How to Do Good and Avoid Evil
A Global Ethic from the Sources of Judaism
Published on 16. July 2009
Book
Hardback
176 pages
978-1-59473-255-3 (ISBN)
Description
In 1993, the World Parliament of Religions endorsed the "Declaration towards a Global Ethic" composed by Hans Kueng. In it, representatives from all the world's religions agreed on principles for a global ethic and committed themselves to directives of non-violence, respect for life, solidarity, a just economic order, tolerance, and equal rights and partnership between men and women. But the declaration was just the first step.
In HOW TO DO GOOD AND AVOID EVIL, Kueng, probably the most famous living Roman Catholic theologian, and Rabbi Walter Homolka, head of Germany's rabbinical seminary and distinguished professor, draw on the Jewish tradition to show the riches that Judaism can offer people of all faiths and non-believers in achieving these directives.
The authors make the case for binding values and basic moral attitudes, which can be found in Judaism's universal message of a better world where actions speak louder than words.
Exploring Judaism's focus on ethical conduct over declarations of faith, the authors show that making ethical decisions is indispensable in an ever-changing world.
In HOW TO DO GOOD AND AVOID EVIL, Kueng, probably the most famous living Roman Catholic theologian, and Rabbi Walter Homolka, head of Germany's rabbinical seminary and distinguished professor, draw on the Jewish tradition to show the riches that Judaism can offer people of all faiths and non-believers in achieving these directives.
The authors make the case for binding values and basic moral attitudes, which can be found in Judaism's universal message of a better world where actions speak louder than words.
Exploring Judaism's focus on ethical conduct over declarations of faith, the authors show that making ethical decisions is indispensable in an ever-changing world.
Reviews / Votes
"Enlightening and inspiring.... Convincingly shows ... all religions of the world can endorse a global ethic and each has a distinctive contribution to it. This book offers Judaism as a 'case study' for a global project."-Paul F. Knitter, Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions, and Culture, Union Theological Seminary
"At a time when people around the globe experience great division but also the unifying power of technology, this new framework offers hope for interfaith dialogue and understanding."
-Rabbi Ellen Weinberg Dreyfus, president, Central Conference of American Rabbis
"Demonstrates the rich contribution Judaism can make to the development of an ethical framework for today's global society. [Gives] the Jewish tradition its rightful place at the center of the ongoing discussion of a global ethic."
-John T. Pawlikowski, OSM, PhD, professor of social ethics; director, Catholic-Jewish Studies Program, Catholic Theological Union
"Proclaims the equality and worth of all persons in the eyes of God-irrespective of their faiths.... A vital and significant addition to the library of ecumenical discourse and interfaith dialogue."
-Rabbi David Ellenson, president, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Woodstock
United States
Publishing group
Jewish Lights Publishing
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
485 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-59473-255-3 (9781594732553)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Rabbi Walter Homolka | Hans Küng
How to Do Good & Avoid Evil
A Global Ethic from the Sources of Judaism
E-Book
08/2012
1st Edition
SkyLight Paths
€12.49
Available for download
Persons
Hans Kueng, a leading Roman Catholic theologian and priest, is president of the Global Ethic Foundation and emeritus professor of ecumenical theology at Tuebingen University in Germany. He is author of many books, including Global Responsibility: In Search of a New World Ethic and Yes to a Global Ethic.
Rabbi Walter Homolka is the rector of the Abraham Geiger College for the training of rabbis and a professor at Potsdam University, Germany. He is author of many books, including The Gate to Perfection: The Idea of Peace in Jewish Thought and Not By Birth Alone: Conversion to Judaism.
Rabbi Walter Homolka is the rector of the Abraham Geiger College for the training of rabbis and a professor at Potsdam University, Germany. He is author of many books, including The Gate to Perfection: The Idea of Peace in Jewish Thought and Not By Birth Alone: Conversion to Judaism.
Content
Acknowledgments
INTRODUCTION
Walter Homolka
JUDAISM AND A GLOBAL ETHIC
Hans Kueng
JUDAISM'S UNIVERSAL GIFT: AN ETHIC FOR HUMANKIND
Walter Homolka
CORE ETHIC 1 THE VALUE OF THE HUMAN: EVERY HUMAN BEING MUST BE TREATED HUMANELY.
Sacred Image of Man
Abraham J. Heschel
Primary Sources
CORE ETHIC 2 THE GOLDEN RULE: DO NOT DO TO ANOTHER WHAT YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO BE DONE TO YOU.
Love of Neighbor
Samson Hochfeld
Primary Sources
CORE ETHIC 3 PEACE: COMMITMENT TO A CULTURE OF NONVIOLENCE AND REVERENCE FOR ALL LIFE.
The Tent of Peace
Hermann Cohen
Primary Sources
CORE ETHIC 4 JUSTICE: COMMITMENT TO A CULTURE OF JUSTICE AND A JUST ECONOMIC ORDER.
Public Prosperity
Salomo Samuel
Primary Sources
CORE ETHIC 5 TRUTH AND TOLERANCE: COMMITMENT TO A CULTURE OF TOLERANCE AND A LIFE IN TRUTHFULNESS.
Truthfulness
Leo Baeck
Primary Sources
CORE ETHIC 6 EQUAL RIGHTS: COMMITMENT TO A CULTURE OF EQUAL RIGHTS AND A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.
Standing Again at Sinai
Judith Plaskow
Primary Sources
AFTERWORD: A VISION OF HOPE
Religious Peace and a Global Ethic
Hans Kueng
Declaration toward a Global Ethic
Council of the Parliament of the World's Religions, Chicago, September 1993
Glossary
Sources
Notes
Credits
INTRODUCTION
Walter Homolka
JUDAISM AND A GLOBAL ETHIC
Hans Kueng
JUDAISM'S UNIVERSAL GIFT: AN ETHIC FOR HUMANKIND
Walter Homolka
CORE ETHIC 1 THE VALUE OF THE HUMAN: EVERY HUMAN BEING MUST BE TREATED HUMANELY.
Sacred Image of Man
Abraham J. Heschel
Primary Sources
CORE ETHIC 2 THE GOLDEN RULE: DO NOT DO TO ANOTHER WHAT YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO BE DONE TO YOU.
Love of Neighbor
Samson Hochfeld
Primary Sources
CORE ETHIC 3 PEACE: COMMITMENT TO A CULTURE OF NONVIOLENCE AND REVERENCE FOR ALL LIFE.
The Tent of Peace
Hermann Cohen
Primary Sources
CORE ETHIC 4 JUSTICE: COMMITMENT TO A CULTURE OF JUSTICE AND A JUST ECONOMIC ORDER.
Public Prosperity
Salomo Samuel
Primary Sources
CORE ETHIC 5 TRUTH AND TOLERANCE: COMMITMENT TO A CULTURE OF TOLERANCE AND A LIFE IN TRUTHFULNESS.
Truthfulness
Leo Baeck
Primary Sources
CORE ETHIC 6 EQUAL RIGHTS: COMMITMENT TO A CULTURE OF EQUAL RIGHTS AND A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.
Standing Again at Sinai
Judith Plaskow
Primary Sources
AFTERWORD: A VISION OF HOPE
Religious Peace and a Global Ethic
Hans Kueng
Declaration toward a Global Ethic
Council of the Parliament of the World's Religions, Chicago, September 1993
Glossary
Sources
Notes
Credits