It is hard for Christians to imagine the time before the Incarnation. With the exception of the Jewish Nation, the entire world struggles to understand the meaning and purpose of life.
There is much futility in many societies during this quest for the eternal. In Greece, for example, the gods were considered untrustworthy and not capable of leading people to the truth. Greek legends tell of many unusual and strange exploits by Zeus and other gods. Clearly, no one is going to rely on these false gods for an understanding of life. Because of this, the Greeks turn to philosophy to make sense of the world.
About 100 years before Socrates begins his famous search for the truth, a great Chinese philosopher is born. In China his name is Kong Qui, though most people in the West know him by his Latin name of Confucius. Russell Freedman has written a powerful biography of this great Chinese thinker entitled "Confucius: The Golden Rule."
Confucius is born in the state of Lu in the year 551 B.C. While his birth is surrounded in legend, most accounts agree that he is a large and homely child. He grows up in very humble circumstances and begins to prize learning above all else. Confucius constantly asks questions about Chinese society: What characteristics are necessary for a ruler to justly govern his people? What virtues are the most beneficial in interpersonal relations? What do I need to do to improve myself? The questions asked by Confucius address the political and familial concerns of all people.
Behind each question the virtues of honesty and compassion are the most important. This constant attention to the physical world leads Confucius to be primarily interested in the here and now. The great thinker does not question the great issues of life and death, but focuses on how to create a just and harmonious society.
Students begin flocking to Confucius for the lectures he gives in homes and in the countryside. Many of his questions, however, threaten the ruling classes of China. Most Chinese leaders are interested in gaining power and wealth and frequently war on their neighbors. Because of this, Confucius frequently has to leave cities and provinces to escape persecutions by governmental officials. But his worldly wisdom is compelling and students want to learn from him. By the time of his death in 479 B.C., Confucius has conferred a wealth of practical knowledge and a sense of human dignity on the world.
Confucius never states that his thinking is a religion. Buddha will later say the same thing. The philosophy of Confucius can give a society many practical ideas for a just society and for virtuous living. Unfortunately, Confucius was born in pre-Christian times and is not able to be led by the fullness of truth found in Jesus Christ. For all the benefits Confucius gives to the world, his philosophy can never answer St. Augustine’s famous phrase in Book One of "The Confessions," "Thou hast made us for Thyself oh Lord and our hearts will be restless until they rest in Thee."
It should be noted that the same can be said of all great thinkers prior to the Incarnation. I say this to merely point out that the philosophy of Confucianism cannot answer eternal questions.
After his death, a book entitled "The Analects of Confucius" was written. Many of the sayings of Confucius are found in "The Analects," and modern readers can learn many useful insights into human nature and much practical wisdom from the text.
I hope you get a chance to read this fine biography by Russell Freeman. The thinking of Confucius has had a great impact on the world and it is useful to know about this great Chinese thinker.
