Family LifeHuman Work

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Human Work

Work is fundamental to Human Existence

“Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.”

Genesis 1:28

"Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Through work, the human person becomes master of the earth in a universal sense.

Personal Dignity

The Biblical call to “subdue the earth” and to enable the human person to achieve “dominion” over the earth gives dignity to human work. Although work entails heavy toil, it is a worthwhile effort as it gives one a sense of fulfillment as a human being.

Work and Family

Human work also makes possible, the formation and upkeep of family life, the achievement of family objectives and the enrichment of the heritage of the whole human race.

The Human Being as the Subject of Work

The human person is the Subject and thus has an ethical dimension, The Person is important, a conscious free person able to decide about self.

Technology as the Object of Work

The Human Being is a proper subject of work because as a person, work actions must serve to realize one’s humanity.

The human person cannot become the slave of machines.

Threat to right values

Today, human work is highly enhanced and facilitated by modern technology. However, the same technology also impedes creativity, job satisfaction, responsibility and opportunities for employment. The Church in the industrial are opposes all kinds of materialistic and economistic thought whereby the human person is treated as “merchandise” rather than subject of work.

SPIRITUALITY OF WORK

Task of the Church

• Since work involves the whole person in both body and spirit, the Church looks into the spiritual aspect thereof.

• All human activity should be in accord with God’s will and human work shares in and imitates God’s activity and gives dignity

Worker Solidarity

• The Church also calls for workers’ solidarity to prevent human labour from being degraded.

• The Church is committed to the poor.

CHRIST, the man of work

• Jesus approved of the different forms of human work which reflected a human person’s

likeness to God.

Sharing in the activity of the

Creator

• We are called through work to building up the world that God created.

The Cross and Resurrection of Christ

• By enduring the toil of work, the human person is united with Christ in His sufferings.

Conflict between Labor & CapitalThe Priority of Labor

• Priority of labor and capital• Primacy of people over things

Since capital includes all resources, it should therefore belong to everyone.

Economism and Materialism

The human person is above things and

capital and has thus to be given the rightful dignity and priority.

Materialism degrades human labour.

Work and Ownership

The right ownership of property The right ownership of property should be subordinated to the should be subordinated to the

principle of common good.principle of common good.

The church also favors joint ownership between proprietors and laborers.

The “Personalist” Argument

The human person and one’s labour is still more important than capital.

A means of being a sharer in responsibility and creativity.

Rights of Workers

General• The human person is obliged to

work• One is entitled to rights connected

to human work• Human work has thus to be seen in

the context of basic Human Rights• These rights depend on the nature

of employment

The Employment Issue

• All workers have the right to suitable employment

• Unemployment can be a social disaster and suitable remedies should be developed by every state

Wages and Social Benefits

• All workers have a right to just renumeration

• Just renumeration is the key issue of social ethics as it is a practical means for people to have access to goods intended for the common use

• Workers should also be entitled to social benefits such as:

Healthcare, right to rest, pension and accident insurance, and

decent work environment

The church calls for the following in connection with the wages

• A. wages sufficient to support a family

• Allowances to mothers raising a family

• Re-evaluation of mother’s role to ensure proper love for children and fair opportunities for women

Importance of Unions

An important element for the security of An important element for the security of workersworkers

Came about because of struggles for social Came about because of struggles for social justice, workers needed a mouthpiece justice, workers needed a mouthpiece

Unions bring about social order and worker Unions bring about social order and worker solidaritysolidarity

Right to Strike- legitimate, not to be abused Right to Strike- legitimate, not to be abused and must not stray from specific rolesand must not stray from specific roles

Disabled persons are fully human subjects

They have the right to work (according to situation and capability)

Work and the Disabled Person

Work and Emigration

Right to emigrate in search of better work

They should not be placed at a disadvantaged position compared

with other workers

SUMMARY

•It is God who ordered man to work, to participate in his ongoing creation. Human work is a duty. •It is more than getting a salary, for work makes the human person useful. It gives dignity to the human person.

•The dignity of workers is above all else. The primacy of labor over capital must always be defended, but labor and capital should go hand in hand.•It is the right of workers to form associations and to participate in ownership, management and profit.

work is not the ultimate goal but the glory of God.