Hans Küng and his “Global Ethic Project”

„Hans Küng is one of the most well-known contemporary theologians worldwide. He is a Roman Catholic. His name is from the outset closely linked to the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). At that time, he represented a symbol of Christian ecumenism, as well as the consistent reform of the Church according to the Scripture. He insists with the same strength with his project up to this time.”

Hermann Häring

With the idea of a Global Ethic, Hans Küng is trying, through the concept of “ethos”, to demonstrate the basic consensus of common links between all world religions to all religious and non-religious people. He is convinced that people have to relay exactly on this basic consensus if they want to build the world on a peaceful coexistence.

In his manifest “Project Global Ethic”, published in 1990, Küng formulated three basic beliefs:  

  • There will be no peace among the nations without peace among the religions.
  • There will be no peace among the religions without dialogue among the religions.
  • There will be no dialogue among the religions without research into the foundations of religions.

In order to bring closer these fundamental values to people, that they take root in everyday life of every individual in both theoretical and practical way, Küng believes that it is necessary to encourage and promote:

  • Dialogue between religions and cultures, with an emphasis on common values;
  • Education and learning about fundamental values (already at an early age, children must learn that a peaceful co-existence is conditioned by fundamental mutual values);
  • Ethical and intercultural competences in the business enterprise sector;
  • Dialog processes in the law and international politics.