Confucianism vs. Taoism

Based on these two different religions or ways of life, I can say there are major differences and similarities between them. To begin with, Taoism and Confucianism can be related since they both value nature and compare humans to nature, also, the fact that their deities aren't beings, they are ideas, and lastly, how they don't have a place of worship. However, there are differences I found for each one. For Confucianism, they often seek humaneness, need moral leaders in order to have moral people, and extend the idea of helping yourself and others. For Taoism, it's mainly on helping others and it's considered more of a way of life. Taoism is often described as a force flowing through all life. How this may relate is how in the movie Star Wars, they believe in the force, and their belief in it is what makes it more stronger and effective in having other people believe in it. One of the quotes used that is significant for me is "If people do not revere the Law of Nature, it will inexorably and adversely affect them. If they accept it with knowledge and reverence, it will accommodate them with balance and harmony." What I feel this means is that accepting and following this force will bring you peace and balance with nature and in life. Lastly, based on the poem of when Lao Tzu talked about Confucianism, it explains how he disagreed with Confucius's beliefs and showing how low this way of life is such as how the "Way" goes down based on the aspects Confucius believed in.

Confucianism as a Religion

Based on reading this article, it shows how Confucianism was based on How to act socially with one another. Additionally, it made an emphasis on having morality and being humane. One example i uses to show how a person should act is through the analects. The major belief he had was how everything should be done in the Way. What he also believed when he put strict laws upon the people since he wanted to solve problems and thought he should be influential in order to be a good leader to his people. He thought being a good person (following the Way) should be a part of everyday life. Based on the questions given from the article: 1. What kind of quality or virtue is jen or humaneness, and what kind of person could be called a person of humaneness?

2. Do you find any similarities between the humaneness of Confucius and the guiding principles of another religious tradition with which you may be familiar — for example, love or charity in Christianity, social responsibility in Judaism, or compassion in Buddhism? Any differences?

3. Can relationships within a family be based on the concept of humaneness (humanity)? Can a government be based on the same concept?

4. How does Confucius’ concept of humaneness compare to the way in which philosophers such as Han Fei and Lord Shang think about human beings and human society?

I would answer it this way:

1. To be humane one must be respectful, trustworthy, earnest, kind, and liberal.  One who is humane is always humane, lives according the way, helps others and is helped by others, live with balance, and is an example of humanity for others.

2.  These guidelines are similar to the lessons learned in the torah/old testament.

3.  Physically a govt. could be based upon Confucianism however it probably would not be very efficient or effective since there would not be a strong sense of authority and punishment for action.  Relationships have aspects of them which are humane, such as parents teaching kids and kids teaching parents, being kind in everyday life, loving people. Once again there cannot be complete humanity within a relationship since humaneness is almost an idea of perfection but not everyone can always be perfect.

4.  Han Fei believed that aristocracy should maintain power and do what they want, which is quite different than Confucianism since Confucianism is more about equality and doing everything in a humane fashion.

 Lastly, based on the analects, it shows how Confucius believed that people can't gain money and wealth if it can't be done according to the Way. He wanted people to incorporate being humane and showed 5 daily aspects of your life, which are respect, liberality, trustworthiness, earnestness, and kindness (humanity).

Constantine P.A.P.E.R.

P: The purpose of this article is to show why Constantine became a christian and also to help other people to convert to Christianity.
A: Christianity was a divine epiphany, and Constantine needed to become a Christian. Also, he had visions in order to succeed as an emperor, It seemed as if he needed to have a battle for Christ, and how he made many of the people going to battle get the crucifix on their shields.
P: This person is a  Christian Bishop, in favor of Christianity. Additionally, he writes things tied to Christian scripture and is related to Constantine. Lastly, he becomes a Christian but converts as he's dying.
E: I believe this is somewhat true. This article comes from a University website.
R: How this relates to other readings is how this experience he had is an original waking up in a vision of Christ.
Based on this article, after having the vision of God, he took action i getting the crucifix in the shields. what Constantine constantly used was the sign of salvation and made all armies carry this as a safeguard.  

Constantine

Based on reading this text, it shows how significant  Constantine was in making christianity grow, without any persecution for the Christian believers. When he was made emperor of Rome, Christianity had already  grown tremendously. and he helped to part of this cause by the fact that he made their army adopt the crucifix in their shields. Not only that, he supported the Christians by supporting their church financially and made sure they were not to get persecuted again. However, he still left the fact that polytheism was allowed, which made people wonder if he was Christian or not. One question that could be asked is "Was Constantine a "real" Christian?" I believe he wasn't actually a real christian due to the fact that even though he supported Christianity and allowed many missionaries to convert other people to this religion, he still allowed polytheism, in a way which which makes him neutral to both. What he probably hoped in gaining was to be a wise politician, with no hate from either side, and confidence he can rule in peace without any dispute. He is known as a great emperor at the time, since he satisfied everyone's needs, even though he committed the act of having his son and wife killed. Through him, many were able t practice and spread Christianity peacefully.

Abraham and His History

Based on the podcast I listened to, I can say how Abraham is considered to be the patriarch of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He is recognized due to the fact that he is closely associated to god. He is known to be one of the first recorded accounts in finding monotheism. He was significant by how he took part in spreading his beliefs through his actions and dedication to god. One of the examples he gives is how he gave Abraham and his wife Sarah a son, when they were both in their 90's, in which they named Isaac, which in hebrew means laughter. He is known to be the ancestor of the Jewish people. Abraham is still recognized to this day as a universal figure. However, over time there were many controversies. For example, as christianity began to be more powerful and judaism was slowly diminishing, christians used abraham to exclude jews. In other words, Christians had made Abraham seem as if he is christian. On the other hand, Jews made Abraham seem as if he was a jew. Then in Islam, they made him seem as if he was muslim. The example used is the fact he loved his son Ishmael more than his other son Isaac. Thus a rivalry is formed in deciding what Abraham really was. Additionally, it shows how an important text used based on Abraham in the bible is the test god put on Abraham in how much he loves him. He is made to kill his son Isaac in the name of Isaac. In the end he wasn't supposed to. But an important thing people today use from this story is killing in the name of god, in which still occurs. Abraham is known to be significant for his role in interacting with god, in which these three religions use him as an example in making their religion stronger, based on how he has influenced how much of religion is today based on his stories in the Bible.

Christianity's Success

Based on reading this article, I managed to discover many of the factors that led to the growth of the Christian religion, and how it still is a main religion for many people. To start off, in Rome, the majority of the people believed Jews and Christians to be atheist because of their monotheistic beliefs, in which they claimed to be false gods. Because of this, there was persecution between these types of religions. However, in one occasion Christians took initiative to protest their beliefs and the injustice they had faced in front of a governors house, and faced no punishment. I think that one of the ways the Christianity managed to prosper was the fact that they had strong faith in this one religion and this one god, which made them determined to spread what they felt was right amongst the world they lived in and not follow a religion others would make them follow. Additionally, it shows how one of the main reasons Christianity managed to become stronger was the fact that it became the state religion after Paganism failed. Some of the reasons that Paganism would've fallen was the fact that Christianity was more straight forward, and it filled the empty spaces in Paganism, which people found appealing. Also, the reading made Christianity look so simple compared to other religions that people gravitated towards it. Not only that, but through cultural diffusion, then this new religion spread through different areas, where new generations would learn and follow it, which makes it spread and grow stronger through the people's beliefs at the time. But the most important thing that also made Christianity stronger was Benefit. What I mean by this is the fact that this religion was very accepting, and all social classes were eligible to be a part of it, which  brought a variety of people with the opportunity for more and more people to coexist with a religion that didn't care from where did anyone come from. Lastly, from benefit comes the fact that in Christianity, when your good, after you die, you get the opportunity of going to heaven, which is considered a paradise to live in and eternal life spiritually, however if your bad in life, after you die you'd go to hell. So joining gave them something beneficial to receive for being good.

The Hymn To Aten

What I found out about this article is how it was one of the first signs of monotheism. In Egypt, at the time the people were mainly polytheistic and worshiped distinct types of gods, in which two examples of their gods are Anubis and Ra. The pharaoh at the time was Amenhotep IV, however, he had been different from many other Pharaohs since he created one of the first monotheistic communities. He felt that the people should believe in only one god, so he changed his name to Akenaten, which means "living spirit of Aten". He made the people of Egypt follow the idea of worshiping one god, in which in this case was Aten, the Suns Orbs. At first, people didn't really care of who they worshiped, but after Akenaten died, They returned to their polytheistic ways. At first someone may think it was the end of monotheism, but later on in time people acquired these same beliefs, making them follow some of the same traditions Akenaten had. What people called this was Cultural Diffusion. So through this, as people interacted with each other, they reflected each others religion and they carried on this until people formed monotheism once again.

Teaching of Amenhope P.A.P.E.R.

Purpose:
-explain how to live a righteous life under one god, Aton
-gives reasons why there is one god
-how to show dedication to Aton
-how to be loyal

argument:
to live a righteous life you must follow the thirty chapters and use them as a guide for your actions and daily life.
  examples of things to live by:
-do not rob
-do not make fun of the disabled
-be respectful
-do not harm one’s reputation
-do not covet
-steer clear of evil
-do not cheat
-life is better by living according to the thirty chapters
-”the fruit is sweet, the shade is pleasant”
-”tree growing”

preassumptions:
-we knew basics of monotheism
-pros and cons
-thought it would be more specific as to rituals and situations specific to the religion
-the ideas would be a little stranger than those of monotheistic religions today
-more forceful, this guy is the pharaoh and this doesn’t feel too powerful

epistemology
-these monotheistic ideas were the foundation for monotheism today
-although the religion didnt continue until today, its ideas and facts
-knowing what we already know about monotheism, the reading was easier to understand and distinguish as a monotheistic religion

Monotheism Vs. Polytheism

Based on what I learned, there are many things to distinguish the type of religion Monotheism and Polytheism are. One thing I found that makes them both similar is the fact that both religions require the fact that people are praying to their gods for a blessing, health, etc.  However, after this there were many contrasts between them. One of the most important factors is that polytheism have many gods while monotheism have only god. Additionally, Polytheism is classified as inclusive, while monotheism is classified as being exclusive. Also, Monotheism has led to acts of terrorism to be done in the name of the lord. Also, through the beginning of time, the majority of the people that lived were polytheism, but as time passed, people made significant acts  of forming monotheism, and through cultural diffusion, they managed to spread it so that in the present day, monotheism is typical. There are some example for Monotheistic religions. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam believe in only one god though followers of Christianity may worship Jesus Christ. Firstly, before the Jews appear, Judaism and Christianity are similar, they believe in the same god. For Islam, the largest religion, also believe in only one god, Allah. One con I found based on monotheism is that they look down upon other's beliefs, although some people find it easier to devote their time to only one god, instead of the many gods there are in polytheism. The advantage for polytheism, however, is that it allows a political structure that is not limited by a single religious practice to spread across unrelated cultures, adopting their gods into the pantheon of the rulers. However,where there is no consensus on correct social norms, war cults will want to act in a warlike fashion.