How Western Religious Heritage has shaped up Work Ethics in the West
Work ethics is about how people carry out their jobs or their responsibilities. It also includes how a person feels regarding their career and vocation of their jobs. Work ethics involves respect, good behavior, communication, attitude and even how one relates with others. It is work ethics that shows whom and what a person stands for. Characteristics of work ethics include accountability and honesty. This narrows down to what a person would do or does when they are in a particular situation. The major issue in a situation would involve what is acceptable, right and above board. According to philosophy, if a person does not have good work ethics, the conscience of a person is most of the times bothered and this disrupts how they work1. All people should desire to have proper work ethics and to doing the proper thing in every situation so that harmony and coordination in the work place can be achieved.
The early and the current religions in the west did a lot in trying to ensure that the people from the west changed their view of work which had been completely misguided in that they viewed work as a curse from God and therefore tried to shun work at every opportunity. Some of the attitudes about work that the Western religious heritage has worked a lot to change include, masters treating their workers in inhuman ways, having notions that there are Godly jobs and secular jobs and several other issues resulting from those attitudes. This paper puts forward a discussion of the issues in work ethics that the early religions addressed and how the currently main religions in the west including Christianity, Islam and Judaism have continued to teach about good work ethics which has seen the people in the West change their attitudes of work from what their forefathers had believed.
The history of work ethics in the West
Doing good work as a result of an intrinsic value is a norm that has recently been developed in the West. Work had been considered degrading and hard in the human race’s history. It is until the reformation of the Protestant that culturally, physical labor became acceptable for every person including the wealthy. One of the influences of the western world culture was the belief system of the Judeo Christian2. The belief system of the Hebrews had a view of work as a curse that was devised by God for the punishment due to ingratitude and disobedience of Adam and Eve. Scriptures from the Old Testament actually supported work but not because there was joy in it but from the stance that work was necessary to avoid destitution and poverty. (NIV; 1973; Proverbs 14:23, Ecclesiastes 9:10).
The Greeks just as the Hebrews considered work as a curse according to (Maywood, 1982). The word for work in Greek was “ponos” that has been extracted from the Latin word “poena” which means sorrow and as a result manual labor was left aside for the slaves. The mental labor was also denounced by the Greeks. Skilled crafts were somehow recognized to have some value in the society but were still regarded as work appropriate for the slaves. Aristotle was in support of the ownership private wealth and properties but his view of work was that work was a waste of time and this would make the life of the citizens difficult3. The Greeks believed that a person’s wisdom, morality and prudence was proportional the amount of leisure or free time a person had. Any person who worked when it was not necessary ran the risk of having no distinction from the slaves. In the Greek culture, leadership was based on how much work one did not do and a person who did not follow this norm was acting to challenge the state itself.
The Romans had adopted their belief system mostly from the Greek culture and they also considered manual laborers with low regards. The Roman Empire occupied most of the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa had a great influence on the Western culture in which this study is developed. The ancient world including the Roman Empire had integrated slavery in their lives and the use of slaves was very much utilized by the Romans more than even the Greeks did. Slaves were relatively treated well in the early Roman system and moderate numbers of slaves we being used but as the amount of landholdings developed many more slaves in terms of thousands were required for grain production in large scale on the estates and their treatment only grew worse. The slaves were treated as human beings that had no rights and the hope of being fed became less every day4.
According to the Romans culture, only two types of work were deemed fit for a free man and this was the big businesses and agriculture and the other work was meant for the slaves. Any handicrafts jobs or requesting a person to work manually was considered to be dishonoring, vulgar and below the Roman citizen dignity.
In the sixteenth century, a period of political and religious reformation in the Western Europe came up with new perspectives to work. John Calvin and Martin Luther were two main religious leaders who directly influenced the western culture. Martin Luther believed that people could glorify God through their work and also that work was the cause of the different social classes in the society. He suggested that every person should keep to their occupation and one should not change the profession in which they were born as doing so would be going against God who had assigned every person to their position in the social hierarchy. (Lipset, 1990, Tilgher, 1930). Martin Luther was in contradiction with the medieval view of work in regards to the superiority a certain form of work over the other.
According to Martin Luther, each person’s work was equated to their calling and all callings were equal in the spiritual dignity and this meant that he was affirming the manual labor. Luther suggested that it was sinful to horde or accumulate wealth and that every person should make an income that would only meet his basic needs. The ethic from the protestant which gave a moral approval to the making profit through hard work spread throughout the western region. The French Huguenots, the English Puritans, the Dutch and the Swiss reformed the Calvinist theology which supported capital growth and productivity5. As time went by, beliefs and attitudes which were in support of hard work were made to look secular and were integrated in the Western culture and emphasized scrupulous use of time, deferment of pleasure and diligence in work had become part of the philosophy of work in Western world.
Discussion
Some of the ideas regarding work ethics from the history of the west have trickled down to the present generations and this includes the treatment of workers as slave as some of the people do not pay their workers and if at all they do, they do it when it is too late. Some aspects of laziness have also been found with many people from the west and the religions in the west which are majorly Christianity, the Islam and Judaism have made sure to teach against such work ethics in order to create a world that is comfortable for every citizen and also to break the ties with the past history of the west that is viewed to have made very many mistakes as regards work ethics. The western religious heritage has also made sure to tackle other arising problems in work ethics in the west that has included dishonesty, stealing, cheating, lack of commitment in doing work, failing to lacking a sense of purpose for the work that people do.
Work ethics mostly come from within, this means they are intrinsic. The question of where work ethics comes from as answered from a Christian view is that work ethics come from the creator of human beings who is their God. The Bible which is God’s word proclaims for work ethics which include integrity, honesty, keeping things above board, doing a good job and considering accountability factors. Christians hold the view that every worker should be humble which insists on considering other people’s need before their own and also treating others with respect and decency. It also advocates for treating others and this involves doing well to others, loving other and valuing others and treating them with dignity6.
The religions in the west have had a major role in the shaping up of the work ethics. I shall focus more on the three major religions in the west which are the Muslims, Judaism and Christianity on how they have helped shape up the eroded sense of work ethics among the Westerners and also what the religions are installing in people’s mind in order that the good work ethics are passed on to the generations to come in the West.
Christian teachings on work ethics
Christian’s teachings recommend that every person who is able to work should work. This should be the means for providing a living and also a way of looking after their families and helping those that are in need. Those people who are not able to work due to reasons such as disability, age, or social crisis should be helped by those who are able through the church. The Bible has commanded the church to rebuke those who refuse to work and even to have nothing that associates with them so that the church can make them ashamed of their behavior.
When analyzing the Christians perception of work, it is important to consider that any activity that sustains or improves the lives of ourselves and others is work and that a Christian reveals his or her faith through the work they do7. If any Christian should reject the teachings of work for God, then it would mean that their relationship with God is not real and it is only idealistic. Mathew 21:33-44 is a parable of the vineyard, the tenants and their talents. This parable teaches that God always holds man accountable for good management of activities that are entrusted to him and that before man is accountable to the authority, but they are first accountable to God before anybody else.
Christians have not been limited to how much they should use their abilities in providing for themselves in fact they have been obligated to use all the abilities, natural resources and opportunities for the purpose that God intended for the world. Employers should also put into consideration if they help their workers to reach their full potential as they are not supposed to limit their abilities. The book of Proverbs in the Bible teaches that working in diligence leads to good harvests. Diligence will involve use of skills, knowledge and being orderly in one’s affairs. A diligent person plans his activities and does not at any time need to be in a frantic use of time. Even though the Bible urges people to work, it also proclaims that those who work deserve to get paid and this is directly pointed out for all employers and lack of carrying out this mandate, God will bring His wrath upon them.
This indicates that every worker should expect a fair reward for their work. A person cannot find fulfillment in work if the work they do does not have a positive effect on them. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of human wants and the effect on stimulus in work shows that a lot has to be involved in order to bring a person to fulfillment. Christians are advised to be proud of their work and no matter whether the work is secular or religious; they are both designed by God. The result of the pride significantly contributes to the fulfillment of the workers. Having done what they are required to do, Christians should recognize that unless they put God first, all they do will be in vain because God knows the bounds of their labor and what they can produce.(Psalms 127). Even though most people work in order to support them and their families, work according to Christianity goes beyond being a means of physical sustenance but serves to provide a chance for Christians to glorify God.
Christians should choose work that best suits their talents and gifts that God has provided to them. It they don’t have the choice, and then they should carry out their work with integrity and to please God through their labors. Christians are taught to be very careful so as not to sacrifice their relationships with fellow people for their ambitions. The teachings continue to insist that people are much more important than the worldly things and should balance the things in their lives so as to serve the Lord8. The Bible makes it very clear that Christians cannot avoid work, as they work to serve the Lord and not men. It also advises that work should not act as a reason for abandoning families and friends.
The approach of Christians to work adheres to the views of God as it is in His world. Some Christian concepts that frame the approach of Christians to work include number one, God is the creator and is Sovereign and this means that Christians carry out work in God’s world. Secondly is that man was created by God for His own glory and therefore man owes all his work activities to glorifying God. Thirdly is that the priority of God is in the salvation of man rather than only man’s activity on the world9.
Islamic approach to work ethics in the West
Islamic religion puts the highest prominence on ethical values in all dimensions of life. Ethics controls all the aspects of human life as regards the Muslims. Moral codes and ethical norms are evident from the verses in the Holy Qur’an and also from the teachings of the Prophet (sws). The teachings of Islam very much stress on the observance of moral and ethical code in the behavior of human. “You are the best nation that has been raised up for mankind, you enjoin right conduct, forbid evil and believe in Allah” (3:110). Prophet (sws) also state “I have been sent for the purpose of perfecting good moral” (Ibn Hambal No: 8595). Islam has a unique value based system for work ethics. It recommends certain guidelines to govern work ethics. It details the ethical rules of work conduct, it describes the forms of work that is ethically desired and also specifies the unaccepted transactions modes10.
The Qur’an forbids Muslims that at no particular time will they acquire other’s property through illegal means. The following words of Prophet (sws) supported the importance earning in a legitimate way, “the best form to gain is through legitimate sale and a man’s work with his hands” (Ahmad, No: 1576). From this, is evident that a Muslim worker must focus on earning only through means that are legitimate and also keep themselves away from matters that doubtful and dubious. “Leave what makes you doubt for things that do not make you doubt” (Tirmidhi, No: 2442).
A business transaction is considered valid if there a mutual consent between the involved parties. According to the Islamic teachings, a sale that is influenced by coercion can never be accepted. Charging of high prices on commodities and taking advantage of other people’s problems is a considered as exploitation and this is forbidden by Islamic teachings. ”O you who believe, eat not up your property among yourselves in vanities: but let there be amongst you traffic and trade by mutual goodwill: nor kill or destroy yourselves for verily Allah has been to you Most Merciful” (Holy Qur’an 4:29). Truthfulness is very much encouraged in work and it also raises the truthful trader so high such that he will be at the same position with the martyrs and the holy warriors in the hereafter. This is according to Prophet (sws) (Tirmidhi No: 1130). The traditions entail that Allah does bless business associations if both the seller and buyer are truthful to each other. Hiding the facts and cheating will lead to the loss of blessings that are divine.
Trustworthiness has been a most important factor of ethical discipline in the work situations. It is a moral duty and virtue on every Muslim who is in dealing with work affairs. Purity of intentions and being sincere at work is demand from each and every believer. A true Muslim worker will not sacrifice his trustworthiness for gains of this world. He will always keep away from deception, fraud and other doubtful ways of selling his commodities. Mutual trust requires that the positives and the negatives of a commodity be told to a buyer so that he buys that commodity in full awareness of what it is.
Every Muslim should be generous and lenient when it comes to bargaining such that anybody who demands to get his debt from a debtor should do so in a polite manner. The prophet (sws) teaches that there should be no harassment between a creditor and a debtor in their transaction and that the creditor should go slow in demanding his dues and the debtor should in turn pay back the dues to his creditor in time with great thanks and politeness (Bukhari, No: 1934).
A great importance is attached to the fulfillment of promises and contracts. The teachings of Islam insist that a Muslim worker should keep up to his promises, contracts and trusts. The teachings continue to say that integrity, trust and honesty are the basic principles that are involved in all work dealings. Following the Islamic teachings, in order to secure the interest of the seller and the buyer, it is required that all the details that concern work dealings should be clearly defined. Every contract that is involves a business should reveal the details of the price of the commodity involved, the quantity and quality. The offer and the acceptance should take place between the concerned parties on an item that exists with the seller and which has an ability of delivering. Any item that does not exist and cannot be delivered is not permitted to be transacted upon. A contract should be very explicit as regards to the obligations and rights of the individuals involved so as not to lead to disagreements between the two parties11.
Islamic teachings put emphasis on good relationship between the employees and the employers. They promote and encourage the atmosphere of brotherhood between the two. An employer is obligated to provide good working conditions, pay fair wages and give reasonable work to his workers. (Bukhari, No: 2359). Prophet (sws) is reported to have said that “The wages of the laborers must be paid to him before the sweat dries upon his body” (Ibn, No: 2434).
Judaism approach to work ethics in the West
Judaism views work activities as very necessary and meaningful to a person’s life and the calling to be involved in business is a calling from Above. Work morality is said to be a self sacrifice and the Jewish ethics in work support for the development of character and qualities that are morally significant. Jewish ethics on business is all about being involved in a business that changes the environment within which one is working, changes the person himself and those people who come in contact with the work dealings12. The Talmud insists that work should be a good faith activity and one should think of how to create a meaningful and real value. The essential message that is found in the Jewish business discussions advise that everyone should go about their business but should never forget to be mindful of other people whom they come into contact with in their work.
It suggests that those who are weak should be protected from exploitation but also those who are in power should sometimes need protection. It insists that the Jewish sages should be very careful to make sure that debtors have the same protection as the creditor. The Jews should ensure that transactions involved in a business are just and should not hold back in charitable giving. The Jewish teachings also insist that work and charity are institutions that need to be brought together. Teachings on Jewish work ethics insist on great morals and clarity in the transactions which would involves detailing of what would be the results if a transaction goes wrong. Talmudic discussions advise the Jews to put in mind that one can conduct business while at the same time being good. Rabbi Joseph the Pious insists that “work should be carried out with the highest level of honesty and that ethical standards should be upheld no matter the context of work that one is involved in”13.
Conclusion
It is clearly evident that the Western religious heritage has undertaken a lot of work to change what the early people from the west believed about work ethics in to what they believe currently. The view of work as a curse among the people in the west had resulted to them thinking that God did not create them to work. The culture had continued to grow and it is the religion itself that worked toward the elimination of this notion that would only have resulted to the fall of man.
Christianity, Islam and Judaism are the current main religions in the west that have continued to teach on good work ethics. The current religious heritage in the west advocates for deep senses of accountability, trustworthiness, honesty, truthfulness, keeping up to business contracts and commitments, treating workers fairly, leniency and generosity and avoiding evil practices as this are the issues that currently affect work ethics in the west. The religious heritage has made many efforts to speak out and represent those that are oppressed in the Western social communities. They have also continued to teach the people on how they should conduct themselves while at work. It is without doubt that I say, were it not for the religious heritage in the West coming out to teach good morals and work ethics, most of the people from the West would still be crying foul of being mistreated or alienated in the fields of work.
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