[Fu Youde] Reference Materials: Judaism and Christianity in the Construction of Confucianism



 
 
 
Reference: Judaism, Christianity and the Construction of Confucianism
Author: Fu Youde (Director of Judaism and Interreligious Research Center of Shandong University, Philosophy Professor at the Department of Religious Studies, School of Social Development) Jamaicans Escort
Source: The author kindly provided the “Confucian Post” for publication
Time : July 5, 2012

The revival of Confucianism is the strongest message. Looking back on the past hundred years, Confucianism first lost its institutional support due to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty, and then encountered the “May 4th Movement” and the “New Culture Movement”Jamaicans Escort movement” and the numerous criticisms of the “Cultural Revolution” have even become exhibits in museums (Levinson’s words) or “wandering ghosts” that cannot be relied on (Yu Yingshi’s words). However, there is no doubt that Confucianism is the mainstream tradition in Chinese civilization. It has played the role of the dominant ideology for a long time and has profound historical accumulationJamaica SugarJamaica Sugarand a broad social base. Today’s China has weak beliefs, declining moral character, and weak culture, which are in stark contrast to the prosperity of the economy and science and technology. On this occasion, Confucianism’s return to the historical stage is indeed a historical necessityJM Escorts.

However, there are some phenomena worthy of attention in the wave of Confucian revival. Among them, xenophobia or narrow nationalism are particularly worrying. Some people believe that since the reform and opening up, Christianity (Christianity and Catholicism) has spread rapidly throughout China, and the number of believers has increased dramatically. In this regard, Chinese people must be highly vigilant and vigilant, and the revival of Confucianism can compete with Christianity for religious territory. In their subconscious mind, Christianity is still a “foreign religion”. If Chinese people believe in it, they will become “foreigners” in spirit and deviate from the Chinese civilization passed down by their ancestors. Obviously, this is the “Chinese-Barbarian distinction” in Chinese history that is at work in the mind, and it is a manifestation of xenophobia, and the other side of xenophobia is narrow nationalism. If Chinese and Western civilizations meet and intersectJM Escorts At the beginning, it is understandable to reject Eastern civilization, including Christianity, in order to achieve the nationalist goal of “preserving species and religion”. However, in the era of globalization in the 21st century, this kind of xenophobia or narrow-mindedness The nationalism of China should undoubtedly come to an end.

In fact, Confucius advocated “all brothers within the four seas” and “the whole world is one family”. He did not regard foreign races and their civilizations as scourges, and was not xenophobic; Zhu Xi, a great scholar in the Song Dynasty, supported Buddhism and Confucianism. The Buddhist principle of “one principle is different, and the moon is reflected in thousands of rivers” expresses its own New Confucianism – Neo-Confucianism. Nor was he a xenophobe. Modern Confucianism is not exclusive and does not practice “self-centeredness”. Is it possible that today, after more than a century of comprehensive integration of Chinese and Western civilizations and universal values ​​that have become increasingly popular, Confucian scholars still cannot overcome exclusivism and narrow-mindedness? A barrier to nationalism? I believe that, as shown by Zhu Xi’s theory of “one principle distinguishes itself from another” and Hick’s theory of “one reality, plural religions”, Confucianism or Confucianism also has a unified ultimate real religion, and is one of the great families of diverse religions in the world. a member of. Therefore, the relationship between Confucianism and other religions should be that of brothers, not enemies.

Confucianism should be revived, and it will definitely be revived, because it is needed by the Chinese people who are relatively materially developed but extremely spiritually poor. Although Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism and Taoism are all around us, Confucianism is still the choice of worship for many Chinese people. After Confucius put away his clothes, the master and servant gently walked out of the door and walked to the kitchen. It is determined by factors such as deep tradition, worldly orientation and long-term national psychology. Therefore, the revival and construction of Confucianism is a historical task that contemporary Confucian scholars cannot refuse.
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The history of the development of various religions in the world tells us that no religion is static. Similarly, Confucianism, which Jamaicans Escort was born in agricultural civilization and was preserved and developed with the help of monarchy, has no reason to stay in Rather, we should keep pace with the times and keep up with the procedures of the era of globalization. In other words, the previous Confucianism can be called the old Confucianism. What Confucianists today want to build is a new Confucianism that is closely related to the old Confucianism and reflects the spirit of the 21st century.

So Jamaica Sugar Daddy, how to build thisWhat about a new Confucianism? To answer this question, we need to first establish an acceptable religious outlook. There are no fewer than a hundred definitions of religion that can be seen today, but Jamaicans Sugardaddy generally includes the following three aspects. The first is the doctrine related to belief, the second is the organizational structure and canon related to the system, and the third is the believers participating in organized religious life. From the first aspect, religion is essentially a kind of spiritual belief and value system, and its function is to provide believers with spiritual beliefs and ways of life. In this sense, “What is that?” Pei Yi asked, watching his wife take it out of her sleeve pocket and put it in her bag like a letter. Confucianism has always been a religion, because respect for heaven and ancestors is its consistent expression of belief, and loyalty, filial piety, justice, benevolence, justice, etiquette, wisdom, etc. are the values ​​or ways of life it has always advocated. From the second aspect, the clergy (or quasi-clergy) of old Confucianism generally include officials, Confucian scholars, and gentry at all levels, which is the so-called gentry class in the past; religious places refer to the teaching and dissemination of Confucianism as their main purpose academies, as well as Jamaica Sugar Daddy places responsible for worship and education, such as the Temple of Heaven and the Confucius Temple (Confucian TempleJamaicans Escort), clan ancestral halls, and even individual families. After the Revolution of 1911, the people, institutions, and buildings related to Confucianism disappeared with the demise of the monarchy system, and Confucianism became incomplete. From the third aspect, due to the baptism of European style and American rain over the past century, the popularity of atheistic philosophy and scientism, and the destruction of Confucian temples and rituals, Confucian believers in the complete sense no longer exist. But to be honest, Confucianism still has a subtle influence on people’s lives through the spread of literature, art, history, philosophy and folk customs. Therefore, there are a large number of potential believers. This is the basis and condition for Confucianism to thrive and prosper. At this point we can draw this conclusion: Since we are not worried about the foundation of Confucian believers, then the important task of building a new Confucianism lies in the first two aspects of the above-mentioned religious outlook, namely the formulation of dogma and the construction of organizational systems.

I believe that the practices of modern Judaism and Christianity can be used as reference in the construction of new Confucian teachings and organizational systems.
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Since the beginning of the 19th century, Jews in Europe and the United States have carried out a long-lasting religious transformation movement By the 1930s, the great cause of reform was basically achieved and modern Judaism was formed.There are various major factions: reformists, orthodoxists, conservatives and reconstructionists. The direct cause of the transformation of Judaism is the challenge of modernity, which is embodied in the conflict between modernity and tradition, universality and nationality. The goal of transformation is the dual mission proposed by Moses Mendelsohn: on the one hand, they integrate into mainstream Eastern society, and on the other hand, they enable Jews to still believe in Judaism without losing their Jewishness. The specific method of transformation is: in terms of doctrine, it not only absorbs the modern values ​​since the Eastern Enlightenment, such as “unfettered”, “equality”, “fraternity”, “human rights”, “democracy”, etc., but also adheres to the traditional Jewish values. Focus Creed: “God, Torah andJM EscortsIsrael.” It not only explores the inherent universal values ​​​​from the Jewish Bible and Talmud, such as “justice”, “righteousness”, and “love your neighbor as yourself”, but also strives to integrate the original national reasons such as “Israel’s God”, “Law of Moses” and other universalizations, in order to eliminate the national elements as much as possible and transform Judaism into a “universal ethical monotheism”. The result of this is that Reform Judaism has formed a system of beliefs and values ​​that integrates tradition and modernity, nationality and universality. It provides its believers with a guide to living in modern society, and at the same time is larger. The Jewishness of the Jewish people was upheld horizontally. Other sects of Judaism (except for the ultra-conservative sects) have also been more or less influenced by the reformists, taking into account the two aspects of tradition and modernity, nationality and universality to an unlimited extent. Of course, Reform sects in Judaism are not monolithic, and there are differences among Reform sects in different periods. Nonetheless, the above description is appropriate for its overall Jamaica Sugar Daddy situation.

Looking back at China, since the Opium War to the present, the Chinese nation and the European Jews have faced similar problems: the conflict between tradition and modernity, and nationality and universality. At the same time, what we hope to achieve is also “that is, my husband’s disappearance was caused by joining the army, not Jamaicans Sugardaddy What danger? Jamaica Sugar Daddy could it be a life-threatening disappearance?” After hearing the cause and effect, Lan Yuhua and the target of the Jews at that time? They are roughly the same: integrating into the world’s big family of nations without losing the cultural identity of the Chinese people. Since the Jews before us relied on balancing tradition and modernity, peopleJamaica Sugarsuccessfully transformed Judaism in terms of both ethnicity and universality, JM Escortsto a large extent If they achieve their goals, their experience will be of great reference value. According to this idea, in the process of building a new Confucianism, we can, on the one hand, introduce values ​​such as freedom from restraint, equality, fairness, fraternity, and human rights into the teachings of Confucianism, and on the other hand, adhere to the original core concepts of Confucianism: Believe in the signs of heaven and earth and the spirits of ancestors, and cultivate your character according to the values ​​and concepts taught by the saints, so as to realize the ideal personality of a righteous person and a saint. On the one hand, it inherits the universal values ​​of Confucian classics, such as the “Way of Loyalty and Forgiveness” and the “Five Constant Virtues”. On the other hand, it reinterprets the unique concepts of Confucianism and gives them a new and broad meaning; such as dispelling “differences” “Equal love” and promote the theory of “universal love for all”, making Confucian love become universal love; eliminate the concept of “loyalty” and “loyalty to the king” and replace it with “loyalty and trustworthiness” between people; eliminate the concept of “filial piety” The meaning of “father and son conceal each other” takes the meaning of “support” and “respect”; and so on; I think, after this interpretation by Confucian scholarsJamaica Sugar DaddyAt that time, those concepts that originally belonged to Confucianism and had individualistic characteristics will be widely accepted as accepted codes of conduct, the beliefs and values ​​of a new ConfucianismJamaica Sugar system will be established.

Compared with Christianity, which has a strict church system and fellowship life, Confucianism, including the Confucianism before the Revolution of 1911, does have an imperfect organization, irregular activities, and very loose believers. The beliefs and values ​​of Confucius permeate the political system, social organizations, clan relationships, and every family life. In this sense, it is not inappropriate to call it “diffuse religion.” However, perhaps “diffusion” can be called a characteristic of Confucianism, but it is by no means its advantage, because it is not conducive to the life practice and effective spread of Confucianism. Therefore, one of the tasks of today’s Confucian scholars is to learn from the experience of Christianity, eliminate the “diffuse nature” of Confucianism, and make it an institutionalized religion with a sound organizational structure, full-time teaching staff, and regular church life. . The Christianity mentioned here does not specifically refer to a certain sect, such as the unified Catholic Church or the Holy Spirit with clear religious hierarchy. Sanhedrin, but generally refers to the well-established Christian religion. The so-called learning from the experience of Christianity refers to the practices at the institutional level such as its church organizations, leadership agencies, clergy, rituals and canons, fellowship life, and seminaries. Thousands of years of history have proven that the organization and track of ChristianityThe system is very effective and worthy of reference and selective adoption by contemporary Confucian scholars in the process of building a new Confucianism.

New Confucianism must begin in China, and finally become jamaica sugar . She started Jamaicans Sugardaddy in China, because this is not only the hometown of old Confucianism, but also a fertile land where new Confucianism can grow and thrive. Here are the necessary conditions for the development of new Confucianism – Confucian scholars, Confucian leaders and a large number of potential believers. However, because Neo-Confucianism is not a nationalist religion, but a universalist religion, it will not be limited to China. It will definitely go to the world and become a world-wide religion that educates all people.

Some people believe that Confucianism is essentially a perceptual philosophy, not a religion. Then let him study and teach Confucian philosophy!

Some people think that Confucianism, like other Chinese religions, is an institutionalized “diffuse” religion, and they appreciate this “diffuse” feature, so let them continue to appreciate and give full play to its “diffuse” nature “Advantage it!

Some people think that Confucianism is “Wang Guanxue” and should become the state religion of China in the future of the unity of politics and religion. Then let him advocate and promote it. Whether Jamaicans Sugardaddy can succeed will naturally be proven by history.
                                                                                                                                                                                          ” Then let him do it.

Some people believe that Confucianism should become China’s national religion and provide value choices for every Chinese citizen. Then let him promote Confucianism among the people!

There are many opinions and claims, and in the future, there will be jamaicans escort New insights, ideas, and factions. All this is normal and fair. However, the attitude we advocate is: put aside disputes, learn from existing successful experiences, actively work on the construction of doctrine and system, and ultimately establish a system that can become the majority of the peopleJamaicans SugardaddyNew Confucianism that is a spiritual adjustment and life guide for believers.
 
 It is difficult to know, but especially difficult to do. The birth and growth of New Confucianism not only depend on the doctrinal construction of Confucian scholars, but also depend on the sacrificial energy and perseverance of Confucian leaders. Of course, it ultimately depends on the support and participation of the majority of believers. It can be expected that in the process of establishing the doctrine, organization and system of New Confucianism, many believers will respond. At that time, the concept will be transformed into Jamaicans Escortis reality. We are waiting for the birth of a new type of Confucianism, and hope that it will respect each other, live in harmony with other religions, and work together in the sacred mission of living and working in peace and contentment, adhering to customs, harmonizing order, and improving the realm.

On February 26, 2012, Cao became a rose of the nasal and mountains.