윤리적 소비에 대한 기독교윤리적 연구

Abstract

In the consumption society are increasing the consumers right as well as their responsibility for the society. In the past, consumer ethics have emphasized on the economic-rationality which consumer should buy the high quality product with lower price as possible. However, in ethical consumption it asked consumer to be responsible of the environmental health and animal welfare, local community, and the farmers and workers human rights in underdeveloped countries. In other words, in ethical consumption are implied the ethical values such as sustainability, communal life and fairness(social justice). The value of sustainability means consciousness of the healthy environment and animal welfare, and also the environmental right of the next-generation. It asks consumer to be a green consumer who is buying eco-friendly and energy saving products. The value of communal life seeks to build a community in a local area against a global economy. The movement of local food and community currency is known helpful to build symbiotic relationship between consumer and producer in a local area. The value of fairness seeks equity in international trade based on dialogue and respect. It asks consumer in industry countries not to show individual charity or relief of the poor, but to pay fair price for products like coffee and handicraft in underdeveloped countries. For the fostering ethical consumption by the local churches, it is important to make conscious of ethical consumption of the church members as an consumer. And the church as an consumer should make a role model for social responsible consumption through buying the eco-friend, local produced, and fair price payed products.