Confucianism - Freedom and Democracy 2.0

Is Confucianism a Religion?

Appendix 4.  Is there a Confucian deity?   Is tian heaven, god, or sky?

In the past, some western scholars said no, probably based on lack of reference in Chinese texts to a personal god and the historical association in China with ancestor veneration and local folk religions. But from the time of the earliest writing (circa 1300 BCE, much later than in the fertile crescent and eastern Mediterranean) 上帝 Shangdi - the Shang dynasty term for supreme deity of the Shang – was mentioned.

Confucianism - Freedom and Democracy 2.0

Is Confucianism a religion?

Appendix 3.  Is there a Teleology?   Is there a heaven or heaven on earth to aim for?

Sort of. But not really.

Confucianism - Freedom and Democracy 2.0

Is Confucianism a religion?

Appendix 2.  Confucian Spirituality   Incantations and deep mysteries?

Let’s get some things out of the way. No, there are no incantations or deep Asian inscrutability. Confucianism is not some weird Asian thing. A Confucian spirituality is grounded in the here and now and in daily life – just as in Christianity.

Confucianism - Freedom and democracy 2.0

Is Confucianism a religion?

Appendix 1.  Rules Golden and Silver –  Christian and Confucian formulations

Christians know the Golden Rule. In Matthew 7:12  and Luke 6:31 Jesus says do to others what you want them to do to you.

Christianity is not unique in having such a rule. Pretty much every culture has a variation on this. 

Confucianism - Freedom and democracy 2.0

Is Confucianism a religion?

      So what to do now? … Love and the good life

Confucianism - Freedom and Democracy 2.0

Is Confucianism a religion?

      VIII.   But Isn’t Confucianism …     Tolerance and benevolence are not just for Christians

There are seven articles preceding this summary. After all those prior articles, a reader might still have questions. More detailed analysis is in the prior sections. This article should function as a quick response to questions.