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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Judaism-2: groups
Orthodox
Reform or liberal
Conservative
Hassidim

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

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

7. 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

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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

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

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