Guiding Lights for Morally Responsible Sustainability in Organizations: Revisiting Sacred Texts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Abstract

This paper explores how sacred texts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam provide mindsets for morally responsible social and environmental sustainability. Using the Torah, Talmud, Bible, and Qur’an, common moral insights from each ethical tradition are presented to inform behavior around environmental integrity and stewardship and social justice and social responsibility. The religions’ similar conceptualization of marketplace integrity around sustainable value is discussed. The paper concludes with ethical lessons managers can draw from contemporary application of this traditional wisdom for guiding more morally responsible behavior at work.