth in Tipitaka, namely 1) Dhamma with the Natural Law in which the Lord Buddha had found the existence of everything or the law of Reason and Effect so called ‘Paticca-samuppadawhich concerns every reason for each existence.  2) the truth found by the Lord Buddha which was spread to devotees in order to live harmoniously and peacefully which is called ‘Ethics or Morality Principles’, while the Morality Principles are the Ten Commandments. These Ten Commandments are as follows: 1) You should have no other gods except me. 2) You should not to make any idols. 3) You should not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. 4) You should remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 5) You should honor your father and  your mother. 6) You should not murder. 7) You should not commit adultery. 8) You should not steal. 9) You should not bear false witness against your neighbor. 10) You should not covet.

            2) For the Judgment Basis of goodness and badness in Buddhism and Christianity, In Buddhism, goodness and badness are bound to be judged with an equal Karma which is based on the Five Precepts. In Christianity, it is believed that the God is the Creator of the existence of everything on earth, and the foundation of Morality. The Judgment Basis in Christianity is based on the kindness of each human beings rather than consideration on the result of actions. People are judged by the Ten standards set by God to be guidelines for living. The Judgment Basis for goodness and badness for Christianity is based on the Christian Principles as follows: 1) each doer’s intention of merit, 2) the core of the Judgment Basis of Morality in the Old Bible, namely the Ten Commandments. That said, any behaviors which  conforms to the Ten Commandments are considered to be good habits, and 3) According to the New Bible, ‘Love’ refers to ‘the Love to God’.  God’s words are to love Him extremely. Moreover, God’s words also refer to ‘the love to other human beings’, ‘Love your neighbors the same way you love yourself.’ Any behaviors which against the rules are considered unmoral.

            3) The comparative study shows the following similarities and differences between the Moralities of the two religions namely, Buddhism and Christianity. Principles and Concepts of both religions share the same purpose in which to encourage people to perform good deeds, avoid bad deeds, behave to others with morality, without any encroaching, living harmonically with peacefulness. Studying on the Ethics and Morality in any religion, general knowledge on each religion, principles, concepts, practices are necessary to study due to the uniqueness of each kind of believe which affect the behaviors of the devotees of the particular religion as well as the encouragement of mutual understanding and harmoniously living.