The idea of a fundamental agreement between Confucianism and Christianity

Résumé du document

"After about 400 years of study and research, Confucianism in the West is still a subject which only involves a small group of scholars." It is more than surprising when we actually realize how wide and deep is the effect of Confucianism on Chinese culture and society. More interesting, one reason that might explain the lack of cultural awareness is probably the great similarities between Confucianism and Christianity, without considering the differences inherent in the cultural and historical context. These convergences are not only due to their comparable profound and long lasting on society but rather because of their agreement de facto on the core of their doctrines. Even though he first came in China to evangelise people, in the sixteenth century, the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci learnt about Chinese culture in general in order to find the right words to convert Chinese people.

Extraits

[...] His main idea was to “supplementing Confucianism” with Christian love. He thought that only the love of God would make certain that men would constantly love each others, as praised by Confucian ethics. This broadened definition of love, both extended to God and humanity (since loving God implies loving humanity), could help reach the state of “true gentleman” who cared and loved all other beings. But his accommodation of Confucian rites also revealed his idea that filial piety should be the first degree of our love of humanity. [...]

[...] Even though he first came in China to evangelise people, in the sixteenth century, the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci learnt about Chinese culture in general in order to find the right words to convert Chinese people. Not only could he speak and write Chinese language fluently but he was also more than initiated to Chinese main religion, i.e. Confucianism. As a consequence, he went further than his initial aim by trying to keep the best of the two religions so that Christianity could be more convincing to Chinese people basing his synthesis on the acknowledgment of fundamental similarities between the two main thoughts. Introduction to Confucianism and Christianity. [...]

[...] Their different origins help to understand it: Confucianism being of human origin while Christianity is of divine origin. For this reason, in at least two aspects, Confucianism could teach to Christianity: with the model of the family as a starting point to be then extended and with avoidance of hatred: contrary to the Christians' utopia to love one's enemy, the Confucians recommend to hate the sin rather than the person, which is more realistic. For this reason, Matteo Ricci found it relevant to blend the two thoughts, thinking they could improve reciprocally The two religions first met in 635 CE when the Nestorians visited China. [...]

[...] The aim eventually is to create respectively harmony between human beings and the universe for the Confucians and a new people in a transformed world for the Christians. Moreover, Christianity and Confucianism both involve a similar Way of life. Jen divides the society into two: the JEN and the min, ie. the good and the base. According to Confucius (even if he was maybe not understood at his time), to be truly good implied not to be truly which could be obtained by title or birth but to have reached an ethical achievement. [...]

[...] Both Confucianism and Christianity agree on their fundamental concept that irrigates their whole philosophy: a parallel can be drawn between jen and agape Jen can be likened to agape not only because they are both the central themes of the concurrent religions but also for their obvious similarities. Nevertheless, they appear to be quite difficult to define precisely since both are opened to interpretation. First, they are both primary concepts from those the whole philosophy is linked. In the Confucian tradition, jen is indispensable and self-cultivation is all about it. Similarly, agape is at the origin of every good action, attitude or behaviour, is the way to eternity and the sustainers of faith. But that is not all since both are creative concepts. [...]