Religion is often perceived to be a set of belief systems that dictate how one ought to live their life. It governs many aspects of daily living such as dietary practices, ritual observances, social norms, and codes of behavior. Religion also plays an important role in negotiations. Negotiating refers to a process whereby parties involved come to an agreement about certain issues through compromise and bargaining. In most cases, religious people are expected to approach negotiations from a moral standpoint rather than purely economic or practical ones. This means that they should consider what is right according to their faith while making decisions during negotiations.
This can sometimes result in failure since some individuals may view negotiation as something immoral, especially if it involves compromising on principles.
There are several reasons why religion frames negotiation as a sign of moral or relational failure. One reason is that it encourages adherents to prioritize morality above all else.
Christianity teaches that man is created in God's image and should therefore strive to be like him. This implies that Christians must act morally even when dealing with others who do not share their beliefs. Therefore, if someone negotiates for personal gain without considering the interests of others, then they could be accused of being immoral or un-Christian. Another reason is that religions often emphasize the importance of relationships. Religious people are taught to love their neighbors as themselves, which means putting others first before self-interest. If they engage in negotiations solely for their own benefit at the expense of others, then they might be seen as breaking this principle and hence failing morally.
In addition to this, some religious beliefs condemn materialism.
Islam prohibits Muslims from accumulating wealth beyond needs. Thus, if one pursues wealth solely for selfish gains through negotiating, they could be considered immoral because they have failed to live up to Islamic values. The same applies to Buddhists who believe that greed is one of the three poisons that lead to suffering. In essence, any form of economic exploitation during negotiations can be viewed as an act against Buddhist precepts.
Some religions promote community over individualism. Hinduism, for instance, values family and community ties more than personal success or profit. As a result, if one uses negotiation to advance their individual goals while neglecting those around them, they may be perceived as failing morally according to these standards.
Another factor contributing to this moral failure is cultural context. Religion plays a critical role in shaping societies' views on acceptable behavior.
Many cultures view negotiating as rude or distasteful since it involves compromising one's principles or interests for the sake of others. Such societies do not value individual achievement but rather collective progress. Therefore, someone engaged in such activities could be viewed with disdain by their peers even though they are acting within the tenets of their religion.
Religion frames negotiation as a sign of moral or relational failure due to its emphasis on morality, relationships, non-materialism, and communitarianism. While there are exceptions to this rule depending on the situation at hand, religious people should always strive to uphold these principles when dealing with others through bargaining and compromise.