Part 1: Huston Smith – The World’s Religions

Part 1: Huston Smith – The World’s Religions

Huston Smith refers to Confucius’ career as a failure because he fails to achieve his main aim – taking public office to make sure that his theories took hold by proving that they worked. His destiny was becoming a teacher (Smith, 2017).

Feel kindly toward everyone, but be intimate only with the virtuous – this saying is interesting for one main reason. Confucius lived by it, a great example. He shuns and stays away from what and those he considers negative influence. For instance, this is elaborated when he resigns from a position as he felt it was offered in bad faith (Smith, 2017).

Society was broken in the context of social cohesion and cooperation. It posed a great challenge to Confucius and his ideas, which were towards better social cohesion and other positivity concepts (Smith, 2017).

Spontaneous tradition refers to the trial and error process, in society, of tradition pattern establishment for its survival (Smith, 2017).

The first interesting thing is the significant capability of the system to keep asocial elements controlled. Also, the other factor that presents itself as significant is the unthinking and spontaneous nature that socialization develops and proceeds with spontaneous tradition (Smith, 2017).

The cake of custom was cracked beyond repair as individuals tried to free themselves from it. Also, self-consciousness and individualism are contagious, and they spread quickly on appearing (Smith, 2017).

The realist’s answer was brute force and a system of rewards and penalties. ‘laws with teeth’–  this is argued as the best way to counter social disintegration (Smith, 2017).

Mo Tzu advocated for the approach of universal love. He advocated for equality in perceptions of other people and things – he advocated that one considers them all as they would their own (Smith, 2017).

First, continuity with the past for people is responsive and easily adaptable to what they are already accustomed to (Smith, 2017).

Second, there must be evaluation and an account of the developments and elements that make the earlier system unworkable in the intended context (Smith, 2017).

Jen – this in the context of the book refers to unity, loyalty, and the concept of ‘human-heartedness’ towards others – the feeling of humanity and the ideal relationship between individuals (Smith, 2017).

Chun Tzu –  this relates to the concept of Jen and refers to the superiority, maturity or optimum development and expression of humanity in an individual. Individuals who have achieved this state can be referred to by this term (Smith, 2017).

Li – this refers to propriety, one of its two meanings. It bears the idea of being right, correct, and having appropriateness (Smith, 2017).

Rectification of Names – this refers to the idea of restoring and creating a language where primary words carry their original meanings as they should for life to achieve order (Smith, 2017).

The doctrine of the mean – this is a concept that addresses the concept of balance and harmony. Its fundamental idea is, in his words, being equally removed from indifference as from enthusiasm and be guarded against indulgence and overdose (Smith, 2017).

Child and parent

Wife and husband

Junior sibling and elder sibling

A junior friend and elder friend

Subject and ruler (Smith, 2017)

Te – It is the power of moral example (Smith, 2017).

Wen – this refers to the arts of peace and war contrasted. It refers to poetry, art, and music, among others – the wholesomeness of culture in the spiritual and aesthetic context (Smith, 2017).

The Confucian concept of the human self describes it as the center of relationships. The idea is well-founded as it reflects a fundamental element of the Confucian mentality and way of life – positive interpersonal interactions and social responsibility and roles (Smith, 2017).

In line with the Confucian concept of the human self, Confucius shifted focus from heaven to earth through an exciting approach. He shifted emphasis to filial piety from the regular worship of ancestors – he stressed that the priority of obligations and ties were essential to the living that to the already departed (Smith, 2017).

Confucianism is an ethic as it is more of an influential guide on an individual’s way of life and self-development. Confucius avoids the religious approach to his ideas (Smith, 2017).

Unlike in the west, where aging is often frowned upon, age is respected, and individuals are proud of advanced age in China.

The example reflects the basic concept, as presented by Confucian concepts, of service to others, beyond self-interest.

Part 2: Jacob Neusner – World Religions in America

East Asian religion has impacted Americans in various ways, culturally and spiritually. For example, influences of East Asian religion borrowed from Zen and Daoism, such as martial arts, have significant influences on Americans. Many religions have developed based on fundamental East Asian religious ideals. For example, across America, many East Asian religious features are present. These range from temples and monasteries to churches. Overall, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism have had an impactful influence on the American religion, considering that a significant population conforms to these ideologies and concepts (Neusner, 2009).

Confucianism has been impactful also in its approach to instilling Confucian values in the arenas of society and family life – this is vital, especially in the elements of loyalty, hard work, tradition, and education. Confucianism regards the family as the foundation and bedrock for effective societal order. For example, Confucianism stresses the idea of filial piety, which further enhances the ideological and conceptual perception of the human self in family and society (Neusner, 2009).

References

Neusner, J. (2009). World Religions in America (4th ed.). Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press.

Smith, H. (2017). The World’s Religions (2nd ed.). Ishi Press International.