Confucian wisdom has three components:
cultivation of the person
meaningful action nourished by heavenly splendor
harmony of one’s wisdom with the wisdom of others
Christian wisdom knows the soul needs three truths:
knowledge of God’s goodness
knowledge of self
cure for the world’s woes in constant/humble/prayer
in Confucianism, filial piety
does not equal blind obedience/subservience
to age and authority –
a son will correct his father
when he knows his father is wrong
similarly, the minister will correct the prince
when the prince is wrong
in Christianity the beginning of wisdom
and nondual consciousness
involves seeing not only the goodness of things
but also their weakness/failure/dark side
the ‘prosperity gospel’ on the other hand
tries to see only the good side of things
and divides everything into either/or
good/bad – there is no realism/
no middle ground
and so the ‘prosperity gospel’ weaves
Christianity and the American dream of wealth together
breeding fanaticism and unbalance
the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)
recognized that the institutions/laws/
modes of thinking of earlier generations
were not well adapted to contemporary realities
but the Council Fathers/Bishops/Archbishops
wanted to aid those trying to preserve three truths:
the holiness/natural dignity/greatness
of ordinary life and its superlative value
much as Confucianism does.
Intelligent Christian Spirituality 