Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry
Confucianism was designed as a feudal religion, producing social stability, a very small amount of class movement and elite rule. Islam was designed as a religion for an expanding empire. Christianity was an otherworldly cult that emerged within a imperial system with no intent of supporting government. It only began to be religion of feudalism 300 years after its founding. It had a temporary lease on political powers for a little over 1000 years so when the eviction papers were served, it had to leave.
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Nice synopsis of history.
Why is/was Confucianism so stable a force of government while at it's most powerful, Christianity couldn't keep it's feudal lords from butchering each other? True, when China has had a revolution, many millions die. A pattern that goes back to antiquity. But Europeans (including Byzantium and the Levant) have been in near continuous war with each other and the outside ever since the fall of Rome. Is the religion itself inherently violent? Not according to Jesus' words, which are in striking contrast to Muhammad and more like Buddha. OTOH, Jesus' words are awfully contemptuous of politics and political institutions (and religious institutions!), which is entirely unlike Confucianism or Christianity for that matter.