The world is in agony. The agony is so pervasive and urgent that we are
compelled to name its manifestations so that the depth of this pain may
be made clear.
Peace eludes us...the planet is being destroyed...neighbors live in fear...women
and men are estranged from each other...children die!
This is abhorrent!
We condemn the abuses of Earth's ecosystems.
We condemn the poverty that stifles life's potential; the hunger that weakens
the human body; the economic disparities that threaten so many families
with ruin.
We condemn the social disarray of the nations; the disregard for justice
which pushes citizens to the margin; the anarchy overtaking our communities;
and the insane death of children from violence. In particular we condemn
aggression and hatred in the name of religion.
But this agony need not be.
It need not be because the basis for an ethic already exists. This ethic
offers the possibility of a better individual and global order, and leads
individuals away from despair and societies away from chaos.
We are women and men who have embraced the precepts and practices of the
world's religions:
We affirm that there is an irrevocable, unconditional norm for all areas
of life, for families and communities, for races, nations, and religions.
There already exist ancient guidelines for human behavior which are found
in the teachings of the religions of the world and which are the condition
for a sustainable world order.
We are interdependent. Each of us depends on the well-being of the whole,
and so we have respect for the community of living beings, for people, animals,
and plants, and for the preservation of Earth, the air, water and soil.
We take individual responsibility for all we do. All our decisions, actions,
and failures to act have consequences.
We must treat others as we wish others to treat us. We make a commitment
to respect life and dignity, individuality and diversity, so that every
person is treated humanely, without exception. We must have patience and
acceptance. We must be able to forgive, learning form the past but never
allowing ourselves to be enslaved by memories of hate. Opening our hearts
to one another, we must sink our narrow differences for the cause of world
community, practicing a culture of solidarity and relatedness.
We consider humankind a family. We must strive to be kind and generous.
We must not live for ourselves alone, but should also serve others, never
forgetting the children, the aged, the poor, the suffering, the disabled,
the refugees and the lonely. No person should ever be considered or treated
as a second-class citizen, or be exploited in any way whatsoever. There
should be equal partnership between men and women. We must not commit any
kind of sexual immorality. We must put behind us all forms of domination
or abuse.
We commit ourselves to a culture of non-violence, respect, justice, and
peace. We shall not oppress, injure, torture, or kill other human beings,
forsaking violence as a means of settling differences.
We must strive for a just social and economic order, in which everyone has
an equal chance to reach full potential as a human being. We must speak
and act truthfully and with compassion, dealing fairly with all, and avoiding
prejudice and hatred. We must not steal. We must move beyond the dominance
of greed for power, prestige, money, and consumption to make a just and
peaceful world.
Earth cannot be changed for the better unless the consciousness of individuals
is changed first. We pledge to increase our awareness by disciplining our
minds, by meditation, by prayer, or by positive thinking. Without risk and
a readiness to sacrifice there can be no fundamental change in our situation.
Therefore we commit ourselves to this global ethic, to understanding one
another, and to socially beneficial, peace-fostering, and nature-friendly
ways of life.
We invite all people, whether religious or not, to do the same.
Honor those who have gone before and those who will follow after. Some sleep
within, some awake at home, here, the Earth. Respect the family resting
place.
By the power of that which you hold holy,
By the grace of that in which you believe,
May you relieve and reciprocate blessings,
So mote it be.