Monotheism And Confucianism Similarities

Confucianism is “the system of ethics, education, and statesmanship taught by Confucius and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and conduct.”

Shintoism is “the indigenous religion of Japan consisting chiefly in the cultic devotion to deities of natural forces and veneration of the Emperor as a descendant of the sun goddess.”

Taoism is “philosophical system developed by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu advocating a simple honest life and noninterference with the course of natural events”

Similarities

All three religions are polytheistic and worship multiple deities or spirits, although Confucianism is a special case. Technically, it is neither polytheistic nor monotheistic,

Confucius was a fairly pragmatic man and encouraged rituals and ceremonies, but not so much for spiritual reasons but rather for uniting and strengthening communities. One of the oldest rituals is ancestor worship. According to the online Pathos Library “. . .Confucian texts all refer to ancestor worship approvingly and commend it as a means of . . .instilling harmonious relations in society.” The Shinto religion also has rituals and ceremonies but they are more central to the ritual cleanliness and encouraging “the spirit of the kami to dwell in a shrine.” Central to the Shinto religion is the concept of purity that is conducted by a purification ritual called oharai, which is a ceremony performed by Shinto priests. Other Shinto ceremonies include honoring the various stages of life by going to a shrine and asking for the protection of the kami.” The Taoists have two main types of rituals. They are funeral rites on behalf of their ancestors and rites on the behalf of local communities. Each ceremony begins with a “ritual space” which “symbolizes the cosmos and links heaven and earth.” It is important to note that through this ritual, a sacred area is created just for the purpose of that particular

Although homosexuality was frowned up, it was not considered a sin and just like today, abortion was discouraged with the exception when the woman’s health was in danger. The Shinto religion appears to be a little more relaxed. According to the online Patheos Library, “ethics in Shinto are cultural and situational.” There seem to be no Shinto teachings or mandates that forbid certain behaviors or actions. If there happens to be a decree, it can be contradictory. For example, male homosexuality is sometimes accepted socially, while on other occasions it is discouraged. Taoism, as we have discovered, is a much more laidback religion and there is no exception when it comes to men and women. From the beginning, Taoism has held a positive attitude towards women. “The idea of balancing male and female energies is fundamental to Taoism, and applies to women as well as to men.” There is something to be said about men playing a feminine part as pointed out in the Taode jing, a Taoist scripture. Chapter 61 of the Taode jing points out the logic behind a man assuming a feminine role: "The Feminine always conquers the Masculine by her quietness, by lowering herself through her quietness./ Hence, if a great country can lower itself before a small country, it will win over the small country . . .