Confusing Judaism With Confucianism - Essay Example

Timothy Brooks’ Rethinking Syncretism displays the relationship between three Chinese religions namely, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. He mentions that these three are perceived in the Chinese religions to be like a tripod, unable to stand without the other. With this logical analysis, one could almost disregard Buddhism when faced with the question, of what religion would be difficult to syncretize with Confucianism. Manichaeism reflects characteristics similar to that of Buddhism and other religions that were influenced by other religions.

It shows beliefs from Buddhism so this would disqualify it to be positively identified in response to the aforementioned question. Islam is another religion that combines beliefs from various religions. With this characteristic, there would be no question that Islam could easily be syncretized with Confucianism. Christianity might be difficult to syncretize because like Islam, it is also a monotheistic religion but unlike the other, Christianity evolved from only one major religion, Judaism.

However, probably, when placed in juxtaposition with Confucianism, Christianity would be questioned as to the belief in Jesus, who was like Confucius, was a man considered to have a higher level of understanding than the common people. This places both men on the same level as to the question of their deity. Considering syncretizing Christianity with Confucianism, such an argument might crack some space in the former for the latter to penetrate it and might just allow a small possibility. One religion that might have remained unadulterated by other religions is Judaism.

So far, even Christianity which came from Judaism is greatly sneered and questioned by Judaism because they cannot comprehend how one man, Jesus, would be considered equal to God. Judaism started with the Hebrew patriarch Abraham, being chosen by God to become the father of a people He would call his own and live by His commandments. The Jews do not just trace their lineage to Abraham but also trace the model of faith to his life especially when it comes to the sacrifice of his son to God as a test of his faith.

His life became a testimony of what God could do for the Israelites, providing for their needs as He provided for Abraham, making him rich during his time; protecting them from their enemies as He did to their forefather who won wars and was spared of diseases. However, in exchange for the favors, God asks the Jews to obey His commandments like not worshipping other gods, making images of things on earth, in heaven, and under the sea for them to worship. The Jews seriously consider this part of God’s covenant with the patriarch, a representative of the Jewish people, and they never allow other religions to mix with their religion as a part of their traditional disciplines.

They consider other religions as false, practicing the exact opposite of what God required them to do so Judaism might be the most difficult to syncretize with Confucianism. For centuries, Judaism maintained the purity of the beliefs passed on to the Jews from generation to generation, and today or any other day in the future might not just allow any religion to syncretize it.