RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD Reflection Paper Assignment - Daoism and Confucianism

Instructions: These reflection papers are a chance for you to think through and relate to the assigned readings in your own way.  Think of this paper as a kind of "journal" in which you reflect on the ideas in the readings. The study and practice of religion is a highly personal experience and each person comes to the Qur'an, the Bible, the Bhagavad-Gita or any other religious text in his or her own way.  Therefore, you are encouraged to be creative and to write about your own personal experiences, relating them to the faith practices and wisdom traditions we will be studying this semester.  However, be aware that creativity and chaos are not synonymous-in other words, you need to make sure the ideas and thoughts expressed in your paper are coherent and understandable, and most importantly, that they directly relate to the readings.  Essays must be typed in 12-point font and should be 2-3 pages (double spaced) in length.  When you cite a source, be sure to include the title of the book and page number.  If you cite a source other than our class textbooks, include a bibliography at the end of the paper.

Some of you may be very familiar with one particular religion we are discussing this semester.  If this applies to you, try (if only for the short period of weeks we are in this class together) to look at your own religion with "new eyes."  For example, if you are a Christian, try to consider how a Buddhist might see your religion.  If you an Atheist, try considering life from a Muslim's perspective.  Does this change anything for you?  If so, how?  Don't be afraid to experiment with ideas.

Questions on Daoism (answer one from this section):

1. What is the meaning of Dao?  How does Daoism view human nature?  What is the human predicament, or problem, according to Daoist teachings, and how do we, as humans, achieve harmony with the Dao?

2. The Daoist philosopher Zhuangzi was reported to have asked, "Where can I find a man who has forgotten words?  I would like to have a word with him."  Based on your reading of Young's chapter on Daoism, what do you think Zhuangzi meant by this?

Questions on Confucianism (answer one from this section):

1. Do you agree, based on your reading of Young's chapter, that Confucianism is a secular religion?  Why or why not?  Back up your argument by discussing the primary features of Confucianism.

2. What are the Five Great Relationships in Confucianism, and how might they contribute toward social harmony?  Why is it essential that these relationships are informed by Confucian virtues such as ren, shu, hsueh, and li?  What, in your opinion, are the benefits and the dangers of such "roles" or relationships in forming and maintaining a society?