Syncretizing Views in Religion - Essay Example

?Syncretizing views in religion Syncretizing views in religion Syncretism refers to the process where religious elements are merged in a unitary world view. Syncretism has been rejected in the western Christianity and Islam due to the differences in religious revelation and the resisted reconciliation with the other traditions. Despite this, pluralism in religion among the Chinese has also encouraged Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. Therefore, the sense of plurality among religions has led to syncretism which has incorporated the three teachings document. Therefore, the article has considered some factors to characterize the Chinese religion as syncretic. Thus, according to the Chinese community, syncretism is a mixture of more than one religion. There are several definitions that have been brought out in relation to syncretism to fit the Chinese religious community. According to Judith Berling, syncretism is the affirmation, borrowing and integrating the various concepts, practices, and symbols in one religion to another through reconciliation and selection. To incorporate the Chinese religion and syncretism, the natural dissonance that exist in religious ideas and gestures may disappear. In the article, syncretism is not meant to permit the monopoly of mixing of religious ideologies in a multi –religious community. Furthermore, to fully understand syncretism, one has to consider three aspects in religious interaction. These are what are not applicable. For instance, one has to understand that syncretism does not apply with ecumenicism. According to the article, ecumenicism applies in understanding the universal truth. This aspect asserts that different religious views are sustained separately by tradition in the external elements and not truth perceptions. This may include modes of discourse and other ritual practices. Therefore, there is one truth which is common in this kind of truth. Secondly, syncretism is not considered inclusivism. This concept is concerned with explaining the forms and ideas in any religious tradition as if it is in the form of another. To ascertain syncretism, inclusivism reduces content in one and favors the other. Therefore, one religion cannot qualify to stand in the ideologies of another as it is viewed as inferior. Therefore, this is a perfect syncretic combination among dominant religions. Furthermore, compartmentalism is not an aspect of syncretism. This is because it recognizes that various teachings deal with varied of reality and are concerned with different truth aspects. Thus, each religious tradition functionally is specialized in one way or the other and can easily complement the other without reducing the other. Furthermore, each addresses several issues without overlapping one another. More so, each religion has a specific realm of thoughts. This concept accepts the issues in Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism as practiced in China. For one to really analyze a text as syncretic, he or she has to understand that syncretism is not related to eclectism. This is the ability of one religion to adopt the other despite the differing religious doctrines. In this article the concept of three teachings is basically a concept of syncretism. In the three teachings, there is one origin and similar teachings. As depicted in the article, Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism are not an innovation by Yuan. The Tang dynasty is the core unifier of the three concepts. Thus, the efforts to keep the three distinct and not unified were achieved as they developed organizations, ritual practices and intellectual thoughts. The three are believed to have had a common set of teachings. Despite the different philosophical teachings among the three concepts, there were efforts to merge the three into one religious doctrine. They thus devised a poem which illustrated the emperor as a syncretic. Furthermore, the development of the song in the dynasty to develop the neo-colonialism ushered a relationship in the three teachings to merge as one phase. What is believed to have changed the dynasty is the conceptual environment which led to the rise of foreshadowing phrases in uniting the three teachings. From the teachings, one can argue that the teachings are similar like the legs of a tripod stand and core-exist. Liu and Tao are the core facilitators in the three teachings as their writings foster the Mongols’ understanding of the doctrines in this environment. Furthermore, Taoism and Buddhism are vital in persuasion of the ignorant rulers. The rise of the three teachings was fostered during the Ming Neo-Confucians era. He embraced the Neo-Confucianism thus fostering the syncretic ideologies. His followers had a wider view on ecumenical thinking as they freely incorporated the religious elements of Buddhism. Therefore, the Yangming School incorporated several sub traditions among the Buddhists. Later, syncretism was fostered by Taizhou School which rendered all the distinction among the Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. The Jiao Hong formulations are characterized by compartmentalization. This leads to the Jiao attaining the Taoism and Buddhist values. Therefore, the three teachings are compatible as they are based on several philosophies and historical teachings which merge the three in the Chinese religion. In other texts like the Ming-Qing text, it was difficult to merge Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. In Wangyong Zhengzong, the author accepts all the claims that are made on religion doctrine. He includes a chapter on Taoism and Buddhism and incorporates the three teachings. In addition, there is incorporation of syncretism in ‘The compendium for seeking of the Gods’ in the doctrinal indifference. In another text, Huang asserts that Confucianism is overwhelmed by Taoism and Buddhism. Apart from the texts and other arguments, joint worship is another aspect of linking the three teachings. In china, joint worship is an accepted practice and it was fostered by eclectic practices during the Ming dynasty. The legions are the best prove of joint worship which showed that the Buddhist accepted the Non-Buddhists and the Taoism. For instance, the Chongfu monastery is an example of a common place of worship. This represented a devotional eclecticism which pervaded in the Chinese religion. Furthermore, the free standing institution promoted joint worship. Therefore, the popularity that the three teachings and halls created an impression that joint worship was highly accepted. This is one of the developments in Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism which proves the existence of eclecticism. In conclusion, joint worship is a form of syncretism especially as proven by the texts. Reference Brook, T. Rethinking syncretism: the unity of the three teachings and their joint worship in late- imperial china. Journal of Chinese religions, 13-42 Read More