Whether or not you believe in the Hindu tradition of karma and dharma, these concepts can be useful and meaningful to us in our daily lives. The saying “What goes around, comes around” may be most familiar to you and explains how actions and decisions you make can affect what occurs in the future. In a work environment, people are challenged to make ethical decisions in the face of social, financial, or leadership pressures. Those involved in recent headline-grabbing financial scandals, such as Enron, obviously made poor ethical decisions. Some may interpret this as negative dharma that in turn gave these corporate executives negative karma resulting in punishment both in this life and the next. In this Discussion, share your experience with these concepts, either in the workplace, where conflict and ethical decision-making can sometimes be challenged, or in another situation
Gods in the Global Village. Review the article, “Karma and Dharma: New Links in an Old Chain.” Watch the video of Pope Francis’s 2015 speech at the joint session of the U.S. Congress, paying particular attention to the Pope’s messages about social responsibility and the role of legislatures in supporting the most vulnerable members of society.
Consider personal examples of how the concepts of karma and dharma have been evident in your life. Reflect on how considering these concepts when faced with an ethical challenge could help reduce conflict or produce a more socially aware outcome.
a brief paragraph describing a personal experience with the concepts of karma and dharma. In a second paragraph, explain how understanding and using the concepts of karma and dharma can inspire more social responsibility and/or reduce conflict
Kurtz, L. R. (2016). Gods in the global village: The world’s religions in sociological perspective (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Chapter 5, “The Religious Ethos”“Religious Taboo Lines and Ethical Systems” (pp. 171–188)“Religion and Sexuality” (pp. 188–198)
Sharma, A. (2008). Karma and dharma: New links in an old chain. Tikkun, 23(3), 14–15.
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