The age of globalization requires a global ethic

Abstract

Disastrous conflict in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan requires new thinking at several levels. This is only possible if it can be informed by an understanding of the history of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Using Thomas S. Kuhn's concept this paper traces a series of paradigm changes in each religion demonstrating that: religions are not static; within each particular religious community there are people living within different paradigms leading to intra-religious conflict; each religion includes some resistance to modernity. The paper argues that a precondition for global peace is better understanding between Jews, Christians and Muslims. The paper proposes identifying ethical principles common to each religion as the basis of a global ethic.