Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth — Page 153
CONFUCIANISM. CONFUCIANISM is a treasure house of profound wisdom. A study of this religion reveals that rationality, revelation and knowledge go hand in. C hand in leading man to truth. Although many. Chinese consider it to be a religion on the pattern of other. Divinely revealed religions of the world, there are others among them who view it as a mere philosophy. In Japan, for instance, Confucianism has no geography of its own. . The followers of Taoism, Shintoism and Buddhism equally believe in Confucianism as a philosophy compatible with their own. Hence they coexist in a diffused form, unheard of in the case of other religions of the world. . When we speak of Confucianism being treated as a mere philosophy, we particularly have in mind the question of the existence of God. Few followers of Confucius (550478 BC) today have a clear belief in any Divine existence. . Yet they believe in the world of spirits and souls, and some even practise ancestor worship. However we believe that a reappraisal of the currently popular understanding of. Confucianism is vital. . Examining the early texts upon which Confucianism is founded, there is no doubt that this religion too is squarely built on a sound belief in the existence of God. It owes much of its philosophy and wisdom to revelation, rather than to the contemplations of wise men. . The extent to which this religion has deviated from its original course can be measured by the currently popular spirit-worship, so commonly found among the adherents of. Confucius today. In the source material of Confucius however, there is not the slightest hint of any such 153