Eastern Religion Paper
Eastern Religion Paper
Dawn L. Smith
REL/133
Rev. Dr. David Poland
University of Phoenix
April 23, 2009
Eastern Religion (Confucianism)
During the course of the last five weeks, I have studied several different religions. This included stating what my personal belief system was, Hindu religions, Buddhism religions, and constructing an Eastern religion element matrix and graphic organizer. I have personally discussed with my instructor my views on religion as humanity, history, basic teachings, writings, symbols, and practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism. During this paper, I will attempt to explain the contemporary forms of Eastern religions. I will explain how societal views of spirituality and religion have been influenced by Confucianism in China and Japan and how social and political life has been impacted by Confucianism traditions. According to Bowker (1997), Confucianism is the dominant ethical influence on the traditional religious and social life of China and Japan. It is derived from the teachings of the sage K’ung Fu-tzu which is known in the West as Confucius. Confucius was a social, ethical reformer, during a time in China of growing disorder. Confucius was indifferent to many traditional religious ideas, but he was a very firm advocate of filial piety and ancestor rites to achieve a strong society. Later Confucius teachings changed into a political and religious system, which was made to design a balance of harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity, this made his work official text. Confucius had one basic rule, “What you do not want done to you, do not do to others.” He had great inspiration for learning and correct ritual as a form of a good moral education. He looked at heaven as a source for all human kind to have a sense of goodness and correct conduct. He believed that people should look into their past to achieve a better understanding of how they should conduct and behave. According
Dawn L. Smith
REL/133
Rev. Dr. David Poland
University of Phoenix
April 23, 2009
Eastern Religion (Confucianism)
During the course of the last five weeks, I have studied several different religions. This included stating what my personal belief system was, Hindu religions, Buddhism religions, and constructing an Eastern religion element matrix and graphic organizer. I have personally discussed with my instructor my views on religion as humanity, history, basic teachings, writings, symbols, and practices of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism. During this paper, I will attempt to explain the contemporary forms of Eastern religions. I will explain how societal views of spirituality and religion have been influenced by Confucianism in China and Japan and how social and political life has been impacted by Confucianism traditions. According to Bowker (1997), Confucianism is the dominant ethical influence on the traditional religious and social life of China and Japan. It is derived from the teachings of the sage K’ung Fu-tzu which is known in the West as Confucius. Confucius was a social, ethical reformer, during a time in China of growing disorder. Confucius was indifferent to many traditional religious ideas, but he was a very firm advocate of filial piety and ancestor rites to achieve a strong society. Later Confucius teachings changed into a political and religious system, which was made to design a balance of harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity, this made his work official text. Confucius had one basic rule, “What you do not want done to you, do not do to others.” He had great inspiration for learning and correct ritual as a form of a good moral education. He looked at heaven as a source for all human kind to have a sense of goodness and correct conduct. He believed that people should look into their past to achieve a better understanding of how they should conduct and behave. According