Religion is a cultural phenomenon that occurs when human society develops to a certain historical stage and belongs to the special ideology of society.
The main religions in the world today are Christianity (including Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodox Christianity), Islam (including Sunni, Shiite), Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Shintoism.
In ancient times, due to the unknown exploration of the universe by human beings and the pursuit of people's desire for eternal liberation, it is believed that there are supernatural mysterious forces or entities outside the real world, which makes people fear and worship this mystery, thus extending the faith. The system of cognition and ritual activities, like folk myths, also has its myths and legends, which are connected in tandem with each other. The essence is spiritual sustenance and ultimate concern.
Zong and teaching editor
The Huayan Five-Palace Chapter 1 has the saying of 'dividing the teachings and opening the sects'. The two words of religion are explained separately. Generally speaking, they are subjective and individualistic beliefs; the teachings have the meaning of objective teaching. Another lesson, also known as religion. Besides, the sect is silent teaching, the teaching is a sect of the word, or the sect is a sect, the teaching is teaching.
That is to say, Zongmen refers to the Zen Gate of the Biography, which is based on Zen and is taught by the heart and heart. The teachings refer to the Pope, which is based on the theory of size and multiplication, such as the Tiantai sect, the Three sects, and the Fa Xiang. Hua Yanzong and so on belong to it. Compared to Zen, it is called a teacher. There are also eight sects mentioned by the sect of the sect, and ten of the sects of the Huayan sect; the teachings refer to the five religions of the four religions or the eight religions and the martial arts that the Tiantai said. Everything in the second division is taught, so the term "religion" can be said to cover the meaning of all Buddhism.
Since the spread of Western academic thoughts, the word "religion" used by Buddhism has generally been used as the translated language of English, German, French, and other Western languages. The religion is derived from the Latin Religio, and its origins are various. Or think that it comes from the verb of ligare, which means the combination of God and man; or the change of the verb of Legare, which means seriousness and ceremonial meaning.
The word religion, the most primitive meaning refers to the feelings of fear and uneasiness of supernatural things, and then there are supernatural things that become emotional objects, and the meaning of rituals that become external expressions of emotions. This refers to the system of group and organizational beliefs, doctrines, and ceremonies. That is to say, mankind gives meaning to the mysterious power or phenomenon of superhuman power, regards it as the subject of absolute ideal, and gives birth to fear, sacredness, trust, conversion, respect, and then rituals of worship, prayer, worship, etc. Discipline, creed, etc. are listed as the norms of daily life, to restore life and develop a perfect personality.
There are many kinds of religions, and there are many different types. There are existing ones, and there are also those who have declined or not. Its type can be a religion of the individual and a religion of the group society. Personal psychological religion refers to the individual's own religious beliefs and experiences, regardless of whether they participate in a particular religious organization or have a specific belief pattern. If you pass on the personal beliefs and deep experience, and actively spread to other people, gather people with the same faith, that is, become a religious group, and create a new religion, the main advocate is called the ancestor of this ancestor. If you are committed to the reform movement of inherent religion, it is called the reformer.
classification
The religion of the group society, if classified by the history of religious development, can be divided into primitive religions, national religions, and world religions.
(1) Primitive religions, also known as tribal religions, religions of the ancient times and religions of uncivilized society, such as nature worship, elf worship, totem worship, witchcraft and so on.
(2) National religions, also known as ethnic religions, refer to religions within certain regions such as tribes, nationalities, and countries, such as the Shinto shrine in Japan, Hinduism in India, Judaism in Israel, Taoism in China, and Confucianism. It is closely related to the social customs, habits, and systems of the region in which it is located. It does not necessarily have a religious ancestor or a classic based on it. For example, the Japanese Shinto has no specific teaching but is based on primitive religion, according to the state organization. And development. Another example is the Taoism of our country. It has its specific ancestors, and it has its special teaching style and is suitable for the tradition of the people. Therefore, it is difficult to pass on to other countries.
(3) World religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. This type of religion accepts beliefs with the free will of the individual and obeys the creed, ritual, and commandments within the organization. It is usually initiated by a specific ancestor, and the teachings and classics of the teaching are formed centering on the ancestral trails and teachings. The establishment of the Order is based on the position of transcending the nation and the country. Therefore, its teaching system is centered on all human beings and has a worldwide and universal character. However, although the world-wide religion is centered on all human beings, it is often based on relief individuals. Therefore, it has the characteristics of exploring the inner part of the soul and focusing on individual practice.
Religion can be divided into three categories depending on the subject of the belief:
(1) Polytheism (polytheism), that is, the worship of a variety of gods, and more of the belief that nature is formed, exists in the era of primitive uncultivated. With the development of the human mind, the natural god is gradually given meaning and ideal, and the second is the high god, and the ancestor worship, hero-worship, etc., are also in parallel in the evolutionary society. Or it has developed from a monotheism to a polytheist, that is, to one of the gods with the highest divine character, to separate their personalities into the rights of the highest gods, and the individual worship, such as the Buddha of Buddhism, in its wisdom Idealized and turned into Manjushri, Bodhisattva, and idealized in compassion, and turned into Guanyin Bodhisattva, and idealized in practice and turned into Samantabhadra. The Guanyin Bodhisattva is a randomized person who has thirty-three bodies, such as Sheng Guanyin, Qian Qian Qian Guan Guanyin, not empty 观 观 Guanyin, Liu Ye Guanyin, Shuiyue Guanyin and so on.
(2) Monotheism, which evolved from worshipping nature to a God that worships the virtues of the gods. Such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc., are typical monotheistic beliefs. Another example is Hinduism. Although there is a multi-god character, among the gods, one is superior to the other gods as the supreme god, the representative of the gods, and has absolute authority. This is called monotheism. ), such as Shiva sent Shiva as the highest and only god, Vishnu sent Vishnu as the only god. Monotheism can also be called kathenotheism, such as Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and the other three gods, which have different positions in different denominations. Take Shiva as an example, the highest god in Shiva, Brahma It is secondary to Vishnu and belongs to Shiva.
(3) Pantheism, also known as the universal god. The above-mentioned many gods, monotheism, etc., are practical religions, and pantheism is compared with it. Its nature is more important than the theoretical religion of interpreting philosophical theory, thinking that there is a principle law governing the phenomenal world within the universe. The principle of this principle is deified, and it is believed that this 'theory of God' is full of cosmic phenomena. The Brahman of the Indian Upanis is the truth of God. The Brahman exists in the ‘I personally’ (Van a^tman), which is the foundation of the highest ideal ‘Vatican is the same as’. Also, the seventeenth-century Dutch philosopher Spinoza (Benedict, 1632 ~ 1677) philosophy of the gods belong to the truth.
Civilized countries have passed legislation to confirm the freedom of faith. Legal religions are not oppressed and excluded. There are also a few countries that use specific religions as state religions. The religious groups recognized by the state are called religions. Those who are not recognized are often called cults.
Religion has multiple functions in human life:
(1) The original function of religion is to eliminate distress and anxiety, gain hope and peace of mind, mainly in the function of feelings.
(2) In terms of good malice, religious forces help to rectify the human heart, establish ethics, and even motivate social reflections and adjust the positive values of public opinion.
(3) The relationship between science and religion, the distinction between science and religion, cannot be replaced by each other, and there is strong dependence. Many scientists in scientific research and practice, from the enlightenment of religion, thus promoting the development of scientific research and practice.
List editor
Confucianism
Confucianism is also known as "Confucianism" and "Holy." The pre-Qin was called Taoism, and "Confucianism" was the highest faith. Later, the Taoist distinction between Taoist and Huang Zhuangzhuang and other Taoist thoughts was called Confucianism from the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and it was called Buddhism and Taoism. "Confucianism is a religion of the Chinese nation." Confucianism is the representative of the ritual and music civilization and the direct successor of the ancient religion.
"Confucianism is a unique traditional religion of the Chinese nation. All ethnic groups living in this ancient land of China, including ethnic minorities outside the Han nationality, such as Liao, Jin, Yuan, Xixia, and Qing in the north, used Confucianism as the state religion. Confucius is the leader (this is what Confucius did not expect before he was born, just as Lao Tzu was regarded as a teacher by Taoism and was not expected by Lao Tzu)... Confucianism can use the advantages of the combination of politics and religion to become a state religion, and the theocracy of Confucianism is integrated with imperial power. Indivisible."
Confucianism is also known as Confucianism and sacred religion. The word "Confucianism" first appeared in "Historical Records", and its "Hall of Heroes" said: "Lu people are all Confucianism and Zhu Jia Xia Wen." In the last years of the Han Dynasty, the Confucian scholar Cai Wei officially used Confucianism as a noun: "Taiwan's public confession, the world's Confucianism, and the "Ouyang Shangshu" and "Jingshiyi" were accepted by the Quartet. Scholars came from far away, covering more than three thousand "
In the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the concept of "Confucianism" gradually became popular. After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it became a religion that was founded by the ancient Emperor of the Holy King and constantly improved, and was comprehensively innovated by Confucius and was established as a state religion by the state in the Han Dynasty. Confucianism is easy to see, so the ancestors are crowded. The Tao is far and difficult to understand, so the person who reaches it is ignorant. The Taoist, the source of the Wanshu. Confucianism, the big stream is also. In the past, the Three Emperors also ruled. Since the emperor, Confucianism has also. ”
Shortly after Confucius, the thinker of the early Warring States period, Mo Yan, once called Confucianism "Taoism," because Confucians pursued the "Tao" that they believed to be correct. In the last years of the Han Dynasty, a Chinese Buddhist book, The Theory of Confucius, also called Confucius' teaching as "Tao". Until the Jin Dynasty, the emperor still called Confucianism as the "Tao" in the book of the Confucian service to the court. Ancient Chinese called Confucianism the Holy Spirit. There is a difference in etiquette, the monarch and the minister are not mixed, from the modern times, the sacred religion is losing money.
It is based on Confucius as the first teacher, the saint Shinto teaches, "the ancestral sect, the charter, and the civil martial arts", advocating the morality of the king, respecting the king and arranging the state religion. Confucianism is characterized by the thirteen classics, organized by ancient bureaucratic institutions, and worshipped by the Temple of Heaven, Confucius Temple and Taishan. The suburbs, ancestral temples, rituals, rituals, interpretations, and rituals are used as rituals. Since the early years of the Republic of China, Kang Youwei’s Confucian movement advocated the separation of Confucianism and state bureaucracy. According to the Christian model, everyone is allowed to sacrifice the heavens, allowing everyone to sacrifice their faces. Because since the reunion, the education has changed, the discipline has been sweeping, and the Tao has been swayed. The law keeps the set bad, the etiquette and the customs become easy, and the cover of the Xuanyuan Tang Wenwu Zhou Kong is the way to do it. Once it is done, the people's heart and customs are harmless, and there is no such thing as 5,000 years."
The revolutionaries advocated that they no longer respect Confucianism, and Kang Youwei, Chen Huanzhang, and others established the Confucian Church, calling for the Confucianism to be "national religion" and supported by the great President Yuan Shikai. There is an essential difference between Confucianism and Confucianism. Confucianism cannot represent the traditional Chinese school of thought. It is only taught by Shinto. Since the traditional Chinese culture has not been interrupted for 5,000 years, Confucianism and Confucianism have not been interrupted in the evolution and development of thousands of years. It was distorted when it was clear.
Due to the formation of the "Confucianism" in the Eastern Han Dynasty, "the Confucianism of the Confucianism" was completed. The indicators formed by the “Confucian country” should include four points: 1. The formation of the Confucian system as orthodox thought; 2. The establishment of a Confucian system; 3. Confucianism penetrated the central and local bureaucratic classes and accepted them; The formation of Confucian rule. Among the four indicators, the first and fourth indicators were established at the White Tigers Conference held during the period of the Emperor; the second and third indicators were established in the early Eastern Han Dynasty.
In other words, the formation of the "Confucian state" in the Eastern Han Dynasty can be found in the White Tiger View Conference during the period of the Emperor. The “Confucian state” adapts to the changes of the times by reinterpreting the righteousness on which it is based. The emperor is governed by Confucianism and governs it, and uses the literati bureaucrats with Confucianism and the same local forces to rule. The traditional national dominance system inherent in traditional China continued until after Taoism and Buddhism. The relationship between the dominance system of Confucianism in the Eastern Han Dynasty and Confucianism is the basis of the traditional Chinese state.
Taoism
Taoism is one of the Chinese sects, with "Tao" as the highest faith. Taoism is the concept of ancient Chinese ghosts and gods worship, based on the theory of Huang and Lao Dao, based on the theory of the gods and gods since the Warring States. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, there were a large number of Taoist organizations. The famous ones were Taiping Road and Wudoumi Road. Zhang Tianling, the founder of the ancestors, officially founded the Order of the Order, which has a history of 1900 years. Taoism is a multi-god worship, and the gods worshipped are the personalization of Taoist belief in Tao. The Taoist priest is a priest of Taoism, and there are more than 30,000 Taoist priests in the country. Gongguan is a place for Taoist activities, and there are more than 2,000 palaces registered and open in the country [7].
Taoism and the Chinese nation share the same breath, and the history of Taoism is closely linked to Chinese history.
Taoism is Fang Xiandao, which originated from the ancient Chinese Spring and Autumn Warring States. It is a religious form of polytheism that worships many gods. Its main purpose is to pursue immortality, to become a fairy, and to save the world.
It plays an important role in ancient Chinese traditional culture and is also actively developing in the modern world. Although Taoism was one of the hundreds of philosophers from the Warring States Period, Taoism deified the original moral philosopher. It was not until the late Han Dynasty that the Order was formed. The Tianshi Road of Yizhou (now Sichuan) was Laozi. The Taoist religious form gradually improved during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. In the Tang Dynasty, Zunfeng Laozi was the emperor of the Yuanyuan Emperor.
Taoism takes "Tao" as the highest faith and believes that "Tao" is the origin of all things in life. In traditional Chinese culture, Taoism is a method of dominating theoretical doctrine with Confucianism and Buddhism and seeking ways to practice and practice the gods.
The Taoism mentioned in the academic circles refers to the majority of religious concepts and methods of practice, such as Fang Xiandao, Huang Laodao and the folk gods, based on the ancient Chinese religious beliefs. The "Tao" is gradually formed as the highest faith... It is mainly based on Lao Taijun Laojun as the leader, and Laozi’s Tao Te Ching as a classic, and pursuing cultivation as a god’s kind of Chinese religion. The main methods of Taoism becoming a fairy or being a god can be roughly classified into five kinds. Taking the fairy medicine, the external Dan, etc., refining and guiding, the inner Dan cultivation, and through the Taoist science and its spells to repair and other rituals to become a genius, the common gods are mostly inner cultivators and merits And the practitioner of Taoism.