Confucious?

[HabemusFrancis]

I was recently studying non Christian religions, and was struck by the teachings of Confucious. For being so far removed from Christendom, he seemed rather Catholic in his teachings/ way of thinking if not his theology!

I suppose I am somewhat impressed by Confucious’ ideas of good government, good society, social contract and his urging of people to be kind, generous, and open to intellectual growth.

True he did not teach anything about heaven or hell, but perhaps this was that he sincerely didn’t know what to say about those subjects.

I know the Church is the one true hope of salvation. Nonetheless I am more impressed by Confucious than I am say, by Muhammad, Hinduism, and even Buddhism or Scientology

 

[landon13]

Thats very interesting and its giving me the idea to crack out my copy of the Analects.

 

[OxygenMan]

I have a book of Confucious’ teachings, as well as some from his students. He was a brilliant man and it goes to show that ancient people were just as intelligent as we are. I would loved to have spoken with him in those days.

 

[JerryZ]

I was recently studying non Christian religions, and was struck by the teachings of Confucious. For being so far removed from Christendom, he seemed rather Catholic in his teachings/ way of thinking if not his theology!

I suppose I am somewhat impressed by Confucious’ ideas of good government, good society, social contract and his urging of people to be kind, generous, and open to intellectual growth.

True he did not teach anything about heaven or hell, but perhaps this was that he sincerely didn’t know what to say about those subjects.

I know the Church is the one true hope of salvation. Nonetheless I am more impressed by Confucious than I am say, by Muhammad, Hinduism, and even Buddhism or Scientology

Indeed Confucianism should be considered a philosophy rather than a religion because it only deals with the now. It makes no pretenses about the afterlife.
And if the teachings do not contradict Catholic moral teaching we can assume that it is an instance of someone having glimpsed the Natural Moral Law without having the full knowledge of Christ.
Would I trade it for my Catholic faith? NOPE definetively not

 

[HabemusFrancis]

I would not trade it in either. I think it is good that he never lied and claimed to be a messenger from god, which would have led to heresies. Instead he just claimed to be a wise man who was offering his advice free of charge.

IF I had to be a religion besides Christian, I may pick confucianism over Islam or hinduism Scientology for certain!

 

[John_Lazarus]

I would not trade it in either. I think it is good that he never lied and claimed to be a messenger from god, which would have led to heresies. Instead he just claimed to be a wise man who was offering his advice free of charge.

IF I had to be a religion besides Christian, I may pick confucianism over Islam or hinduism Scientology for certain!

I’d pick Flying Spaghetti Monster or even Oprahism over Scientology. Cheaper at any rate.

Altho’ I have been discerning the teachings of Ceiling Cat. “I can haz salvation?”

 

[HabemusFrancis]

Idk, the more I really read about Confucious the less I like him.

It seems that he advnaced benevelent despotism as the ideal government. He was rather contemptuous of those he viewed as “inferior men”.

He seems sort of aloof, detached, and unconcerned with the needs and ideas of everyday common people. Unlike Christianity he does not really emphasize loving even the most despicable of people, or socializing with/ helping the most downtrodden.

Still the Jesuit Matteo Ricci must have seen SOMTETHING good about him, which is why he translated his analects into Italian/ Latin:thumbsup:!

Though perhaps it should not be said, I believe that if the Pope at the time did not push the “Chinese Rites Controversey” then Catholocism may have been more widespread in China… Who knows though really?

 

[JerryZ]

God indeed has misterious ways of working and we are not to second guess Him.
I have 100% confidence in His plan, whatever it is and I will accept it even if I do not have any inclin of what the actual plan is
It’s OK I like surprises any way.

 

[Skadi]

I was recently studying non Christian religions, and was struck by the teachings of Confucious. For being so far removed from Christendom, he seemed rather Catholic in his teachings/ way of thinking if not his theology!

I suppose I am somewhat impressed by Confucious’ ideas of good government, good society, social contract and his urging of people to be kind, generous, and open to intellectual growth.

True he did not teach anything about heaven or hell, but perhaps this was that he sincerely didn’t know what to say about those subjects.

I know the Church is the one true hope of salvation. Nonetheless I am more impressed by Confucious than I am say, by Muhammad, Hinduism, and even Buddhism or Scientology

You said it right there. Confucius was not a religious writer. Although his followers are sometimes considered a quasi-religion and he did strongly support a return to traditional Chinese religion (the worship of “Heaven”) that wasn’t the purpose of his work.

His works are incredibly influential. Along with the teachings of the Buddha and Lao Tsu his work is one of the three pillars of eastern culture, ethics, philosophy, and (to lesser extent than the other 2) religion. You can see the finger prints of those three men in almost every area of oriental cultures.