Confucianism: Encyclopedia II - Confucianism - Confucianism and other schools of thought

Confucianism - Confucianism and other schools of thought

Inter-religious or inter-philosophical dialogue has occurred in the modern period between scholars of Confucianism and scholars of several religions, including Islam and Christianity.

Confucianism - Confucianism and Catholicism

Representing a relatively traditionalist-humanist viewpoint of Catholic thought, the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia declares: "In Confucianism there is much to admire." The Encyclopedia praises its "noble conception of the supreme Heaven-god" as well as the high standard of morality, and the "refining influence of literary education and of polite conduct" it holds Confucianism to have brought about. The Encylopedia goes on to say, however, that Confucianism is nonetheless "encumbered" with serious defects deriving from what it calls the "imperfect civilization of its early development." The work has criticized Confucianism's association of the Supreme Being or Heavenly Being (Tian or Tien) with nature spirits, its "superstitious" use of divination, and sacrifices to spirits and ancestors. It suggests that Confucianism cannot "answer fully to the religious needs of the heart" since it deemphasizes active participation in worship of the deity, has "little use of prayer," recognizes no concept of grace, and has "no definite teaching" regarding the afterlife. The social system promoted by traditional Confucianism, it claims, "has lifted the Chinese to an intermediate grade of culture, but has blocked for ages all further progress." The Encyclopedia cites "rigid" customs, a "patriarchal system with its attendant evils of polygamy and divorce," repression of women, little emphasis on individual freedom as features for concern.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Confucianism and other schools of thought", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki