Series- 8 Major World Religions: Confucianism

Confucianism: The Way of Propriety

Propriety- conformity to established standards of good and mannerly behavior, righteousness.

The exact number of Confucians is hard to pinpoint for a couple of reason. First, the practice is often combined with elements of Buddhism and Taoism blurring the defining line for a true Confucian. Secondly, disclosing matters of faith is not something done easily by people fearful of government retribution in Communist China.

Some scholars argue Confucianism is a philosophy and not a religion, but the path is often followed in a religious manner by the Chinese, the largest concentration of Confucians.

Confucians discuss elements of the afterlife and views concerning Heaven, but it is relatively unconcerned with some spiritual matters often considered essential to religious thought, such as the nature of the soul.

Confucians believe in the concept of moral perfection for a mortal person and use reaching said moral perfection as the foundation of the religion.

Confucius lives during the Chou Dynasty, and era known for moral laxity. Late in life, he wandered through many states in China and gave advise to each of the respective rulers. He accumulated a small band of followers during his travels, but the movement didn't take off until after his death in 479 BC.

Likes Socrates, Confucius taught that vices developed from ignorance and that knowledge was the only path to true, unfailing virtue. The knowledge on which he insisted was not purely scientific learning but an edifying acquaintance with the sacred texts and the rules of virtue and propriety.

Confucianism is characterized by a highly optimistic view of human nature. The faith that an ordinary human being can possibly become an awe-inspiring sage and worthy (noun- facetious, often a person of distinguished character, merit, or importance) is deeply rooted in the Confucian heritage. History records that Confucius lived quite an ordinary life, yet his teaching centered on human beings being teachable, improvable and even perfectible through personal and communal endeavors.

Li finds its origin in religious ceremony and rites. The broader meaning defines the way things are done. Attitude becomes as important as correct conduct. Manners, orderly behavior, family relations, honoring elders and the concept contained in the Christian Golden Rule all help describe Li.

Filial piety, dutiful respect for parents, is a the single most important social institution in imparting ways of learning to be human. It is the glue for social solidarity.

The community is necessary for this self-transformation to occur. It broadens and deepens the self, expressing the fundamental integration of all segments of our world. Once rooted, the soul contributes to the four visions that identify the classic Confucian vision of the world.

During Confucius’s life, societal conflict, rather than harmony, was the norm. Believing there had been an earlier period of prosperity and peace in China Confucius advocated a return to the traditions and values of that earlier time. These traditions--which maintained peace and social order--became the focus of Confucian thought.

While many elements of Confucianism can easily translate or transfer to the Christian faith and practice, there are distinct difference that make following Confucianism incompatible with Christianity.

The concepts of prayer and worship are vastly different in Confucianism. Also, the reward of accepting Jesus as a personal Savior from sin-debt (and the consequence of hell for not) is a completely foreign concept to the Confucians.

Next Week- Buddhism

Series- 8 Major World Religions: Hinduism

Hinduism: The Way of Devotion

My apologies for struggling trying to tie Hinduism up into a 30 minute package. As we learned, Hinduism is a very complex, evolving world religion (the third largest by most accounts). While there are some core beliefs for most Hindus, not following these core beliefs doesn't exclude one from being a Hindu either. Being born in India appears to be one sure way to adopt or inherit the belief system.

Hindus in the world

A recent survey of Americans conducted by Religious Tolerence found the number one association with Hinduism in this country was The Simpsons cartoon character Apu (overwhelmingly).

Second was the Hindu deva Ganesha.

Finally, the third most popular association was Mohandas Gandhi.

Well-known people who have 'converted' to Hinduism include George Harrison (Beatles), Julia Roberts and Ricky Williams (Miami Dolphins). 'Adopting' Hindu principles would be a better phrase for changing to a Hindu.

Hinduism snapshot

Because of the wide variety of Hindu traditions, freedom of belief and practices are notable features of Hinduism. The term Hinduism was first used in the 13th century by the medieval ruling Islamic kingdoms in present day India to denote traditions and practices ‘not Islam.’

Naturally, Hindus refer to their religion as being the oldest known religion. Although widely accepted as henotheistic, some elements of Hinduism can be defined as polytheism (many gods), pantheism (God is the whole) and even panentheism (the whole is in God).

It's important to realize that while moksha is the desired outcome of breaking from the revolving cycle of death and rebirth (samsara), moksha is not consider an equivalent to Christian heaven. There is no 'sin debt' in Hinduism or even an ultimate reward for the choice of good actions over evil actions. Karma rectifies these choices as a process of daily living and through samsara. Live a good life (dharma) and you may be rewarded by returning after death through reincarnation (samsara) into a better life. Of course, karma has two sides, and a not so ethical life might see your return as a bug or cow.

The Vedas were the precursors to modern Hinduism.

Christianity vs Hinduism

For a Christian, discussions of faith with a Hindu could be tedious and frustrating. Some (although not all) Hindus completely accept the principles of Christianity as a means to moksha. The concept of a single path to God is completely foreign to Hindus. Acceptance of other beliefs and faiths is a basic principle of the religion.

Next Week: Confusianism

Series- 8 Major World Religions: Islam

Islam: The Way of Submission

The Islamic faith is front and center on the world stage today. Many views of Islam held by Americans (as well as Christians worldwide) are based in misconception. We discussed merely an overview of the world's second largest religion and then concluded with the Muslim view of Jesus in relation to their faith.

Muslims reject the deity of Muhammad as blasphemy.

The Koran when read aloud in Arabic takes on an almost musical feel in flow and rhythm. Chanting of the Koran is often done during prayer and worship, but Muslims feel strongly it should always be done in the original language of Muhammad.

Muslims in the World

Indonesia, the fourth largest country by population, has the most Muslims as a nation. By far, the largest concentration of Muslims are located in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

Sunni and Shia

The two major factions of Islam, Sunni's and Shi'as, split shortly after the death of Muhammad due to the influence of Ali. Sunni's hold a traditional view of Islam and Islamic law while Shi'as believe Islamic law should be administered through a single entity called an Imam whom they believe is divinely placed by God.

Muhammad al-Mahdi is believed by Shi'as to be the current and last of the Twelve Imams and the promised Mahdi, a messianic figure who will return with Jesus. He was born in 869 and has not died but been hidden by God. His existence is denied by Sunnis entirely.

Until the return of the Mahdi, the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists is conducted by the Supreme Leader (currently only in Iran) addressed as Ayatollah. The Current Supreme leader in Shia majority Iran is the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Other Shia majority countries are Iraq, Azerbaijan and Bahrain.

Five Pillars of Islam



The Shahadah is the basic creed of Islam and must be recited under oath with the specific statement: I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.

Ritual prayers, called Salah or Salat, must be performed five times a day. Salah is intended to focus the mind on God. Prayers are recited in the Arabic language and consist of verses from the Koran.

Fasting from food, drink and 'relations' must be performed during the month of Ramadhan from dawn until dusk each day. The fast is to encourage closeness to God and Muslims are to express gratitude for Him as well as atone for past sins.

A pilgrimage is required of all able Muslims to Mecca at least once. While Muslims deny Muhammad is deity, a lot of tradition and ritual is centered around and focused on the man.

Muhammad supposedly received the contents of the Koran through angelic revelations from 610 AD until his death in 632 AD. Since he was illiterate, the verses were transcribed over time by friends and family.

The non-Muslim view of Muhammad has been mixed at best. Medieval Christians believed he was the anti-Christ of Revelations and commonly marked the date of his death in 666 instead of 632. Muhammad is mentioned in the hugely influential 14th century poem of Dante called Divine Comedy where Muhammad is represented by a character in purgatory split in half (representative of the schism believed by many of Islam branching from Christianity).

Women in Islam

The Hijab is required by law for women in Iran and Saudi Arabia but banned in the countries of France and Turkey.

Women are considered equal and accountable to God in religious matters but treated as property in all other aspects. Marriage is strictly a civil union or contract and does not contain a pious element outside of Islamic Law (see next slide).

Another major difference between Christianity and Islam. The concept of separating God from state is completely foreign to Islamic culture. God is the ultimate and supreme law over all aspects of life including civic governments, in contrast to Christianity (see Romans 13:1-7 and Matthew 15:15-22).

Promotes laws being passed that ban or forbid other religions besides Islam under punishment by civil authorities.

Islamic view of Jesus

While Jesus is an important figure in Islam, He is not considered deity. Only one in a line of  prophets. Muslims believe God took Jesus away right as the Romans were crucifying Him.

Verses from the Koran on Jesus:

Series- 8 Major World Religions: What you should know and why it's important.

Most scholars and theologians classify and list the major world religions as: Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism. For the sake of our study, we will expand that list to 8 major religions because Christians are likely to come into contact with each . To sum up the primary factor for each, I've associated a word or two along with the religion:

This list comprises the stated (and sometimes assumed) faiths of over 6 billion people on the planet.

As pointed out in class (thanks Josh Cline), that leaves out almost a billion people from the current world population of roughly 7 billion souls (see World Population Clock here). They would fall in an assortment of various smaller religious groups and, by in large, a non-religious category (atheist, agnostics, etc.).

Taoism is predominately a faction of either Confucianism or Buddhism, but there are significant enough differences to warrant a separate look from the two.

While Christianity is the largest world religion by sheer numbers, the classification is very liberal and includes Protestants, Catholics and Lutherans, as well as, the faiths of Mormons and the Jehovah Witness (just to name a few). Basically, any religion that centers around Jesus is included.


Why Does Religion Matter? 

For Christians, religion is just merely the practice of our faith which we hold to matter on an eternal scale. But religion doesn't exist in the abstract and has been the single most dominate force in the world since humans were created.

While sociologist and academics have predicted the decline of religion as nations have become modernized and industrialized, statistics show a different story. With the exception of some Western Europe countries (England, Germany and France) the rest of the world is drastically religious.

During the 1960's and the secularist movement in our own country, major publications such as Time Magazine and the New York Daily Times published articles claiming the belief in God was in major decline in our country. Yet, recent surveys by the USA Today and Pew Research show that 85% or more of Americans claim to believe in God (or a Higher Power). In a 2008 Gallop poll on religious attitudes toward presidential candidates, just over 50% of respondents replied under no circumstance would they vote for a well-qualified candidate who claimed to be an atheist (as a comparison, gay 37% and Muslim 38%). Over half!  God is far from dead in our country.


Why should Christians care about other religions? 

I don't by any means advocate for all Christians to become intimately knowledgeable about the finer points of other religions. There's just too much work to be done in our own faith! World religions are a subject matter of personal interest that were a byproduct of straying from the Christian path at one point in my own past. But I do feel it is important to have a working knowledge of other religions, since 2/3 of the world population aren't Christians, and we are called to reach them for Christ.

There are three major reasons, in my opinion, why Christians should at least be familiar with other world religions that I've categorized as: Inward, Outward and Upward. The list is by no means inclusive. I've also listed which of the Five Purposes from the Identity 1-1-1 Series that can be associated with each category.

1. Inward- As we study other religions, we inevitably compare our beliefs to those of others which drives us to think through theological issues we might not have examined otherwise. I believe this helps the Christian not only better understand their own faith but also better appreciate the subtleties and even beauty of biblical teaching.

As Christians see the deep devotion required in some other faiths, it becomes only natural to reexamine one's own commitment to God and should spark a desire for a closer relationship with Him. 

Grow and Worship

2. Outward- While it's only human nature to find it difficult to love those different from us, Jesus didn't add a disclaimer to His commandment for us to love our neighbors *but only if they are like us. While that may look funny written on the page, most Christians act as if those were the actual words of Christ! When humans encounter something (or someone) different from our personal perspective of "normal", we either fear that difference (usually out of ignorance) or become condescending (definitely out of ignorance). Either attitude leads to a dehumanizing effect which in turn creates a strong distinction between us and them. Not very Christ-like.

By having a better understanding of what is, in all likelihood, the most dominating factor in another person's life, Christians will find compassion comes easier for those not of our faith. From that compassion will develop love for others and the clarity that all of mankind was created in God's image, and His grace is extended to everyone including the Muslim, the Buddhist and even the atheist. At this point, the Christian becomes much better equipped to communicate the Gospel with others. With a working knowledge of other religions, a spiritual conversation about the Gospel with a Hindu would be different from that with a Muslim. Different and more effective when presented with more clarity. While it's true the message is very much the same, the method is more adept for the listening party.

Share and Serve

3. Upward- If you believe all things have a purpose according to God's plan, there should be greater value placed on understanding the world we live in today. God works throughout the entire world and expects us to be prepared, if called, to do the same. By trying to better understand the world God works in today, we grow in our appreciation for His greatness. Ultimately, we grow closer to Him.   

Worship

Next Week: Islam