e2 ft Religions of China Part of Exhibit on Religions of the World shown at STUDENT VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT CONVENTION Kansas City, Mo., December 31, 1913-January 4, 1914 r Religions of China* 3csus said “T am the lUay, the truth and the Eife.” Development ot Religion in China. Elements in China’s Primitive Religion. Conception of a Personal Supreme God — “SHANG-TI.” Ceaselessly watchful, rewarding good, punishing evil. In His presence dwell the spirits of ancestors, taking cognizance of their descendants, ministered to by filial sacrifices. Many other spirits, often identified with nature-forces, but all subordinate to the Supreme God. Divination used to ascertain the will of the spirts. The Emperor, God’s Vicegerent, responsible to Him and to the people. Divine right of the Emperor to rule only so long as he ruled righteously. No priesthood. Worship offered to SHANG-TI by the Emperor only. Lao-tsze. 600 B.C. His teaching supplied the supernatural element lacking in that of Confucius. He taught the truths of the mystics. Empty to receive. - Still to achieve. Humble to learn. But taught them as speculative truths. His goal had much in common with the Hindu idea of absorption But no Chinese religion lays stress on the beyond. His cry was Back to simplicity and content. Confucius. 550 B.C. Confucius accepted the religious ideas of the ancients. His teaching was an honest revolt against the excessive spiritualism of his time. He looked on man chiefly as a member of society and did not concern himself with his spiritual nature, nor as to whence he came nor whither he was going. His cry was Back to the golden age of order and good government. Buddha. Circ. 500 B.C. Buddhism entered China from India circ. 67 A.D. and rapidly took on Chinese features, freely combining Buddhist rites with ancestral worship; self-discipline and contemplation giving place to ceremonies and idol-worship, and the abstract Nirvana to a material “Western Heaven.” modern Religion in China is a blend of all three with an underlying stratum of Animism. Taoism. Taoism has degenerated into a system of Magic, Divination and Super- stition. It has gods for all the forces of nature and for every occupation. It controls the rites of the dead and determines lucky sites and days, Yet its high moral precepts still fluence Chinese tninking. Confucianism. Confucianism supplies the Chinese with their system of Ethibs. It regulates conduct, mo als, and manners. It builds its social fabric r >und An- cestral Worship And bases its theory of the nation on the family as a unit. Confucianism has held mai through his moral sense But has never satisfied the nejeds of the human soul. N.B. — Mohammedans in China number 10-20 millions, greatly influenced Ch ma. Buddhism. Buddhism in its goddess, Kwan-yin meets the craving for a conception of mercy, and in the realism of its heaven and its eighteen hells offers a practical solution of the Future. Vegetarian Sects whose aim is purifica- tion, indicate the existence of a sense of sin. Among their earnest followers are many women. but Islamic thought has not hitherto China’s Danger. What can avert the Appalling Spiritual Disaster of this Great Race going over to Naturalism? Has the Church Faith enough to present the Wealth of Fulfilling Truth in Jesus Christ with Convincing Power? China’s Deed. What this Great Race needs above all else is That Elemental Faith which is surer of Eternity than Time and which draws from those Exhaustless Fountains so great a Vitality of Love for Men that Morality ceases to be a Law because it is the very Breath of Life. And how can such a Faith come to her unless it be re-awakened in the Church? R Call to Prayer. 44 O God, Thou hast made man for Thyself and he cannot rest till he find rest in Thee.” 44 Therefore I bow my knees unto The Father, from Whom every family in heaven and earth is named that He would grant you 44 Power .... Faith .... Love.'* 44 Freely ye have received Freely give.” Che Coaching of Confucius and of Christ. COMPARED AS TO God, distant and unknowable. God, Just Ruler. Therefore he is self-sufficing. Sin is Violation of Order. Repentance weakens Self-Respect. There is no place for Forgiveness. Through Self-Cultivation by Study of the Classics, Practice of the Five Virtues, Loyalty to the Five Relationships and Imitation of Good Examples. PRODUCING God Man has a Divine Nature God brought near in Christ. God, the Father, Almighty. Therefore he needs God. Sin Sin is Separation from God. “ If we confess our 9ins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin9.’ The Way of Life By a New Birth through Death to Sin into Life in God. “As many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God, which were born . . . not of the will of man, but of God.” PRODUCING The Ideal Character The Superior Man. The New Man. “He whom no emergency, however great, can drive from his principles, is the superior man indeed.” “What you do not want done to yourself do not do to others." “Recompense injury with justice." “The superior man does not associate with persons who are not good in themselves.” "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God . . . with all thy mind.” “This is My commandment that yc love one another, even as I have loved you.” “The Friend of Publicans and Sinners.” The Supreme Motive Loyalty to the Principle of Order. "The Love of Christ constraineth us.” The Future Personality merged in the Family and the Race. Personality perfected in Fellowship with God. Practical Conclusion No Adequate Moral Dynamic. “I am not equal to it.” Victorious Power. Confucius. 14 1 can do all things in Christ.” St. Paul. Part of Exhibit on Religions of the World shown at Student Volun eer Movement Convention, ity, Mo., December 31, 1913-January 4, 1914. Reference books suggested: Alexander, G. G., Lao-tsze the Great Thinker. De Groot, J. J. M., Religion In China. De Groot. J. J. M., The Religion of the Chinese. Douglas, R. K.. Confucianism and Taoism. Legge, J.. Life and Teaching of Confucius. Ross. John. The Original Religion of China. Soothill. Wm. E., The Analects of Confucius. Soo thill, Wm. E., The Three Religions of China.