Soup, Harmony, and Disagreement

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-155
Author(s):  
DAVID B. WONG
Keyword(s):  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Moral Life ◽  
Pluralistic Societies ◽  
The Way

AbstractIs the ancient Confucian ideal of he 和, ‘harmony,’ a viable ideal in pluralistic societies composed of people and groups who subscribe to different ideals of the good and moral life? Is harmony compatible with accepting, even encouraging, difference and the freedom to think differently? I start with seminal characterizations of harmony in Confucian texts and then aim to chart ways harmony and freedom can be compatible and even mutually supportive while recognizing the constant possibility of conflict between them. I shall point out how the Confucian notion of harmony resonates with the Indian King Asoka's project of promoting religious pluralism. Along the way, I will make some comments of a ‘meta’ nature about the kind of interpretation I am offering of harmony in the Confucian texts and the use to which I am putting this interpretation by setting it in the context of societies that in important respects are quite different from the ones from which concepts of harmony originally emerged.

scholarly journals UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY: A CASE STUDY OF CHRISLAM IN LAGOS

Africa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 646-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marloes Janson
Keyword(s):  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Religious Movements ◽  
Ethnographic Case Study ◽  
Assemblage Theory ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
African Christianity ◽  
Religious Plurality ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
The Way

ABSTRACTThis article presents an ethnographic case study of Chrislam, a series of religious movements that fuse Christian and Muslim beliefs and practices, in its socio-cultural and political-economic setting in Nigeria's former capital Lagos. In contrast to conventional approaches that study religious movements in Africa as syncretic forms of ‘African Christianity’ or ‘African Islam’, I suggest that ‘syncretism’ is a misleading term to describe Chrislam. In fact, Chrislam provides a rationale for scrutinizing the very concept of syncretism and offers an alternative analytical case for understanding its mode of religious pluralism. To account for the religious plurality in Chrislam, I employ assemblage theory because it proposes novel ways of looking at Chrislam's religious mix that are in line with the way in which its worshippers perceive their religiosity. The underlying idea in Chrislam's assemblage of Christianity and Islam is that to be a Christian or Muslim alone is not enough to guarantee success in this world and the hereafter; therefore, Chrislam worshippers participate in Christian as well as Muslim practices, appropriating the perceived powers of both.

The Death of Siblings

2018 ◽  
pp. 88-106
Author(s):  
Raphael A. Cadenhead
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Differentiation ◽  
Moral Life ◽  
The Other ◽  
Middle Phase ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Genesis 1 ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Way

Chapter 5 considers the impact of the death of two of Gregory’s siblings, Basil and Macrina, on his ascetical theology. It begins with an analysis of the much-disputed question of the restoration of human genitalia in Gregory’s account of the general resurrection. The author argues that there are two rival anthropologies at play (one based on Genesis 1:27a–b, the other on Genesis 2), which offer different perspectives on the eschatological finality of sexual differentiation. Looking at Gregory’s writings diachronically reveals why these two anthropologies came into contact with each other during the middle phase of his literary career and why they do not reach a point of resolution or synthesis in his theorization on the restoration of human genitalia. These discussions of embodied difference prepare the way for a consideration of their spiritual and moral associations. By drawing attention to the neglected figure of Naucratius, one of Gregory’s brothers, who “overcame” his “manhood” to make advancements in the moral life, the author argues that male virility, for Gregory, needs to be renounced in the moral life just as much as female passion. Both male and female characteristics, which are deeply embedded in the fallen state of humanity, need to be chastened and transformed through the bodily disciplines of the ascetic life.

The Etiquette of Eating

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Stohr
Keyword(s):  
Short Story ◽  
Moral Community ◽  
Moral Life ◽  
Moral Significance ◽  
Binding Force ◽  
The People ◽  
The Way

This chapter explores and defends the idea that the etiquette conventions governing dinner parties, whether formal or informal, have moral significance. Their significance derives from the way that they foster and facilitate shared moral aims. I draw on literary and philosophical sources to make this claim, beginning with Isak Dineson’s short story, “Babette’s Feast.” I employ the concept of ritual from Confucius and Xunzi, as well as Immanuel Kant’s detailed discussion of dinner parties in the Anthropology. Kant’s account, in particular, helps illuminate how properly conducted dinners can enhance our understanding and promote moral community among the people who attend. I conclude that dinner parties play an important role in the moral life, and that the etiquette conventions governing them derive their binding force from their contribution to that role.

scholarly journals THE LIMITS OF INTERACTION AND CELEBRATIONS WITH NON-MUSLIMS IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY-(AN ANALYTICAL STUDY)

2020 ◽  
pp. 288-295
Author(s):  
Muhammad Usman Khalid ◽  
Dr. Iftikhar Aalam ◽  
Dr. Abdul Razaq
Keyword(s):  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Analytical Study ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
Literal Meaning ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Pluralistic Society ◽  
The Road ◽  
Arabic Word ◽  
Plural Society ◽  
The Way

In this article, it has been endeavoured to analyze the concepts of The limits of interaction and celebrations with non-Muslims in a pluralistic society. Actually, the pluralistic Religious pluralism is a combination of two words. "Religion and pluralism" follows them separately. Religion (noun) is the meaning of the way, attitude, origin and belief. The literal meaning of religion is the method or the way. The literal meaning of religion is "the road", which goes on. It is derived from the Arabic word "z-ah-b",Which means to go (walk) or pass away. After all, religion is the code of conduct by which human beings can succeed in the world and the hereafter. This way is called religion. Moreover, Greetings to non-Muslims in a pluralistic society, Exchange of gifts in a pluralistic society, Marrying a non-Muslim in a pluralistic society, Participation in non-Muslim celebrations of plural society, The slaughter of non-Muslims in a pluralistic society and its limits for Muslims, Condolences to non-Muslims in a pluralistic society and participation in funerals, Attending non-Muslim funerals in a pluralistic society, Participation in national celebrations and festivals in a pluralistic society, The problem of treatment and medicine from non-Muslims in a pluralistic society are the main issues discussed here in detail. KEY WORDS: Pluralistic, Society, Muslims, celebrations, History, philosphy, peace

The Ethics of Worship

2020 ◽  
pp. 443-458
Author(s):  
Eryl Davies
Keyword(s):  
Ethical Behavior ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Moral Life ◽  
The People ◽  
Ethical Point ◽  
Ancient Israel ◽  
Character Of God ◽  
Imprecatory Psalms ◽  
The Way

The chapter examines the relation between ethics and worship in ancient Israel. It focusses on the way in which the cult was instrumental in instructing the people of Israel and Judah in the basic tenets of the moral life by drawing clear distinctions between the ways of the good and those of the wicked. It was in the context of worship that the people were reminded of the moral aspects of the character of God, and some psalms suggest that his character should be imitated in the lives of the pious. The chapter discusses the prophetic critique of Israel’s worship, especially their focus on the disconnect between the conspicuous displays of piety and the lack of ethical behavior on the part of the people. Some aspects of Israel’s worship are highly problematic from the ethical point of view, and the chapter discusses the so-called “imprecatory psalms,” which reflect a tone of resentment and a hunger for retaliation on the part of the worshipper.

Competence, Attributability, and Blame

2019 ◽  
pp. 142-164
Author(s):  
Jeanette Kennett
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Moral Life ◽  
Reactive Attitudes ◽  
Ethical Significance ◽  
The Way

This chapter takes up the question of whether psychopaths can legitimately be held morally accountable, and the resolution of these issues developed is subtle. First it argues that psychopaths are not accountable for their actions in the sense required for moral blameworthiness. Second, it argues that psychopaths’ actions are not attributable to them in the way that would make them fitting targets of the criminal law. The assertion that attributability is not a face of responsibility is explored and justified. The chapter, while respecting Watson and authors who have followed him in the enquiry into the crucially important attributability ‘face’ of responsibility, also offers a somewhat revisionary account of the ethical significance of attributability and the role of the reactive attitudes in social and moral life.

scholarly journals The Essence of Morality

2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (S1) ◽  
pp. S123-S126
Author(s):  
Anthony Kenny
Keyword(s):  
Moral Values ◽  
Moral Community ◽  
Moral Life ◽  
Linguistic Community ◽  
Moral Code ◽  
Private Language ◽  
Material Values ◽  
The Way

There are three elements that are essential to a system of morality: a moral community, moral values, and a moral code. There cannot be a purely private morality any more than a purely private language. The moral life of the community consists of the shared pursuit of non-material values: this is what distinguishes morality from economics. This pursuit is carried out within a framework that excludes certain types of behaviour: it is this that distinguishes morality from aesthetics. Moral laws are created by the moral community in a way similar to the way in which grammar and syntax are created by the linguistic community.

The idea of the self in the evolution of Hume’s account of the passions

2012 ◽  
Vol 42 (S1) ◽  
pp. 171-182
Author(s):  
Jane McIntyre
Keyword(s):  
Moral Psychology ◽  
The Self ◽  
Moral Life ◽  
The Way

Terence Penelhum has written extensively about the role of the idea of the self in Hume's account of the emotional and moral life of persons. Penelhum fails to notice, however, a change that takes place in the way that the idea of the self functions in Hume's account of the passions as that account evolved after the Treatise. This paper charts part of that evolution, and reflects on its significance for Hume's moral psychology.

scholarly journals Redefining Religious Truth as a Challenge for Philosophy of Religion

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 139-159
Author(s):  
Peter Jonkers
Keyword(s):  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Philosophy Of Religion ◽  
Intellectual Activity ◽  
Religious Truth ◽  
Truth Claims ◽  
Ways Of Life ◽  
The Way

One of the most important features of contemporary Western societies is the rise of (religious) pluralism. Whereas (philosophical) theism used to serve as a common ground to discuss the truth-claims of religion, this approach seems to have lost much of its plausibility. What I want to argue in this article is that philosophy of religion as a critical intellectual activity still cannot do without the notion of religious truth, but also that it needs to redefine this truth in an existential way, i.e. by interpreting religions as concrete ways of life. In this paper I develop this idea of religious truth by interpreting religions as traditions of wisdom, being a kind of truth that is able to orientate humans’ lives without being swayed by the issues of the day. In order to substantiate my interpretation I discuss three fundamental aspects of wisdom, viz. the fact that it rests on a broadened idea of reason, the way in which it discovers the universal in the particular, and the insight that all life-orientations are based on a principle that is subjectively adequate, but objectively inadequate (Kant).

Jewish Views of World Religions

2012 ◽  
pp. 41-60
Author(s):  
Alan Brill ◽  
Rori Picker Neiss
Keyword(s):  
Religious Pluralism ◽  
Multiple Models ◽  
World Religions ◽  
Philosophical Approach ◽  
Universal Truth ◽  
The Way

This chapter discusses four models that past and present Jewish thinkers have adopted in understanding other religions and urge Jews to hold on to multiple models in tension with each other. Jewish inclusivism affirms the uniqueness of Judaism, but rejects the idea that non-Jews lack religion. Jewish universalists accept a universal truth available to all humanity, beyond revelation but not against it. However, religious universalists remain close to the inclusivists in that everything is grounded in the teachings of Judaism. In contrast, religious pluralism is a modern philosophical approach that accepts that one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth. Jewish pluralists write that God has chosen Jews to walk the way of the Torah, Christians to follow Christ, Hindus to be guided by the Vedas, and Muslims to follow the way shown by the Quran. Finally, for Jewish exclusivists, the sole domain of truth is the Torah and Judaism is the sole path to God; those who are not Jews follow a mistaken path and are at best bystanders in the divine scheme.

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