History of the Foundation

Left to right: Hans Küng, Count von der Groeben, Erwin Teufel

The question of a Global Ethic stems from Professor Hans Küng's book “Global Responsibility” (1990), which was first published in English in 1991. This book developed programmatically the idea that the religions of the world can make a contribution to the peace of humankind only if they reflect on those elements of an ethic which they already have in common: on a fundamental consensus on binding values, irrevocable standards and personal attitudes. Underlying the Global Ethic project is the basic conviction that there can be: • No peace among the nations without peace among the religions. • No peace among the religions without dialogue between the religions. • No dialogue between the religions without investigation of the foundations of the religions.   The first major result of this investigation of the foundation of the religions was the “Declaration towards a Global Ethic” which was endorsed by the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1993. The draft was written by Hans Küng in the Institute for Ecumenical Research at the University of Tübingen. With this declaration, for the first time representatives of all the religions reached agreement on principles for a global ethic and committed themselves to four irrevocable directives, which took the following concrete form: • Commitment to a culture of non-violence and respect for life. • Commitment to a culture of solidarity and a just economic order. • Commitment to a culture of tolerance and a life of truthfulness. • Commitment to a culture of equal rights and partnership between men and women.   The Global Ethic Foundation has come into being through the generosity of Count K. K. von der Groeben. In 1995 he read “Global Responsibility” and was so impressed by it that he made available a substantial sum for the dissemination of the idea of a global ethic. In the words of its founder, “the Foundation is to show that there are more satisfying values than material pleasure, and that to commit oneself to a lofty goal brings great joy. We must get away from the celebration of ‘self-fulfilment’ and the idea of prosperity and make it clear to people that if we are to live together in peace and freedom we need high ethical norms. Perhaps yet more people will associate themselves with our initiative. There is plenty of work and plenty to do!” The interest from the capital of the Foundation will ensure that a small research team under the direction of Hans Küng can engage in long-term work to further a global ethic. The Foundation will also support wider initiatives and projects in line with its aims. The basis of the Foundation's programme is the Declaration toward a Global Ethic endorsed by the Parliament of the World's Religions.

Aims of the Foundation

I. To carry out and encourage inter-cultural and inter-religious research: This aim will be achieved in particular through theological and other research into the foundations of the religions, especially through the production and promotion of academic publications (books and articles) in the interest of inter-cultural, inter-religious and inter-denominational understanding. II. To stimulate and implement inter-cultural and inter-religious education: This aim will be achieved in particular through • teaching and lecturing to disseminate the results of the research sponsored by the Foundation, especially the ideas relating to a fundamental ethic common to all men and women, a global ethic. This will be done in churches, colleges, academies, schools, universities, associations and interested groups of every kind, both national and international; • further education of those interested, through conferences, lectures, seminars or workshops aimed at deepening the themes of a global ethic; • publicity to promote a global ethic through the media (newspaper articles, interviews, radio and television programmes). III. To enable and support such inter-cultural and inter-religious encounter necessary for research and education: This aim will be achieved in particular through • the stimulation and encouragement of initiatives in society, politics and culture in the interest of understanding between peoples (e.g. confidence-building measures between the religions); • promotion of encounters between people of different cultures and religions (colloquia, study trips and congresses); the development of the existing network of inter-cultural and inter-religious relations to further a global ethic; • access to key documents and literature with the help of modern communication technologies.