Why didin't the ethical visions of various Chinese philosophers ever become the basis for a spiritualized church or a world religion. How is it that the Chinese have managed thousands of years without the religous construct that almost all other civillizations have used. Is ancestor reverence serve the same purpose as deity worship in Chinese culture?
2006-11-30 16:31:38 · 10 answers · asked by Always 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Does it matter? Do you live in china? Are you going to drop dead if they're godless? Oh my god!! They're godless!! What are you going to do?!?!?!?!
2006-11-30 17:10:53 · answer #1 · answered by VoDkA 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
China is not Godless, but communist tries to be, or rather, communism wants to be the religion, but fails at that too. That is why the price on the head of the Dalai Lama and the Falun Gong leader by the communists, even though these religous leaders have asylum in the USA. Bhudda is everywhere in China too, and like Christians, persecuted whenever they become a nuisance. It isn't "politically correct" to talk about China's sledgehammering down churches and throwing "subversive" Christians into jail, if they don't disappear entirely. See what human rights groups like "Amnesty International" have to say on this issue.
2006-12-01 00:37:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, China is not godless. In fact, Chinese have been
worshipping God thousands of years ago before Christianity, Buddhism or Islam came on the scene.
They prostrate themselves before the God of Heaven as Christians call Heavenly Father & Muslim call Allah.
Deity worship occurs because some people tend to
worship angels & spirits who have helped them through
a difficult time.I believe we should give devotion & reverence to these angels & spirits but worship should
only be meant for the Almighty God regardless which
religion you are in. "Ãncestor worship" should not be
considered deity worship. One puts joss sticks in front
of an ancestor as a mark of respect & in memory of the
dead.
2006-12-01 00:48:56 · answer #3 · answered by shannondelaney 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question. I think they just figured out that personal codes of conduct can tell you what to do rather than needing gods to do so.
The Chinese don't worship their ancestors, they revere them.
Communism is NOT a religion. Communism is a political agenda, just like Democracy.
2006-12-01 00:34:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm I have to read up on it, but the chinese philosophers do have verisons of heaven and hell.
Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell
Chinese and Japanese religions
main article: Di Yu, the Chinese Hell and Japanese Hell
The structure of Hell is remarkably complex in many Chinese and Japanese religions. The ruler of Hell has to deal with politics, just as human rulers do. Hell is the subject of many folk stories and manga. In many such stories, people in hell are able to die again.
See Di Yu for more information on Chinese Hell.
The Chinese depiction of Hell doesn't necessarily mean a long time suffering for those who enter Hell, nor does it mean that person is bad. The Chinese view Hell as similar to a present day passport or immigration control station. In a Chinese funeral, they burn many Hell Bank Notes for the dead. With this Hell money, the dead person can bribe the ruler of Hell, and spend the rest of the money either in Hell or in Heaven.
Also look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Di_Yu
2006-12-01 00:34:21 · answer #5 · answered by Mr Hex Vision 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes I agree, I live in china. I notice with my chinese friends that morality- good is a lot stronger here and if you imagine your ancesters are watching most things you do (eg. your loved ones who have died) then that is a lot more powerful than some abstract rediculous construction like the Christian god, any logical thought into christianity reveals so many holes it can't last much longer, without being perferted into something else. (In Many places in the states it is already)
2006-12-01 00:44:51 · answer #6 · answered by CJ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not only is China not Godless, the Christian churches in China are equal or ahead of most American churches in regard to interpretation of the Bible and Christian thought and understanding.
2006-12-01 00:56:32 · answer #7 · answered by Bad bus driving wolf 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Chinese are communists but they very much believe in the after life. That is why they are not afraid to die.
2006-12-01 00:42:04 · answer #8 · answered by Xfile 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most of chinese...
2006-12-01 00:35:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are buddhist....
2006-12-01 00:46:28 · answer #10 · answered by karabiner 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋