Business ethics

Religious views on business ethics

Many faiths have extensive literature and legal code on the accumulation and use of wealth; and many businesses rely on these ethical guidelines, both as a result of the religious beliefs of owners and managers, and as a way of ensuring that their actions meet the otherwise unwritten ethical standards of local communities.

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Jewish business ethics

The basis of all Jewish law is the Torah; here there are more commandments concerning the kashrut (fitness) of one's money than the kashrut of food (see 613 Mitzvot). These laws are developed and expanded upon in the Mishnah and the Talmud (particularly in Order Nezikin), and are then delineated in the major codes of Jewish law (there are sections on business ethics in the Mishneh Torah, 12th century, and the Shulkhan Arukh, 17th century, particularly Choshen Mishpat). A wide array of topics on business ethics are discussed in the responsa literature.

Related Topics:
Jewish law - Torah - Commandments - Kashrut - 613 Mitzvot - Mishnah - Talmud - Nezikin - Mishneh Torah - Shulkhan Arukh - Choshen Mishpat - Responsa

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The literature also addresses the ethical dimension. Rabbi Yisrael Lipkin Salanter (19th century), founder of the Mussar movement in Eastern European, taught that just as one checks carefully to make sure their food is kosher, so too should one check to see if their money is earned in a kosher fashion (Chofetz Chaim, Sfat Tamim, chapter 5). The teachings go much further, there is a widely quoted tradition (see for e.g. Kitzur Shulkhan Arukh 62:1; originating in Talmud Shabbat 31a) that in one's judgement in the next world, the first question asked is: "were you honest in business?"

Related Topics:
Rabbi - Yisrael Lipkin Salanter - Mussar - Chofetz Chaim - Tradition - Kitzur Shulkhan Arukh - Talmud - The next world

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Christian business ethics

In Christianity, the basis of this theology is the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Related Topics:
Christianity - Old Testament - New Testament

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For example, Jesus asked his disciples, "If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you?" Luke 6:34. Although this may be a general injunction to disinterested benevolence, it has also been read as a condemnation of interest or usury. Jesus referenced this especially when one lends to another believer. As a Christian, with an eternal mindset, ultimately God is our rewarder and lending to a fellow believer should be left to God to reward over collecting nominal interest.

Related Topics:
Luke - Interest - Usury

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Muslim business ethics

For Islam, the basis of these laws is the Qur'an, and they are amplified in the Hadith.

Related Topics:
Islam - Qur'an - Hadith

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Muslim wealth ethics include avoidance of the exploitation of people in need through lending them money at interest (riba) and prohibitions against false advertising; under Islamic law, if a vendor sells an item by making false claims about it, the customer has the right to have the transaction cancelled.

Related Topics:
Riba - False advertising

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