Freedom to choose: universal ethics for emotional and spiritual wellbeing

Abstract

This book involves an interesting and stimulating series of propositions on the relations between religious laws on the one hand, and emotional and spiritual wellbeing. The book opens with chapters detailing the Seven Noachide laws (p. 28). These laws are a rabbinically described code of behaviour applicable to all humanity. Unlike many, most or indeed all religious traditions, Judaism does not actually seek converts. But it does o ff er a code of behaviour applicable to all, and indeed this code is embedded in the major world reli-gions. Miriam Cowen ’ s book spells out some of the emotional, moral and spiritual consequences of attempting to follow these rules, for example belief in God, sexual morality, respect for the property of others and the ethical treatment of animals and nature