ipl-logo

Confucianism Is A Religion Essay

583 Words3 Pages

Before a question like this can be discussed it is important to remember the significance of remaining neutral and avoiding being ethnocentric. It is of utmost importance to use a holistic approach and not get stuck on one thing which either lines up or does not. We must use cultural relativism where analyzes the different points of the debate. Further, we should utilize both emic and etic perspectives in order to see both sides throughout the debate.
Defining Religion
In order to determine if Confucianism is a religion we must first define religion. When doing so it is imperative to avoid being ethnocentric and construct an operant definition. According to the text, religion is defined as “the realm of culture that concerns the sacred supernatural”. Based upon this alone, Confucianism would not be considered a religion as the focus of the group (what it will be referred to …show more content…

In Confucianism there fails to be such; everyone is equal. (Prothero p.105) Place of/ Scheduled Worship: Most often religions have a place of worship where individuals gather to worship together. In regards to Confucianism, there are temples but there is no regular worship or anything as they fail to believe in a supreme being so what would those gathered be worshipping? (Prothero p.105) Religious Texts: A common characteristic of religions is a sacred text of some sort. Confucianism has multiple such as the “Four Books” and the Five Classics. In most religions the text focuses on the life and the teachings of the supreme being they believe in but in regards to Confucianism they reference how to conduct and govern oneself as well as folk songs. The texts fail to have divine inspiration and reference God as the religion and texts focus on ethical, practical problems while most religious texts focus on eschatological and metaphysical problems. (Prothero p.

Show More
Related
1819 Words | 8 Pages

Buddhism in China DBQ A little before the Tang dynasty there was the Han dynasty where Confucianism was a staple of daily life and government. When the Han dynasty dissolved and the Tang dynasty took authority. Buddhism began to spread widely all over China. Buddhism was met with all types of responses: some saw buddhism as a threat to Confucian family values, while some saw Buddhism as a way to disregard worldly pleasures and luxuries that would only bring them harm, and lastly some mixed on the concept of Buddhism had an issue with the ascetic lifestyle led by its followers. One of the responses to Buddhism in China was that it was thought that Buddhism was a threat to Confucian family values.

Read More
361 Words | 2 Pages

Religions of the Han and Yuan Dynasties The Religion of the Han and Yuan Dynasties were Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. The religions of these dynasties affected the government and society greatly. During the Han Dynasty the major religion was Confucianism. Buddhism and Daoism were the main religions in the Yuan Dynasty. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism all affected the Chinese government.

Read More
1732 Words | 7 Pages

Buddhism, initially widely accepted in China over the centuries has been criticized. Rather than having a positive effect, Buddhism has been condemned due to its “barbaric” nature in comparison to Confucianism. Buddhism was a faith that has been deemed as an outcast due to it only being recently adopted in China. Before Buddhism, Confucianism was the religion that dominated from 206-220 BC, originating in China by a Chinese philosopher known as Confucius. Buddhism is a universal religion that originated during the 6th century BC in India and was practiced in various regions, and came to prevail in China due to the fall of the Han Dynasty; China, lacking political structure, turned towards Buddhism.

Read More
1195 Words | 5 Pages

Many scholars who argued that Confucianism is a religion had ignored to fulfill this aspect in religion as they mainly focus on the transcendental element of religion. Confucianism could hardly fulfill this requirement as it is more likely parallel to other religions. One could believe in Christianity, Buddhism or Islam and still follow Confucius teaching in Confucianism. Worshipping god and ancestor worship could be practiced by same individual as they are discussed in different context. The former is about spiritual belongingness and the latter is about a ritual of paying respect and remembering to one’s ancestor.

Read More
318 Words | 2 Pages

Confucianism Slide 1: “Confucianism” R: “Confucianism.” Slide 2: “Historical Origins” John: “Confucianism was founded by Confucius during the late 6th century B.C.E, a time of great political turmoil for China. During this time Slide 3: “Confucius” Richard: Confucius was an influential Chinese philosopher who is given credit for founding Confucianism. He lived from 551 to 479 B.C, famously known as a wise teacher of models of social interaction. While his neighbours in India were obsessed with the big mysteries of existence such as the origin or the universe, god or the afterlife.

Read More
218 Words | 1 Pages

Both Confucianism and Daoism are philosophies which started in China. These are two very similar yet very different philosophies. These philosophies were never meant to be treated as a religion but many people have treated them as though they are. Daoism is mainly focused on the living of life by the individual, and Confucianism is more focused on the life of society as a whole. Daoism was based on the writings of Lao-tzun in a book called The Dao-dejing which translates to "The Way and its Power."

Read More
533 Words | 3 Pages

Currently, Confucianism is a large religion in China, Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. One teaching of Confucianism is the five relationships between living beings. These relationships are ruler to subjects, father to son, husband to wife, older brother to younger brother, and lastly, friend to friend. The rulers, fathers, and older brothers (superior) have to treat their subjects, sons, and younger brothers (inferior) fair and just while the inferior must respect and obey

Read More
185 Words | 1 Pages

An interesting and, for the history of Christianity, important example of a licensed worship is Judaism. From the days of Julius Caesar, the imperial policy toward the Jew and his religion was uniformly favorable, with the brief exception of the mad attempt of Gaius. The government often protected them against the hatred of the populace. Up to 70 C.E. they were allowed freely to send their yearly contribution to the temple; they were even allowed self-governing privileges and legislative powers among themselves, and thus formed an exclusive community in the midst of Roman society. Even the disastrous war of 68-70 and the fall of Jerusalem did not bring persecution upon the Jew, though most of these self-governing and self-legislating powers

Read More
179 Words | 1 Pages

Confucianism, Daoism (or Taoism), and Legalism, were three major religions in ancient China. Confucianism was based on the thought that all men had a Dao or a way and that it was their own duty to follow their Dao. It was also based on the thought of humanity and that government positions should be open to not only nobles, but to men of equal qualities. Confucianism was more of a philosophy than a religion, as was Daoism (or Taoism). Although the two had this in common, Daoism was mostly the opposite of Confucianism.

Read More
207 Words | 1 Pages

There isn’t necessarily a deity in Confucianism. It revolves around ancestor worship. Confucius (551 BCE -- 479 BCE) founded Confucianism on his philosophies during his life. Confucianism has five holy books: "The Book of History," "The Book of Poetry," "The Book of Changes," "The Book of Rites," and the "Spring and Autumn Annals." “Confucianism is often characterized as a system of social

Read More
680 Words | 3 Pages

The Shinto The Kami or the spirits of the land have been worshiped for thousands of years by the Shinto. This community based religion worships highly localized Kami. Kami loosely translates to spirits in english. “The name Shinto comes from the Chinese characters for Shen (‘divine being’), and Tao (‘way’) and means ‘the way of the spirit. ”(BBC)

Read More
1501 Words | 7 Pages

Both religions put an emphasis on behaving appropriately in society and in the home. Confucianism shows this in the theme of filial piety and benevolence, and Buddhism shows this in the ethical conduct section of the Noble Eightfold

Read More
618 Words | 3 Pages

One thing that sets Confucianism from the other religions is that they aren’t interested in the divine. Those who practice Confucianism believe that their time is now, they focus on the moment, not the past nor the future. Confucians are comfortable with speaking about God. Furthermore, they believe that human nature comes from Heaven. Some argue that Confucianism isn’t religious, yet there is nothing irreligious about it.

Read More
1008 Words | 5 Pages

Confucianism - what is it? Confucianism, or known as Ruism, is an ancient system of teachings about philosophy and ethics found by Confucius and later developed by his discipline Mencius. This system is an organized religion of optimistic humanism and has had a monumental impact on the life, social structure, and political philosophy of China. Rather than just a religion like Christianity or Buddhism, Confucianism primarily and fundamentally deals with moral behavior, ethical living and is regularly characterized as an ethical framework such as emphasizing the ideas of human's love, ancestor worship, respect for parents, and harmony in thought. The system is to construct transcendent ideals of traditional Chinese society, social values, and

Read More
615 Words | 3 Pages

Confucianism has remained the predominant ideology that influenced social aspects of East Asia’s inhabitants across centuries. It is a taught system of moral wisdom with characteristics of dominant religions, though it lacks a deity, a belief in life after death, or priesthood. In assessing Confucianism as a religious doctrine, its evolution, characteristics, and belief systems occupy fundamental parts. The central concept of Confucianism is ren, the central virtue founded on the values of goodness, benevolence, humanity, and kind-heartedness.

Read More

More about Confucianism Is A Religion Essay

Related Topics

Open Document