Confucianism:
Confucianism was founded in 500 B.C.E. by Kong Qui in China, now .09% of the world are Confucians. Confucius was a teacher at a time when formal education was just beginning in China. He traveled from region to region with a small group of disciples. Confucius was not particularly famous during his lifetime, and considered himself to be a failure. He longed to be the adviser to a powerful ruler, and he believed that such a ruler, with the right advice, could bring about an ideal world. Confucius said heaven and the afterlife were beyond human capacity to understand, and one should therefore concentrate instead on doing the right thing in this life.
Although Confucians do not typically hold beliefs about the individual salvation of persons beyond this life, ancestor worship is an important part of Confucian faith and practice. Confucian texts universally refer to ancestor worship approvingly and commend it as a means of cultivating the virtue of filial piety as well as instilling harmonious relations in society. The oldest and most enduring Confucian ritual practice is ancestor worship, the ritualized commemoration of, communication with, and sacrifice to one's deceased relations In Confucianism, social harmony is the ultimate goal of every follower. This means that everyone must know their place in the social order. Relationships among different groups of people, is key in Confucianism. The five cardinal relations include: Ruler and subject; father and son; husband and wife, elder and younger brother, friend to friend. These bonds are categorized in ways that show respect and obedience from one group to the next. It is greatly emphasized that family is the center of everything and comes before the individual person. Chinese character for water: water is one of the five elements of Chinese philosophy, along with wood, fire, earth, and metal. Water is viewed as a life source, which likely stems from its importance in the natural world and for sustaining life. Yin Yang: common in many kinds of Chinese thought. In general, the circle represents a whole, while the halves and dots depict opposites, interactions, or balance. Chinese symbol for scholar: different scripts that reflect the idea of "scholar" or a "learned person" in the Chinese language. This version of the idea is especially connected to Confucian thought and can be rendered as "scholar, as in a Confucian Confucius: Visual representations of Confucius are common in the religion and philosophy. However, this popular image dates only to the 18th century While there were differing interpretations of Confucianism and disagreements about its meaning, enduring sects with independent organizational structures never formed in the case of Confucianism.
jen: human bigheartedness; humaneness li: principle of gain, benefit; in general, ritual, social order yi: righteousness; the moral disposition to do good hsiao: filial piety, reverence, familial love chih: moral wisdom chen-tzu: the ideal person; the superior man te: virtue; power; power by which people ruled; power of moral example |
Sikhism
The founder of Sikhism is Guru Nanak and it was founded in 1500 A.D. in Punjab, which is a region of India. A revelatory spirit inhabited Guru Nanak and his nine successors. Today, this spirit can be found in the teachings of the Guru Granth Sahib, the foundational scripture of the Sikh tradition. Sikhs believe in one God who guides and protects them. They believe that everyone is equal before God. Sikhism stresses the importance of doing good actions rather than merely carrying out rituals. Sikhs believe that the way to lead a good life is to: keep God in heart and mind at all times, live honestly and work hard, treat everyone equally, be generous to the less fortunate, and serve others. They pray multiple times each day, they are prohibited to worship any idols, images, or icons, the five K’s (Kesh, Kirpan, Kara, Kangha, and Kachhera), and no drinking or smoking. Their holy book is the Guru Granth Sahib and their holy city is Amritsar.In order to attain salvation one must live a honest life and meditate on God. Sikhism shows the way to attain salvation and become One with God. Sikhism instructs that you do not have to fast, abstain, go on renunciation or enter a monastery in order to meet God. All you have to do is have faith, recite the Name of God and remember Him for each possible moment. .36% of people in the world identify themselves as Sikhs. The main denominations of Sikhism are Orthodox, Nirankaris, Nam-Dharis, and Akhand Kirtani Jatha. The Nishan Sahib (the Sikh flag), Ik Onkar means "God is One," and the Khanda.
Words to know:
Gurudwara- a Sikh place of worship Guru- tecaher Sikh- follower of Sikhim |