Christian Ethics in Business - Research Paper Example

CHRISTIAN ETHICS IN BUSINESS Business ethics refer to the corporate values, duties and obligations one is morally bound to follow and observe during the course of rendering his professional services within individual and collective perspectives. In other words, business ethics simply means abiding by the rules and regulations, based on ethical values have been prescribed to define the patterns of professional behavior. This behavior supports to describe and illustrate rights and obligations of individuals to some specific sort of work. “Ethics is”, according to Thomson Gale, “the branch of philosophy that defines what is good for the individual and for society and establishes the nature of obligations, or duties, that people owe themselves and one another.” (2004: 31) Though the political authorities in all countries devise statutes of laws and implement them for the best interest of the society at large, which aim to strictly establish the complete code of responsibilities and relationships on the professionals while entering into communication, dealing and interaction; yet there appear several issues that have not been manifestly described and defined by law. The rule of law respects us as equals. It allows us to organize our lives, plan our futures, and resolve disputes in a rational way.” (Rule, 2008: 12) Thus, apparently these laws look comprehensive and sufficient in deciding the role, duties and rights of professionals while interacting with others in career life; even then there is an urgent need for some specific code on the basis of which the individuals could be restricted to adopt while dealing with their customers and clients as well as the public at large. However, there certainly exist some specific moral values that are other than laws, and the prevailing legal framework does not restrict the professionals to abide by these moral values. On the contrary, it is religious beliefs and ethical values that apply restrictions and limitations upon the professionals while offering their services at offices and work places. Consequently, religious beliefs vehemently lay stress upon observing of ethics in personal and professional dealings. MacFarlane has explained the decline of ethics with particular reference to occupation of law. “When we speak of the decline in “ethical” standards, we should not use the term ‘ethics’ to mean only compliance with the Ten Commandments or other standards of common, basic morality.....A lawyer can [adhere to all these requirements] and still fail to meet the standards of a true profession, standards calling for fearless advocacy within established canons of service provided he does not keep moral principles during rendering his legal services inside and outside the court of law. (MacFarlane, 2002: 2) Hence, ethics could not be confined to one Scripture or religion only; rather, these values are universal in nature and scope at large. The contemporary era has observed unabated developments in all fields and walks of life, which has turned human life a bit complex and knotty one. People are too much engaged in their personal problems that they have least care for the difficulties and sufferings of the fellow humans. It is specially the case with the hours spent at work places, where there appear conflicts, competitions, jealousy, leg-pulling and grouping at organizational scale. Favoritism, nepotism and personal liking play dominant role in the recruitment and promotion processes. Moreover, the organizations also observe biased behavior on the foundations of race, ethnicity, region, religion, gender and sexual orientation. In addition, 9/11 terrorists attacks have altered the very scenario of the entire globe, and the world finds itself in a more perplexed state of affairs, where people appear to be divided into groups and communities, each of which considers itself superior to others in race and other aspects. Since globalization has created such environments in all regions of the world in such a way that professionals belonging to divergent racial, regional and ethnic groups have to render their services while working under one roof. The individuals, organizations and companies, who do not intend to display the principles of professional ethics including justice, equality, tolerance and fair play, remain lagging far behind than their competitors and rivals. “Todays workplace is replete with ethical dilemmas. Not all are of dramatically major proportions, although the range of dilemmas and challenges is considerable. All workers are affected, regardless of where in the hierarchy they fit - employers, employees; those with considerable leadership responsibilities, those with few; those who give orders, those who carry them out; senior managers, shop floor workers. Christians are affected just as much as are Muslims or unbelievers.” (Jones, 2000: 3) Christianity serves as the greatest religion of the world, as the number of its followers is largest to all other faiths and beliefs. Abrahamic religions share many characteristics of ethics and morality in them. “Both Muslims and, to a lesser extent Jews, operate within a social atmosphere that is conducive to the influence of their religious precepts being heeded, and where it is normal for moral and ethical concerns to be discussed within a religious ethos; and the religious ethos of both Judaism and Islam have great similarities with those of Christianity. (Retrieved in jesdialogue.org) Being one of the three Abrahamic religions, along with Judaism and Islam, Christianity seeks inspiration from the teachings explicitly mentioned and described in its Holy Scriptures i.e. Old and New Testaments, and the records of Christ’s saying as well. The Holy Scriptures vehemently look for honesty, charity, fair play, nobility, truthfulness and commitment in one’s everyday life. Holy Christ, in his Sermon on the Mount, has laid stress upon making fair deals while entering into any commitment with others. Leviticus (19: 11-12) manifestly determines the code of professional conduct for the individuals, for domestic, personal and career life, according to which people could not steal anything from other, not they could deal others falsely or through lies, as it is strictly forbidden according to the Book of God. In addition, Almighty Lord forbids the people from swearing in His name falsely, which is actually equals to profaning the sacred name of God, the Lord. In addition, other parts of the Holy Scriptures also preach faithfulness, fulfillment of promises and unconditional adherence to one’s commitment with others. “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24KJV abbr. King James Version ..... Click the link for more information.). Hence, the Holy Scripture provides complete code of conduct in the light of Christian teachings. Since the topic under study discusses the moral valued adopted by the therapist while making treatment of the patients, therapeutic services have taken into consideration while making the analysis of Christian ethics in business. Therapeutic counseling serves as an alternative method of treatment that is almost opposite to suggesting drug consumption to the clients for recovering to health. The services of professional medical specialists and psychiatrists are acquired to rehabilitate the individuals suffering from any problem of such kind including mental disturbances, drug or alcoholic addiction, perversion, deviation and others. Though statute of law determines the responsibilities and relationship of counselors and the clients, yet there exist ethical values that must be taken into serious considerations during the treatment of patients suffering from different kinds of metal sickness and psychological collapse. Eventually, medical, therapeutic, legal and career ethics are taught in every society to the students seeking education, which they are instructed to observe according to the prevailing social norms and cultural values identical to the cultural traits of the individuals of a society. Ethical laws are based on the obligations with regard to be good or bad in the eyes of Almighty God. “Values are”, Nugent (1990: 262) states, “standards or ethical guidelines that influence an individual or group’s behavior, attitudes and decisions.” Not only this that values enjoy worthwhile status in medicine and counseling more than other professions, but also it has been witnessed that adopting of these values is extremely supportive for both therapists and the patients during treatment in general. Medical law looks for the application of skills and proficiency during treatment, so that patients could be cured. However, it is a reality beyond suspicion that mere therapy, medicines, operations and surgery are not enough to cure them. On the other hand, complete attention to the patients and consoling them during the treatment prove supportive in mitigating the pains and sufferings of the patients. Since talking to patients and entering into cordial relationship is not the part of the professional responsibilities, but it is certainly the essential part of moral values and ethics. Theorists are of the view that relationship between the counselor and patient is of vital significance for convalescence of the patients. If medical specialists work like machine and pretend dry and cold attitude towards the patients during the treatment, the rehabilitation process may undergo grave jeopardy. Bell and Montoya (1997: 52) compare it to the relationship between child and his parents. (Quoted in Doweiko, 2006: 365) The theorists maintain different views in respect of applying ethical values. Doweiko (2006) strongly believes in implementation of moral values in a therapeutic counseling and lays stress on applying ethics during the counseling. Adams (1974) also describes counseling named after social and religious belief i.e. Christian counseling, authoritative counseling etc. On the other hand, Mann (1972:9) refutes the idea of imposing any particular set of values upon a patient. Mann opines that inclusion of any ethical values either religious or social or moral ones causes biased behavior in the counseling. He argues that counseling should be absolutely based be professionalism, and prejudice of any type should be observed to promote the very spirit of counseling. “The price of toleration”, George argues, “of serious deviance from a society’s constitutive morality is the loss of a distinctive form of interpersonal integration in community understood as something worthwhile for its own sake.” (1993: 65). The main obligation of a psychotherapist includes supporting the client suffering from pathological retardation to the way to complete cure. “The business of the psycho- therapist or counselor”, Fromm-Reichmann (1950) observes, “has been to assist in the amelioration of a persons pathological conflicts so as to enable him freely to come to terms with himself, and to assume for himself a relatively unidirectional plan of life—whatever that selected plan might be).” There must be developed an atmosphere where the patient feels no hesitation in revealing the causes of his ailment and sickness. Diagnosis at the right direction is half the way to cure, the counselor asserted the very fact. It is therefore, a clinical supervisor should be given free hand to exercise his own methodology. But one thing must be kept in mind that there must not be anything that could disgust or humiliate the client. “Christianity is a revealed religion. Truth is based on absolutes rather than scientific discovery or evolutionary events. It is interesting that many North American Christians will take a stand on the Creation side of the evolution-creation debate yet blindly endorse the system of political economy within which we function.” (DeFehr, 1982: 11) Conflict of interest is one of the most prominent factors in the performance of duties and services. Since colleagues, clients and customers have conflict of interest with the professionals, which create hurdles and obstacles on the way to performing duties in an effective way. Consequently, it becomes very difficult for them to stick to performing the duties accordingly. It is ethics that urges the individuals to tolerate even at the most untoward situation. “Conflicts of interest have given rise to a number of legal and disciplinary actions. It is an area that is commonly identified by professionals (lawyers) as a problem in legal practice. Conflicts of interest are not all that easy to resolve because some interests will require that the lawyer not act for the person while other conflicts may still allow fort he lawyer to act for both parties.” (Macfarlane, 2002: 6) The most crucial professional ethics include: The professionals must pay due heed to the problems facing by the clients, and must provide complete counseling to them according to the best of their knowledge and information. Moreover, they should never aim to disclose slightest information regarding the problems of the clients, which have been described as secrets by the clients. Christian teachings urge the businessmen and professionals to obey their superiors and respect their co-workers. In addition, it is also in Christian ethics that they should never look down upon the lower stratum and lower staff members as well. “Another principle”, according to Ephesians, “is the compliance with the directions and orders of the masters. “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedlywhole·heart·ed   adj. Marked by unconditional commitment, unstinting devotion, or unreserved enthusiasm: wholehearted approval. whole ..... Click the link for more information., as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.” (Ephesians 6:5-9: quoted in carter, 2006: 19 NIV New International Version (of the Bible) NIV Non-Immigrant Visa NIV No Income Verification (loan) NIV Non Invasive Ventilation NIV No Innocent Victim (band) ) Hence, the professionals must remain faithful to their bosses, and should never give suggestions without their permission. The same is applied in medical profession, where the junior staff should not recommend any medicine or technique to the clients without the prior permission from the seniors. Moreover, the practitioners should care the ailing persons politely and sympathetically, and should never display any ill intention to exploit the feelings and emotions of the client. In addition, it is the moral obligation of the profession that they should not behave in such a way that may put the life and honor of the client into jeopardy. On the contrary, they must apply best available methods and techniques to solve the clients’ problems. Furthermore, keeping in view confidentiality regarding the problem of the client is the most significant matter and professional conduct while interacting with the public. Professional ethics also includes displaying honesty, devotion and steadfastness while attending the clients. Though the legal ethics apply to all the professionals, the same is particularly stressed upon physicians, general practitioners and the individuals belonged to the medical profession. “A physician shall”, according to American Medical Association, “uphold the standards of professionalism, be honest in all professional interactions, and strive to report physicians deficient in character or competence, or engaging in fraud or deception, to appropriate entities.” (Quoted in ama-assn.org) In a nutshell, it becomes evident that role and ethical duties of a professional practitioner, described in the Christian ethics, has got an imperative significance under such a changing environment, where more devastating health problems are spreading their awkward feathers in the wake of mental tensions, retardation and sickness in this age of advancement. Moreover, the health of elderly has also turned out to be a great trial particularly in advanced nations where life expectancy is crossing 85 years of age. Since the elderly are comparatively more nagging, impatient and irritating, it is the moral obligation of therapist to tolerate their mental condition with exemplary patience and endurance. The obligations of the medical, therapeutic, legal and other professionals have multiplied in this age of globalization, where new challenges are being introduced in the aftermath of the latest changes being made in the fields of science, information technology, business activities and political scenario. “The past decade has been mini-revolution in legal service sector with the greatest legal impact on corporate legal arena. Activities in project financing, intellectual property protection, environmental protection, competition law, corporate taxation, infrastructure contract, corporate governance and investment law were almost unknown before 90’s.” (Retrieved from legalserviceindia.com) New and more challenging ailments including cancer, aids, bird flu viruses and others have opened new dimensions in the field of medical profession. A therapist must be well aware of the changing political, social and economic situation so that he can cope with each and every medical problem faced by the wide range of the clients and general public. REFERENCES: Ball, Matt (1995) A Theory of Ethics Quoted in Veganoutreach.Org. Columbia University Press Carter, C. 2006. Rethinking Christ and Culture: A Post-Christendom Perspective. Brazos Press Jones & Bartlett (2008) Fire Service Instructor: Principles and Practice ISBN-13: 9780763749101 p 7 http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763749101/ Doweiko, Harold E. (2006). Concepts of Chemical Dependency Wadsworth Pub Co. ISBN: 053463284X p 365 DeFehr, Arthur 1982 Issues for Christians in Business Direction Journal January 1982 Vol. 11 No.1 3-8 Rule, Stan. (2008) Rule of Law (Retrieved from http://rulelaw.blogspot.com) Leviticus Chapter 19: 11-12 http://scriptures.lds.org/lev/19/18 Thessalonians Chapter 5 http://www.christiananswers.net/bible/1th5.html Jones, D. Gareth 2000 Major Ethical Issues in the Workplace Latimer Occasional Paper No 7 June, 2000 http://www.latimer.org.nz/downloads/workplace-ethics-issues.pdf MacFarlane, Peter. 2002 The Importance of Ethics and the Application of Ethical Principles to the Legal Profession Journal of South Pacific Law Volume 6. http://www.paclii.org/journals/fJSPL/vol06/8.shtml An Interfaith Declaration A Code Of Ethics on International Business for Christians, Muslims and Jews http://institute.jesdialogue.org/fileadmin/bizcourse/INTERFAITHDECLARATION.pdf Read More