More on Prothero

In response to Jayne's post I would like to focus more on the concerns of how different religions manifest themselves in our world - key phrases used are peoples actions, social groupings, reactions to and creation of political institutions, as well as thinking about questions of what is "real" for these different religions? how do they organize? what is valuable? what should followers do and not do? (Pardon the lack of grammar. This is a journal.)

Confucianism - As I think about values of Confucianism conveyed through Prothero I think about a focus on life here on earth, the here and now but how that includes a spiritual element - there isn't such a strong distinction made between human and spirit. I would like to remind myself that Confucianism does not have a god in the sense of what most religions might define as god. This brings to mind an idea of lack of centralized "power" or governing force - Do religions with a central "god" reflect this in their physical structures of governing forces within religious institutions? within "secular" institutions? Could this be a partial reason as to why Confucianism never was taken on as a national religion in China (Prothero talks more about this)?

Yet, Confucians see "hierarchy as an essential ingredient of social harmony" (p. 112).

Five relationships: ruler/subject; parent/child; husband/wife; elder brother/younger brother; friend/friend

New Confucianism attempts to address and change some of these more rigid, hierarchical elements that Confucius did not challenge and in some cases espoused.

I find a call to seeing how seemingly dichotomous ideas really do complement each other in Confucius' ideas of ren and li

p. 104 Prothero articulates Confucius values to be "reverence for antiquity, respect for education, deference to elders and filial piety." He makes connection with Asian cultures that "excel in school and workplace" as a reflection of their "reverence", learning, hard work and family.

other themes of importance - order out of chaos, order through character, self-cultivation and social harmony are not at odds, human-heartedness and propriety, ren and li,

That's enough for now. Please feel free to comment on any of the themes/ideas above. Much of this is just me getting ideas out - a small step in the process of processing:)