BA 4216 Cross-cultural Studies in Organizations Worldview and religion Instructor: Çağrı Topal

Religion A major source of worldviews A socially shared set of beliefs, ideas, and actions that relate to reality A guide for everyday practice Monotheistic vs. polytheistic

Judaism-1: principles God is one No human will ever be divine Humans are free Humans are the pinnacle of creation Jews are chosen people to serve the God Humans must be obedient to God-given commandments as written in the wholly book Torah Human-beings are held personally responsible for their deeds in this life

Judaism-2: groups Orthodox Reform or liberal Conservative Hassidim

Judaism-3: implications Not against private ownership and commercial activities Traditional business orientation Restrictions on consumption of certain foods No work on Sabbath

Christianity-1: bases The Trinity of God: the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit Jesus Christ as the role model Salvation by regret

Christianity 2: principles Worship no god but the God Do not make images of anything in heaven Do not use the God’s name for evil purpose Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy Respect your mother and father Do not commit murder Do not commit adultery Do not steal Do not accuse anyone falsely Do not covet another person’s possessions

Christianity-3: groups Roman Catholic Eastern Orthodox Protestant Indigenous Christians

Christianity-4: implications Importance of work Private property Protestant ethic and hard work Catholicism and social justice

Islam-1: six articles Belief in Allah as the only god Belief in angels Belief in other holy books, Koran being the last Belief in other prophets, Muhammad being the last and the greatest Belief in the judgment day Belief that everything good or evil proceeds from the God

Islam-2: other principles Honoring and respecting parents Respecting the rights of others Being generous but no squanderer Avoiding killing except for justifiable causes Not committing adultery Dealing justly and equitably with others Being of pure heart and mind Safeguarding the possessions of orphans Being humble and unpretentious

Islam-3: implications Fairness, equity, and mutual consent in business No interest Not against free enterprise Focus more on spiritual life Prohibitions on bribery, alcohol, pork meat, chance games, and obscenity Civil code regulating all life spheres

Hinduism-1: principles Transient and illusory world Incarnations and cycle of birth and rebirth Karma and nirvana Hierarchy of gods and goddesses Vedas as the religious texts Spiritual and material worlds not separated No formal religious hierarchy Strict social hierarchy and cast system

Hinduism-2: implications Asceticism Not supportive of entrepreneurship and wealth creation Immobility between classes Paradox: current-day India with highly productive workforce and industrial activities

Buddhism-1: principles Spiritual fulfillment Existence as suffering due to desire for things and persons Suppression of desire and end of suffering No god or gods but a supreme truth

Buddhism-2: implications No support for free enterprise Spiritual not material well-being Suppression of desires

Confucianism-1: bases Hierarchical relationships between people for stability in society (ruler-subject, father- son, older brother-younger brother, husband-wife, older friend-younger friend) Exchange of respect/loyalty and protection/consideration Family as the prototype for all social institutions Group membership before individuality Harmony and keeping face

Confucianism-2: principles Love for humankind Respect for the past Respect for the acquisition of knowledge and character building Society best run by virtue not by law Responsibility of government for the governed

Confucianism-3: implications Fostering and developing long-term relationships Networking and cultivating relationships with business partners Personal and reciprocal not just contractual and transactional relationships Work ethic

Comparison: West Mechanistic worldview Reason over intuition Science over religion Universe as something manageable Dualism of spiritual and material worlds

Comparison: East Non-mechanistic worldview Intuition over logical thinking Wisdom Universe as something unmanageable No dualism of mind and spirit but unity