WORLD SCRIPTURE
A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts
CHAPTER
20
Good Government and the Welfare of Society
Besides general ethical teaching, the scriptures contain specific
guidance for building a peaceful and prosperous society. Individual
citizens have responsibilities beyond their private lives to contribute to
the public good. Rulers and governments are likewise admonished to use
their office and authority to promote justice and the common welfare in
accordance with divine law. Public authority is not to be taken lightly;
the scriptures testify to God's providential hand which controls the
destinies of nations and brings them to judgment according to their ways.
The opening sections deal with four roles for the individual citizen
in fostering the weal of society. These are: the quiet and unheralded
work of a spiritual guide, an invisible "pillar" of society who leavens
the community by his spirit and example; the prophet or reformer who
confronts the governing authorities with words of admonition and takes
an active role in correcting injustice; and the soldier who fights,
risk- ing his life in order to defeat a tyrant and rescue the oppressed.
In addition, it is the duty of every citizen to respect and obey the
lawfully constituted authorities, who are worthy of support because they
preserve peace and order.
The next several sections discuss the standards of good government.
Although most of the world's religions were founded in ancient times when
the prevailing form of government was monarchy, the principles of govern-
ment enunciated in the scriptures are still valid for today's democracies.
These are universal principles of good government which apply regardless
of its form. Topics include: government as subject to divine law and
responsible to honor the rule of law; the responsibility of government
for the welfare of the people and especially for the poor and defenseless
among them; honest government and the ruler's standard of conduct; and
the role of government to enforce the law and mete out fair punishments.
The last section discusses the providence of God which guides the
destinies of nations. Heaven gives prosperity to peoples and nations
which promote justice, righteousness, and religion, while nations
which oppress the poor and persecute religion are inevitably destroyed.
The destinies of nations may be understood to be under the hand of God's
providence, or influenced by the blessings and judgments of gods and
spirits of the land, or as responding to the Mandate of Heaven.
