Is Shintoism, Confucianism, and such Atheistic?

[zacb]

I am just wondering if that would explain why a large chunk of Asia is atheistic. Are they just spiritual philosophies, yet are atheistic in nature? (Like Buddhism) Or is, lets say China, atheistic from Mao's control over the country? Thanks.

[Intolerant]

East Asia in general is more secular than religious.

[momopi]

I am just wondering if that would explain why a large chunk of Asia is atheistic. Are they just spiritual philosophies, yet are atheistic in nature? (Like Budhisim) Or is, lets say China, atheistic from Mao's control over the country? Thanks.

1. Confucianism is not a religion. While Confucius approves ancestral worship as respecting one's ancestors, the act of ancestral veneration has existed long before.

2. Shinto and Buddhism in practice is more polytheistic due to syncretism. With Chinese communities, you'd find a mixing of Mahayana Buddhism with Taoism and Chinese traditional religions. Shinto is also very diverse with some Buddhist influences (daruma) and ancient shaman practices (miko/fujo).

3. There are also people who practice ancestral veneration and various rituals and rites as tradition instead of religious/spiritual belief. i.e. just because someone offers incense to the deceased does not mean that the person believes in any meaningful afterlife.

[zacb]

Ok, so they are more philosophies, rather than religion. Gotcha. I just did not know if all the non-religiousness was baked into the culture, or if it was recent.

[fschmidt]

Ok, so they are more philosophies, rather than religion.

I disagree. It is a Western mistake to judge religion by belief. Religion is about values. The only religion in the world that is obsessed with belief is Christianity. Islam values belief but values action more. In Judaism, belief isn't important. Actually, there is one other religion obsessed with belief, that is Atheism which an offshoot of Christianity. Atheists are obsessed with their non-belief in God and define themselves this way, but what really defines an Atheist is hatred of God and hatred of morality. Consider this passage in a well known Buddhist book:

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The Buddha has condemned godlessness by which He meant the denial of worship and renunciation, the denial of moral and social obligations, and the denial of a religious life. He recognized most emphatically the existence of moral and spiritual values. He acclaimed the supremacy of the moral law. Only in one sense can Buddhism be described as atheistic, namely, in so far as it denies the existence of an eternal omnipotent God or God-head who is the creator and ordainer of the world. The word 'atheism', however, frequently carries a number of disparaging overtones or implications which are in no way applicable to the Buddha's Teaching. Those who use the word 'atheism', often associate it with a materialistic doctrine that knows nothing higher than this world of the senses and the slight happiness it can bestow. Buddhism advocates nothing of that sort.

There is no justification for the branding Buddhist as atheists, nihilists, pagans, heathens or communists just because they do not believe in a Creator God. The Buddhist concept of God is different from that of other religions. Differences in belief do not justify name-calling and slanderous words.
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http://www.middlesexdesign.com/gwc/is_b ... eistic.htm

[momopi]

Ok, so they are more philosophies, rather than religion. Gotcha. I just did not know if all the non-religiousness was baked into the culture, or if it was recent.

Atheist-leaning philosophers in China has been around for ~2,800 years.

The story of Ximen Bao is cited against superstitions in elementary education:

http://ferrebeekeeper.wordpress.com/201 ... ods-bride/

[Tsar]

Ok, so they are more philosophies, rather than religion.

I disagree. It is a Western mistake to judge religion by belief. Religion is about values. The only religion in the world that is obsessed with belief is Christianity. Islam values belief but values action more. In Judaism, belief isn't important. Actually, there is one other religion obsessed with belief, that is Atheism which an offshoot of Christianity. Atheists are obsessed with their non-belief in God and define themselves this way, but what really defines an Atheist is hatred of God and hatred of morality. Consider this passage in a well known Buddhist book:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Buddha has condemned godlessness by which He meant the denial of worship and renunciation, the denial of moral and social obligations, and the denial of a religious life. He recognized most emphatically the existence of moral and spiritual values. He acclaimed the supremacy of the moral law. Only in one sense can Buddhism be described as atheistic, namely, in so far as it denies the existence of an eternal omnipotent God or God-head who is the creator and ordainer of the world. The word 'atheism', however, frequently carries a number of disparaging overtones or implications which are in no way applicable to the Buddha's Teaching. Those who use the word 'atheism', often associate it with a materialistic doctrine that knows nothing higher than this world of the senses and the slight happiness it can bestow. Buddhism advocates nothing of that sort.

There is no justification for the branding Buddhist as atheists, nihilists, pagans, heathens or communists just because they do not believe in a Creator God. The Buddhist concept of God is different from that of other religions. Differences in belief do not justify name-calling and slanderous words.
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http://www.middlesexdesign.com/gwc/is_b ... eistic.htm

I totally agree. Confucianism, Shintoism, and Buddhism emphasize virtues and morality.

Atheism has come to describe a group of radicals (mostly American, Anglos, and European in origin) who are anti-tradition, mock religion, people who have no virtues, do not want to follow a moral code, and because morality is relative. Many of the Atheists in North America and Western Europe are also feminists, ultra-liberal, promiscuous, materialistic, and have very few morals.

Any morals in society are a byproduct of some type of religion or strong philosophy (and philosophy relates to religion because some philosophers to explain reality, the purpose of life, and how to live a moral life).

[abcdavid01]