BUSINESS ETHICS AND SOCIAL

RESPONSIBILITY
FOUNDATIONS OF THE PRINCIPLES OF BUSINESS
ETHICS
(Impact of Belief System in Business, Filipino Value System)
 An Introduction to Christianity
• As the world’s largest religion, Christianity has more than two billion
followers worldwide. It is a monotheistic religion based on teachings of
Jesus Christ as the son of God and savior. Christians believe in the Holy
Trinity as forms of the same God.
 Jesus Christ
• The Bible, the holy book of Christians, records some events of Jesus of Nazareth’s life story- his birth, a
brief time in childhood, and a few years of adulthood when he preached until his crucifixion. Jesus Christ
was a Jew who was born in 1 CE in Bethlehem to an Israelite virgin named Mary who becomes
miraculously pregnant. According to canonical gospels from Luke and Matthew, Jesus Christ was born in
a manger and wise men came to bring gifts to Jesus, born king of Jews, as proclaimed by angels. King
Herod orders the massacre of all the boys less than two years of age in Bethlehem, but the family fled to
Egypt and settled in Nazareth. Jesus Christ was fully human and had experienced the world as a man.
• By the power of God, Jesus performed many miracles on Earth, including healing diseases, bringing
dead people back to life, casting out demons, controlling the weather, walking on water, turning water
into wine, etc. Jesus Christ taught humankind to love God as God loved them. He preached the gospel of
the kingdom of God and those who believed in Jesus and did the will of God would enter his kingdom.
• Jesus Christ is also known as the Son of God, Light of the world, Lamb of God, and Good Shepherd.
 Christian Beliefs
•One God
• As a monotheistic religion, Christians believe in one God, the creator and sustainer of life.
•Justification by Faith
• Through believing in Jesus as the son of God, and his death and resurrection, Christians can have a right relationship with God,
whose forgiveness was made possible through the death of Jesus. Salvation comes through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.
Christians are taught that salvation occurs with faithfulness and each must live in accordance with principles of love.
•Eternal Love
• Christians believe that there is life after death. Heaven is the final destination of believers.
• 
•Saints
• Saints are recognized when they have lived particularly good and holy lives, with which miracles are claimed to have been
associated after their death. Saints can intercede to God on behalf of Christians. Only the Roman Catholic and Orthodox perform the
canonization of saints.
 Prayers and Rituals
• 1. Prayers
• It is the way to communicate with God. Prayers can be formal and ritualistic but they can also be personal and spontaneous. Some traditions encourage
prayer to God through intermediaries, such as saints and martyrs. Prayers through the Virgin Mary are central to some churches.
• 2. Church
• The church is the structure used for religious activities and worship. Symbolically, the church is the body of Christ and is made up of a community of
believers. Jesus is the head of the church and to save others, believers spread the gospel of the kingdom.
• The church is the place where faith is nurtured and where the holy spirit manifests itself on Earth. It is where Christians receive the faith and are brought
together into one body through the Eucharist.
• 3. Priests
• Priests, ministers, and vicars are the spiritual leaders of Christians. They worship by reading from scriptures, prayers, speech, music, sermons, and holy
ceremonies.
• 4. Bible
• The bible is the holy book and a product of divine inspiration and considered by believers as the infallible word of God. It is a collection of sacred
scriptures in Christianity and divided into the old and new testaments. Christians believe that God’s intentions, revealed in the Bible, are the final authority of
what is true and right.
• 5. Eucharist
• Eucharist is a celebration during mass to commemorate the final meal that Jesus took with his disciples before crucifixion. The
rite came from the actions of Christ in taking bread and wine during his last supper. He asked his disciples to consume them and
continue to do so in his memory. The wine represents his blood; and the bread, his body.
• 6. Second Coming of Jesus
• According to the gospels, the return of Jesus to Earth after his ascension to heaven many years ago will come after the
apocalyptic signs.
• 7. Ten Commandments
• 1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
• 2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
• 3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
• 4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
• 5. Honor thy father and thy mother.
• 6. Thou shalt not kill.
• 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
• 8. Thou shalt not steal.
• 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
• 10. Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbor’s.
 Denominations
• Christians are subcategorized as Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant. Each denomination is further divided, but they all
believe in core ideas, such as the resurrection of Christ, authority of the bible, and eternal life in heaven even if they worship
and pray in different ways.
• 1. The Roman Catholic represents the church as it developed in Western Europe, headed by bishops in communion with the
pope, who is the bishop of Rome. The pope is the highest authority in faith, morality, and governance. The church traces its
origin to the Christian community founded by Jesus Christ.
• 2. The Orthodox comprises those churches developed in Eastern Europe in communion with the Patriarchal Sees of the East.
Similar to the catholic church, the Orthodox church traces its heritage to the foundation of Christianity through apostolic
succession. Its main difference with Roman Catholics is the allegiance to the pope, its emphasis on the use of icons in worship
and the date it celebrates Easter.
• 3. Protestantism was inaugurated in the 16th century by Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli and John Calvin. More sects
followed [in the 18th century. Protestants do not acknowledge the pope and reject many traditions and beliefs of the catholic
church. They emphasize the importance of reading the bible and they hold doctrine of salvation by faith alone.
• 1. The Roman Catholic represents the church as it developed in Western Europe,
headed by bishops in communion with the pope, who is the bishop of Rome. The
pope is the highest authority in faith, morality, and governance. The church traces its
origin to the Christian community founded by Jesus Christ.
• 2. The Orthodox comprises those churches developed in Eastern Europe in
communion with the Patriarchal Sees of the East. Similar to the catholic church, the
Orthodox church traces its heritage to the foundation of Christianity through apostolic
succession. Its main difference with Roman Catholics is the allegiance to the pope, its
emphasis on the use of icons in worship and the date it celebrates Easter.
• 3. Protestantism was inaugurated in the 16th century by Martin Luther, Huldrych
Zwingli and John Calvin. More sects followed [in the 18th century. Protestants do not
acknowledge the pope and reject many traditions and beliefs of the catholic church.
They emphasize the importance of reading the bible and they hold doctrine of
salvation by faith alone.
 IMPACT OF CHRISTIANITY IN
BUSINESS PRACTICES
• Christians glorify God in many ways- through worship, ev angelism, giving alms, having faith and doing actions in imitation of God. A Christian may apply his beliefs to align
with his business practices as demonstrated in the examples below.
• 
• 1. In producing Goods
• God has intended for mankind to develop Earth, by imparting the knowledge and skills to be able to make something from the materials that God had provided. But there are
temptations that accompany the productions of goods and services when the focus is on acquiring material things. One might also be tempted by pride and turn one’s heart away
from one’s neighbors. Christians are taught to avoid selfishness and greed. Producing harmful, evil or destructive work, such as drugs or pornography must be avoided.
• 
• 2. In Employing People and Being Employed
• The bible does not view hiring another as exploitation. In the bible, Jesus taught that laborers deserve wages and employers also benefit by having the work done. Employers
must exercise caution not to oppress and be unfair. Employees, on the other hand, must exercise caution to avoid carelessness in work, laziness, jealousy, bitterness, dishonesty,
theft, or rebelliousness.
• 
• In the early 1900s, Max Weber examined the relationship of religion and capitalism. He emphasized that protestant ethic would provide a template for living a righteous life
and thereby be in God’s good grace. Hard work, discipline, frugality, sobriety, and obedience to laws are examples of inner-worldly asceticism. Weber explained that by engaging
in these activities, the chances of succeeding in business are higher- a sign of grace from God. Protestants therefore strive to embody these ethics to reach salvation.
• 3. In Buying and Selling
• Commercial transactions are in themselves good because the community is able to
help and fulfill each other’s needs. Again, Christians must guard themselves from
seeking only their good and having no thought of others. One must overcome
selfishness. Amassing wealth at the expense of other people is not the Christian way. One
must not engage in dishonest businesses, use low-grade materials, or overprice goods
and services. 
• 4. In Earning Profit
• The Bible teaches about stewardship- expanding or multiplying the possessions God
has entrusted mankind. Seeking profit is fundamentally good, however, caution must be
made that the profits are not acquired through the exploitation of others or due to unfair
business practices.
• God gives Christians the opportunity to imitate his character and glorify him in
everything they do – they must reflect God’s attributes of love for others, wisdom, etc.