RELIGION AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Source: 6 Responses to Religious Diversity. (2009, October 5). Retrieved May 15, 2011, from Common Sense Atheism: http://commonsenseatheism.com/?p=3245

WORKSHOP

1.       How can we create an ethical relationship between religion and business so that they may cooperate towards a more sustainable and respectful development of life?

Religion guides behavior of people, and therefore it can be used at every level of society, including organizations, to build positive relationship within it. The real complication arises when dealing with a multicultural environment, in which different cultures and religions have to find place as a common unit in order to work properly. Under these conditions, religious differences can pose a major challenge to the way in which an organization works. Therefore the better way to create an ethical relationship between religion and business is to promote tolerance and understanding of the different religions, in a way that different religions and a common business goal find an ethical balance that allows the organization to work properly.   

2.       Can you imagine a world without religion where everyone would be trying to get immediate satisfaction to their individual needs?

Absolutely not. Religion is implies different behavior regarding for example economic issues and in this way we can state that religion plays a very important role in determining the diversity of cultures including the nature of the needs of people and the way the achieve them. In a world without religion where everyone would be trying to get immediate satisfaction of their individual needs, meaning that all cultures would be individualist as they measure success in terms of their job and wealth and they are always aiming for a higher salary and position in the organizational hierarchy as a reward for their performance. The world would be selfish and the diversity at a cultural and business level wouldn’t exist as it does today providing a world balance; diversity is important because it allows learning from others.

3.       Religion can create networks of trust and familiarity that facilitates economic transactions. Can you name other positive aspects of this relationship?

Another positive aspect of the networks of trust and familiarity created by religion is that it facilitates cooperation as religion provides the bases for ethical behavior. Therefore governments and organizations can trust others whose religious bases are strong, which means that they are ethical and are appropriate partners for business relations.

4.       Do you think that stereotyping based on religion has been influenced by economical or political interests, why, whose? What is the role of The Media in this issue?

I believe that stereotypes based on religion have indeed been influenced by economical or political interests because religious differences have posed difficulties and limitations to governmental and business relationships given that each religion and culture has different perceptions regarding economic and political relations. From this impeded relationships surge stereotypes that spread thanks to the media.

An example of this is that eastern cultures and religions have been more reluctant to the western capitalism leaded by the USA, by standing up to their beliefs and defending their way of carrying relationships with other cultures at the social, political and economic level. One may say that the economic and political interests of the USA haven’t been fully achieved because of the opposition of other cultures and religions, and the American opinions and judgments regarding those religions based on political and economic matters have spread widely thanks to the media.