Christian Labor Ethics And Its Impact

Labour is not only an important form of practice for human being, but also serves as the foundation of social development. From this point of view, labour doesn't simply refer to the combination and allocation of production factors, but rather a reflection of human emotions and needs which abound with ethical power and the splendour of humanity. Throughout the history of human civilization, labour ethics has been in an important position which can well be explained in western culture. According to the Old Testament, labour ethics was systematically recorded in a theological way. The Old Testament recorded the existence of labour at the beginning of the creation. To be more specific, God arranged labour for the human who He had created and clarified such issues as sense of responsibility and rationality of wages. In addition, the New Testament has specific provisions on labour rights and obligation and labour as calling for human being. Also Lutheranism and Calvinism of the New Testament have provisions on labour as calling from God, view of wealth and view of labour division which require people to obey God. The thesis first analyses the doctrines of Christianity in a logical order due to the fact that fundamental doctrines adequately embody the concept of Christian labour ethics. Thus the thesis will summarize the labour ethics thought in Christianity so as to expound on the theoretical source of such thought and basic concepts. Furthermore, the impact of such thought on western society and the meaning and value of such thought in the development of modern market economy in China will also be explored in the thesis.