Your views on Confucianism?

**evon** · 04-16-2013, 09:41 AM

I wonder if anyone here have any opinions regarding Confucianism or one of its many branches and if so what are they and why?

My own views on it is linked to my study of it, i found that Confucianism is by far the closest view to my own out there, it superseded secular Humanism due to a lack of Spirituality in the latter, while keeping the Humanism, it also supersede many others due to its flexibility and lack of dogmatism and ease at which it can be moved to other cultural perspectives..

**Jackson** · 04-16-2013, 12:08 PM

After reading a bit about it on Wikipedia, it seems very good actually. It seems rational, practical and emphasizes good qualities in people. Of course it also gets past the worship of deities which was always a problem for me when looking into religions.

It's a lot more sensible than Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and i don't know enough about most other religions to comment on them but i might even say the same thing.

It's probably the only religion that i could have any prospect of converting my father to at least haha.

**CrystalMaiden** · 04-16-2013, 12:10 PM

I spent few months experimenting with Eastern religions while in that phase, was quite surprised to find out that Muslims in eastern China practice a weird blend of Confucianism and Sunni-Islam.

**evon** · 04-16-2013, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by Jackson

After reading a bit about it on Wikipedia, it seems very good actually. It seems rational, practical and emphasizes good qualities in people. Of course it also gets past the worship of deities which was always a problem for me when looking into religions.

It's a lot more sensible than Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and i don't know enough about most other religions to comment on them but i might even say the same thing.

It's probably the only religion that i could have any prospect of converting my father to at least haha.

Yes, its essentially atheistic in that it lacks any form of deity, but it does have a spiritual side, which is best translated as Heaven (Tian in Mandarin), which can also be called cosmos or universe, it covers the role of a deity, but without being one, its basically a mirror or of my own view.. Neo-Confucianism which started around 1000 CE onwards, was a further branching and development of Confucianism that focuses mostly on rationalism, and does away with allot of the ancient ideas of spirituality, without loosing the spiritual aspect totally.

Originally Posted by TheJourney

I spent few months experimenting with Eastern religions while in that phase, was quite surprised to find out that Muslims in eastern China practice a weird blend of Confucianism and Sunni-Islam.

I have not read too much into it, but the Hui Muslims in Southern china are said to be behind this achievement yes, Confucianism is very adapt at blending with other religions and taking from it what is seen as "good", while rejecting that which is seen as "bad", Neo-Confucianism is a product of this relationship between Daoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, there are also branches that have adapted Christian ideas among other things...

**evon** · 04-18-2013, 04:01 PM

A good basic introduction to Confucianism..But to be aware, he treats this somewhat dogmatic, which is wrong, Confucianism is open, you can cherry pick as much as you want because its upto you what you regard as right, without you not being a Confucian, and he is wrong with Neo-confucianism, it was a rationalist movement, but he is right that some people do revert various Confucius sages as some Buddhists do Buddha. Lastly he is wrong in saying it is so hierarchical, it has traditionally been so due to politics, but its not something dogmatic, democracy functions with Confucianism is you ask me..

**Cygnus** · 06-07-2013, 11:21 PM

It was and is a masterful system based on eternal truths. Naturally, it operates the way it does because it was formulated by and for the Chinese civilization. Confucianism as such cannot be exported, but the central truths behind it could inspire a suitable system for Europeans.

**evon** · 06-08-2013, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Cygnus

It was and is a masterful system based on eternal truths. Naturally, it operates the way it does because it was formulated by and for the Chinese civilization. Confucianism as such cannot be exported, but the central truths behind it could inspire a suitable system for Europeans.

I think you have misunderstood it completely, firstly there are no eternal truths as i see it, hence the quote:

They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.
Confucius

Because due to li, which can be translated here as right behavior, changes according to circumstance, although the higher ideals remain the same i suppose, but in practice, it is very diverse as long as it is seen as the best option for the time/place it is in.

Secondly, Confucianism have been exported to non-Chinese culture since ancient times (shares allot with Taoism and Buddhism in this regard), the main countries being Japan, Korea and various south East Asian countries, and i dont see any problems in adopting it to a Nordic or European mindset, the main conflicts would be the overemphasis on the individual, and individual right over the collective right, but in Nordic culture this is not so much an issue due to our collective ideas already, one just needs to merge them and voila, you have a functioning spiritual path.

**Odin** · 02-19-2018, 02:58 AM

**~~Bobby Martnen~~** · 02-19-2018, 02:59 AM

Some of Confucius' philosophical teachings are interesting, but unlike Judaism and Christianity, Confucianism won't save your soul.

**sean** · 08-02-2019, 05:34 PM

Evil comes from people who forgoes self-cultivation and the good in the world arises from discipline. It can be thought of as a religion because it prescribes rituals but this can be interpreted as simply as going to the gym regularly or practising a martial art or simply making ones bed every morning. A self-religion without mysticism.