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religious essays about climate change
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A Critique of O. P. Dwivedis Satyagraha for Conservation: Awakening the Spirit of Hinduism
In his article Satyagraha for Conservation: Awakening the Spirit
of Hinduism, O. P. Dwivedi argues that we must reawaken religious values
if the world is going to reduce the current level of environmental
degradation. He suggests that religious beliefs can serve as a crucial
foundation in helping to create a self-consciously moral society which
would put conservation and respect for Gods creation first, and relegate
individualism, materialism, and our modern desire to dominate nature in a
subordinate place. Dwivedi further argues that religion helps to make
humans aware of the limits of our control. He uses the example of Hindu
religious beliefs to explain how reawakening religious beliefs might
create a change in attitudes toward nature. Although I agree with Dwivedis
contention that religious values can serve to support environmental
movements, I would argue that his article presents an overly simplistic
view of the power of religion. Dwivedi fails to address the constantly
changing nature of religious traditions. In addition, he does not address
the fact that India (a predominantly Hindu country) is severely polluted
today. I felt that Dwivedis argument was weakened by his failure to deal
with these issues. As a result, I would like to explore some of the gaps
in Dwivedis article. I will also deal briefly with Guhas article and the
need for a reawakening of religious values to be accompanied by a
simultaneous change in social and economic realities.
According to Dwivedi, the Hindu religion is one of many religious
traditions which support ecological preservation and respect for the
Earth. He argues that many of Hinduisms basic tenets reflect the idea that
humans are meant to care for their environment. Although I do not disagree
that this is one interpretation of the Hindu texts, I would suggest that
Hinduism (like many religions) can also be presented as encouraging human
control over the earth. Yes, many of the texts do support non-violence and
care for the earth but there are also some passages/texts which support
violence and human control over the earth (examples include The
Bhagavad-Gita and passages with the RgVeda). Overall, I would say that
Dwivedis argument for the ecological consciousness of Hinduism is the more
accurate interpretation of the texts. However, it is crucial to recognize
that there are alternative and opposing interpretations.In his article,
Dwivedi writes as if incorporating religious values into the secular world
will necessarily support environmental preservation. Although it is
possible that this could happen, it is also possible that religions could
be used to argue the other side of the issue.
Confucius’ impact on Chinese culture has withstood numerous generations and continues to be one of the most prominent philosophies found in Chinese culture. Firmly rooted in years of education, Confucius spent considerable time developing his set of values and principles. In his article entitled “Confucius and the Effortless Life of Virtue”, author Hagop Sarkissian adds to this by saying, “Confucius set his mind on a course of study or cultivation at the age of fifteen, and pursued such studies for a span of fifty-five years, and was thereby able to cultivate a state of being such that he could follow his immediate inclinations in all of life’s predicaments without transgressing social norms” (Sarkissian 1). Confucius’ extensive studies only added to the philosophy represented in the Analects. This includes the pas...
Stalnaker, Aaron. “The Mencius-Xunzi Debate in Early Confucian Ethnics.” In Teaching Confucianism, edited by Jeffrey L. Richey, 85-105. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008.
For those individuals that choose to look into the philosophy of Confucius, Confucianism recognizes that the quest for virtue is ordinary and providential. However, in this quest of moral aptness Confucius tried to offer other people the fervent self love that he had greatly embodied. To actually make oneself as perfect as possible was the central concern of life. Al...
In order to understand the changes which occurred in music and which affected the Liturgy in the Renaissance period, it is necessary to give a brief sketch of music in earlier times. The first notable aspect of Renaissance music and musical thought is the pace at which it developed. This rapidity stands in contrast to all previous music history. The history of Western art music properly begins with the music of the Christian Church at the end of the ancient world (circa 400AD). This was a world in which music alwa...
Homer, H. Dubs. “Confucius: His Life and Teaching.” Philosophy 26 (1951): App. 96. Online Database JSTOR.
Deemed by students a "Divine Sage," Confucius (Kong Fuzi) (ca. 551-479 B.c.a) was founder of ~ humanistic school of philosophy that accessible Zhou China a societal and political culture consequent from idealized values of the history (al. 2012) As a therapy for the political chaos of his age, the well-known teacher deserted the depraved aristocratic code and accessible in its lay an ethical system which largely focused on personality moral conduct, politeness, sacrament and kindness. In conflict that the basics of good government and the well-being of society rested on person ethical behavior, Confucius urged the monarch and his other assistants, the junzi (gentlemen), to give moral examples for the public at large.
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“The spread of Confucianism across East Asia was accomplished largely through voluntary and consensual means, rather than by conquest o...
Confucius was born in 551 BC, in what was then the fudal state of Lu, now included in the modern providence of Shang-tsung. His parents were not wealthy but still belonged to the “superior” class because his father was a warrior. Confucius was still a boy when his father died. From childhood the showed a great aptitude for study. In order to support himself and his mother, he had to labor in his early years as a hired servant for a noble family. His ability and faithful service earned him a promotion to the office of minister of justice. Under his administration the state attained to a degree of prosperity and moral order the people haven’t seen before. After he resigned he was accompanied by faithful disciples and went about from one state to another seeking a ruler who would agree to put his political doctrine into practice.
Van Norden, Bryan W. “Introduction,” in Confucius and the Analects: New Essays, ed. Bryan W. Van Norden (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002), 3-38.
Confucius played a major role during the time of the Zhou dynasty. “Confucius was a thinker, a political figure, an educator” (“Confucius”). The Analects of Confucius contain information on how one should interact with others and conduct their daily lives, and how deeply people should participate in society and government. These ideas then spread to his students, and eventually to many regions of Asia. This
Since Confucius lived over 2000 years ago, one might assume that is ideas might be archaic and useless in today’s society. This, however, is far from the truth. The ideas and thoughts of Confucius can still apply today. This is even so in the government. Confucius’s views on humanity (jen) and governing by personal virtue can be useful in governing a modern society.
Alatola, E 2011, The ethics of animal circuses, The Captive Animals’ Protection Society, Manchester, UK.
Jones, David, ed. Confucius Now: Contemporary Encounters with the Analects. Chicago: Open Court, 2008. 49. Print.
Confucianism has had a major influence on Chinese social, political and economic life for more than 2000 years. Confucius was the most innovative and respected philosopher in Chinese history. His ideas have been the strongest influence on China and its society. Confucius taught the value of practical ethics and social morality in order to obtain his decadent view of society. He presented the idea of perfecting the human personality by incorporating the five virtues of Jen, Li, Hsiao Ti, Chung-Su and I (Smith 1973, p 66) until the ideal of a perfect man and true gentleman is reached. Confucianism changed everything about China including the way the government ran the country and how young people were being educated. This essay will examine Confucianism as a philosophy, rather than a religion, and how it acted as a moral guide to a way of living in Chinese society in order to create cultural unification and social harmony.