The Religious Claims and Implications of Hans Küng’s Global Ethic Movement in its Formative Phase

Abstract

This article examines the religious claims and implications present in the early phase of the “global ethic” movement—an initiative conceptualized by the Swiss theologian Hans Küng (1928–2021), formally articulated in the Global Ethic Declaration adopted by the Parliament of the World’s Religions in 1993, and still active today. During its formative period, the theorists of global ethic characterized the movement not only as a moral undertaking but also as a religious one, explicitly articulating certain religious claims embedded within the idea of a global ethic. However, some of the religious implications become apparent only when viewed in light of Hans Küng’s Critical Ecumenical Theology, which he developed prior to the global ethic initiative. This article identifies and explicates these claims and implications by systematically presenting them in connection with relevant aspects of Küng’s theological thought. In doing so, it aims to demonstrate the conception of religion upon which the global ethic movement was initially constructed. In the final section, the article offers a critical assessment of the movement’s religious claims and implications, raising questions about the extent to which its religious structure can authentically reflect the moral content of the world’s religions. Thus, the study also aims to offer a conception of the possible theological implications of the virtue ethics approach, which has increasingly gained popularity in recent times and is evolving into a transreligious moral narrative.

Keywords

• Global Ethic
• Hans Küng
• Critical Ecumenical Theology
• Interreligious Dialogue
• The Question of Truth.

Başlangıç Döneminde Hans Küng'ün Küresel Ahlak Hareketinin Dinî İddia ve Tazammunları

Abstract

Bu makale, İsviçreli Teolog Hans Küng’ün (1928-2021) fikrî alt yapısını hazırladığı, Dünya Dinleri Parlamentosu’nun 1993 yılında kabul ettiği Küresel Ahlak Beyannamesi ile resmî ifadesini bulan ve günümüzde de varlığını sürdüren “küresel ahlak” hareketinin, başlangıç dönemindeki dinî iddia ve tazammunlarını konu edinmektedir. İnşa döneminde küresel ahlak teorisyenleri, bu hareketi ahlakî olduğu kadar dinî olarak da nitelemiş, küresel ahlak düşüncesinde mevcut olan bazı dinî iddiaları açıkça belirtmişlerdir. Ancak dinî içeriğin bir kısmı Hans Küng’ün, küresel ahlak hareketi öncesinde inşa ettiği Eleştirel Ekümenik Teoloji anlayışında saklıdır. İşte bu makale, söz konusu iddia ve tazammunları, Küng’ün teolojisinin alakalı noktalarını da dikkate almak suretiyle maddeler haline getirerek açıklamaktadır. Böylelikle küresel ahlak hareketinin henüz inşa döneminde hangi teolojik uzantılar üzerine bina edildiği gösterilmeye çalışılmıştır. Son kısımda ise küresel ahlakın dinî iddia ve tazammunlarının eleştirel bir değerlendirmesi sunulmuş, hareketin dinî yapısının, dünya dinlerinin ahlakî içeriğini yansıtabilme imkanının boyutları tartışmaya açılmıştır. Böylece günümüzde gittikçe popülerleşen ve dinler üstü bir ahlak anlatısına dönüşmeye başlayan erdem etiği anlayışının teolojik sonuçlarının ne olabileceğine dair bir tasavvur sunmak da hedeflenmiştir.

Keywords

• Küresel Ahlâk
• Hans Küng
• Eleştirel Ekümenik Teoloji
• Dinlerarası Diyalog
• Hakikat Problemi

References

1. Casanova, José. “The Sacralization of the Humanum: A Theology for A Global Age”. International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society 13/1 (1999), 21-40.
2. Cheetham, David. “The ‘Global Ethic’: Criticisms and the Possibilities of Post-secular Thinking”. Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations 18/1 (2007), 19-32.
3. Çakmak, Mustafa. Çağdaş Batı ve İslam Düşüncesinde Dinsel Kapsayıcılık. İstanbul: İz Yayıncılık, 2014.
4. Falk, Richard. “Hans Küng’s Crusade: Framing A Global Ethic”. International Journal of Politics, Culture and Society 13/1 (1999), 63-81.
5. Fisher, Carrol J. W. Interfaith Dialogue at The 1893 And 1993 Parliaments of The World’s Religions. The Union Institute&University, 2000.
6. Frühbauer, Johannes. “From the Declaration of the Religions to the Declaration of the Statesmen: Stages in the Composition of the Declaration on Human Responsibilities”. A Global Ethic and Global Responsibilities: Two Declarations. ed. Hans Küng, Helmut Schmidt. 84-103. London: SCM Press LTD., 1998.
7. Gebhardt, Gunther. “Towards A Global Ethic”. The Ecumenical Review 52/4 (2000), 503-512.
8. Hassan, Riffat. “A Muslim’s Refections on A New Global Ethics and Cultural Diversity”. De Kracht van Cultuur Conference (Amsterdam, 8 November 1996). (http://kvc.Minbuza.nl/uk/archive/amsterdam/ukverslag_hassan.html, 25.03.2008)

9. Hollenbach, David. The Global Face of Public Faith: Politics, Human Rights and Christian Ethics. Washington D. C.: Georgetown University Press, 2003.
10. Jespers, Frans P. M. “Reflections on the Declaration of A Global Ethic”. Studies in Interreligious Dialogue 8/1 (1998), 60-73.
11. Knitter, Paul F. “Pitfalls and Promises for A Global Ethics”. Buddhist-Christian Studies 15 (1995), 221-229.
12. Küng, Hans. “Tek Bir Gerçek Din mi Vardır? Evrensel Kriteri Tesbit Etme Konusunda Bir Deneme”. çev. Mustafa Çakmak. İstanbul Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi 27 (2012), 185-210.
13. Küng, Hans. “No World Peace Without Religious Peace”. çev. Peter Heinegg. Christianity and World Religions: Paths of Dialogue with Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. ed. Hans Küng vd. 440-443. New York: Orbis Books, 1993.
14. Küng, Hans. “The History, Significance and Method of the Declaration Toward a Global Ethic”. A Global Ethic and Global Responsibilities: Two Declarations. ed. Hans Küng ve Helmut Schmidt. 44-72. London: SCM Press LTD, 1998. Küng, Hans. “The Three Abrahamic Religions Historical Upheavals-Present Challenges”, InterAction Council 24th Annual Meeting Paper Submitted to Session III, Ürdün, 2006. (http://interactioncouncil.org/papers/pdf/s24_Kueng.pdf, 30.03.2008)
15. Küng, Hans. A Global Ethic for Global Politics and Economics. çev. John Bowden, London: SCM Press, 1997.
16. Küng, Hans. Christianity: Its Essence and History. çev. John Bowden. London: SCM Press, 1995.
17. Küng, Hans. Global Responsibility: In Search Of A New World Ethic. çev. John Bowden. New York: Continuum, 2001.
18. Küng, Hans. On Being A Christian. çev. Edward Quinn. New York: Doubleday&Company, 1976.
19. Küng, Hans. Theology For The Third Millennium: An Ecumenical View. çev. Peter Heinegg. New York: Anchor Books, 1990.
20. Kutsal Kitap. İstanbul: Kitab-ı Mukaddes Şirketi, 2003.
21. Onat, Hasan. “Küreselleşme ve İslam’ı Yeniden Düşünmek”. Dinî Araştırmalar 6/17 (2003), 29-46.
22. Özturan, Hümeyra. “İslam Ahlakı Erdem Etiği midir?”. İslam Araştırmaları Dergisi 54 (2025), 35-75.
23. Peterson, Michael vd. Akıl ve İnanç: Din Felsefesine Giriş. çev. Rahim Acar. İstanbul: Küre Yay., 2006.
24. Porter, Jean. “The Search for A Global Ethic”. Theological Studies 62/1 (2001), 105-121.
25. Robra, Martin. “Affirming the Rule of Global Movements for Global Ethics”. The Ecumenical Review 52/4 (2000), 471-478.
26. Schweiker, William. “A Preface to Ethics: Global Dynamics and the Integrity of Life”. Journal of Religious Ethics 32/1 (2004), 13-37.
27. Singer, Marcus G. “Golden Rule”. The Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 3. New York: Macmillan and Free Press, 1972.
28. Smith, Huston. “Perennializm’in Process Kritiği: David Griffin’e Yanıt”. çev. Latif Boyacı. Unutulan Hakikat. ed. Huston Smith, David Rey Griffin. 229-257. İstanbul: İnsan Yayınları, 1998.
29. Spooner, W. A. “Golden Rule”. Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics. ed. James Hastings. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1981. Swidler, Leonard. “Toward A Universal Declaration of A Global Ethic”. For All Life: Toward A Universal Declaration of A Global Ethic. ed. Leonard Swidler. 1-28. Ashland, OR: White Cloud Press, 1999.
30. The Parliament of the World’s Religions. “Declaration Toward A Global Ethic”. çev. John Bowden. Yes to a Global Ethic. ed. Hans Küng. 9-26. London: SCM Press LTD, 1996.
31. Turgonyi, Zoltán. “Universalism, Relativism and the Possibilities of A Global Ethic”. The Age of Global Dialogue Conference. Budapeşte 1997. (http://www.phil-inst.hu/intezet/tz01_p.htm, 09.03.2008)