Humanities 40: Religions of the World
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DR
It was very interesting to read the chapters on Confucianism and Daoism back to back (I’m sure this is intentional). It makes me wonder how these two religions or ways of life can be 2 of the 3 teachings that are learned and practiced in China because they seem to be polar opposites. Confucianism is all about how to act in a group and how to do everything and anything in the proper way with the proper ritual, very much an example of a collectivist society. Confucianism seems so calculated and set in stone, not to mention strict and stuffy, with lots of rules and structure. Daoism, on the other hand, seems to support a more individualist perspective, promoting people who do their own thing by following the feeling inside them. It seems to go against all the rules and rituals of Confucianism. It also says they we get closer to being our true selves and true humans when we are away from all the other people in the middle of the city, whereas Confucianism doesn’t really work for someone who is alone in the mountains. You cannot strengthen your ren by yourself, and what is the point of practicing proper rituals alone? In the chapter on Daoism, Prothero talks about Daoism being the yin to the Confucianism yang so things can be balanced but I am having trouble imagining how they can function at the same time, unless people are picking and choosing pieces of each to fit their situation. I am excited to read about Buddhism to see all three parts of Chinese life and culture. Daoism seems so obscure and spontaneous where Confucianism seems so deliberate and calculated. The only commonality I see between the two is they both focus on the here and now, and how to become a better human (though they do that in very different ways). Even Prothero himself is constantly contrasting the two, using Confucianism to say what Daoism is not, or does not do in the chapter on Daoism.
For myself, only knowing what Prothero told us about both religions, I definitely feel more of a connection to Daoism. Although I agree that the human ego is incredibly damaging for a society and I like the idea of things running more smoothly when people know their place, Confucianism just seems too bent on potentially meaningless routines and rituals and I feel that it is a breeding ground for classism and inequality. I like the focus on nature and listening to our inner Dao and flowing like a river, going where the river takes us. I also love the idea of valuing wandering with no purpose other than to wander, it is such a breath of fresh air next to what we cherish in America, which is to be competitive and goal driven and to never stray from the path. I do not connect with Daoism’s rejection of education and I feel like it paints a picture of an irresponsible, flighty and unpredictable person, which I also do not connect with. However, I like the way it seems to compliment living on this planet, going with the grain, whereas Confucianism seems in contrast to be running against the grain of natural life and free-flowingness, with no flexibility. I also like the emphasis on not only excepting but embracing change as an important part of life.
DR
SH
| Savannah HudsonHuman 40 Feb, 10, 2012 Vernacular Assignment Proposal For my essay I would like to look at Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. I want visit a mosque, a synagogue or temple, and a Christian church. With this I want to look at the various forms of prayer and the experience. I would like to use this information to discuss in my essay the difference in these churches and forms of prayer and why they are separate but how they are similar in so many ways. I also want to look at comparing this family of religions to the Chinese “Three teachings” comprised of Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism. In my essay I want to look at the differences in these religions and how they effect society economically, politically, and socially. |
SH
| Savannah Hudson Feb. 10, 2012 Human 40 Extra Credit Response My first initial response to Daoim was that this religion is really int resting because rather than focusing on practices that fulfill the requirement ts of praying a God, it is simply about oneself and their existence in society. Daoism allows one to focus on thinking freely and connecting with the inner-self and pleasing thy self instead of pleasing the conventional forms within society. According to the novel “Daoism say that we become fully human by becoming natural” (Prithee, 289), and “that the highest value is life, so the highest practice is that art of nurturing life. Daoism is more about rediscovering one’s own nature by being surrounded by it, unlike other religions, sacred places are not in churches and mosque, but rather losing yourself in the mountains and the valley. However similar to religions Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, Daoism coincides with Buddhism, and Confucianism but these religions work together under the Chinese “Three Teachings” to learn how to become fully human through education, ethics, and rituals. Through the values of Confucius, it is said that this is why the Chinese have become very economically and politically prosperous. These religions focus more on individually transformation spiritually and socially. |
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