Reconciling Christianity and Confucianism: Can one practice both?

¶ … Christian and a Confucian

What is Confucianism?

Confucianism represents the system of living espoused and taught by the Chinese philosopher, Confucius, during the 6 thcentury -- 5th century BC. Considered by some as a school of philosophy and by others as an entire religion itself, Confucius's teachings are possibly best described as a comprehensive humanism which doesn't repudiate or rebuff heaven (Confucianism).

What is Christianity?

The religion of Christianity is grounded in Christ's miracles and teachings. It represents an association with the real, living Almighty via Christ who helped expiate humanity of its sins and saved it from God's just judgment (Slick).

Central Deities of each Religion

Jesus Christ

God

The religion of Christianity preaches God's Trinity (not 3 Gods, but the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit), with Christ being the Trinity's 'Son' and sacrificing himself on the Cross. Christ then rose physically from death. All of humanity has committed sin against their Creator and is, hence, under His just judgment. Christianity preaches to man that Christ is the sole savior of humanity from God's imminent judgment. Further, salvation can be received through faith in Christ's sacrifice and crucifixion. One cannot hope to escape through any deed one commits to please the Almighty. Christianity preaches the presence of a single God who created all of the universe and humanity. He created humanity in His own image (Slick).

2. Holy Spirit

This is God's Spirit which is defined as the power proceeding from Him. Via this Spirit, God is ever-present in all places at the same time. The Bible presents this Spirit as the Almighty's power, His mind, and His life force and soul using which all of humanity has been created as the spiritual children of God (United Church of God).

B. Confucius

1.Dynasty

Confucius, or Master Kong, or Kong Zi (551- 479 BCE), examined the Zhou dynasty's initial days seeking the perfect political and social order. In his opinion, the lone efficient governmental system required fixed relationships for individual entities. That is, the king would have to be permitted to behave as a king, while his subjects were required to remain as such. Moreover, in his view, kings had to be righteous and honorable to rule their subjects adequately (Wertz).

A. My Opinion

In my opinion, an individual will be able to effectively be both Confucian and Christian, and tap all of Christianity's and Confucianism's teachings. I utterly agree with the fact that Confucianism's founder was a brilliant philosopher, a great human being and a remarkable teacher. Thus, it will be possible to easily admit to the religion's several key concurrences with the Bible. For example, similar to Confucianism, Christianity also preaches the necessity of obedience to parents; respect of elders; wives' deference to husbands; and citizens' submission to authority figures.

B. Other scholars' opinions

It is the view of other scholars that practicing both will aid in bridging divides that the two religions fail to individually address. For instance, the Bible doesn't offer any warrant for undiscriminating self-expression, vulgarity, rank individualism, and narcissism characterized by modern Western Christian cultures. Confucianism can address this (Doyle).

Further, others mention similarities in Christianity and Confucianism: the latter's principle of benevolence corresponds, to some extent, with the biblical concept of love. Confucianism's negatively worded Golden Rule is -- Don't behave with other people in any way you wouldn't yourself wish to be treated. This principle has a positive equivalent in Christianity: Christ orders mankind to behave with one's fellow man the same way one expects them to behave with oneself (Doyle).

IV. Conclusion.

In spite of Christianity's dominance worldwide, one can and probably should join Christianity as well as Confucianism. Confucianism offers wonderful wisdom on the major questions of life, therefore demanding Christians' keen attention. Hence, being both will pave the way to flourish in personal, political and social contexts, and help one find oneself in this world (Rishmawy).