Confucianism and Taoism

The Religion, Scriptures, and Spirituality

by Julia Ching, Ben Kingsley (Narrator), Walter Harrelson (Editor)

Since the dawn of civilization, religions have expressed the concerns at the core of human existence: life's meaning and purpose, the significance of birth and death, moral commitments, the proper conduct of life...and much more.These concerns define our self-understanding, though often with many doubts and uncertainties. Beyond the daily clutter and bustle and routine, religion transcends making a living to guide us in how we should live life.

In this series you'll learn about religious differences and also about their many similarities. It describes the beliefs, practices, and spiritual and moral commitment of the world's great religious traditions. It also examines each religion's scriptures, identifies its outstanding thinkers, and discusses its attitude and relationship to society. Narrated by Academy Award winning actor Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Schindler's List).

Genres: Philosophy, Religion, History, China, Nonfiction, Asian Literature, Taoism

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Viktor Nilsson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pros:
+Covers a wide range of aspects, persona, theories etc. in both Confucianism and Daosim.
+Pronounces Chinese names/words almost correct.
Cons:
-Runs very fast through a myriad of sages and theories, and compares them with Judaism & Christianity, Western philosophies, etc. Hard to follow!
-Narration doesn't follow a straight line, but jumps back and forth and makes references here and there.

If you have good knowledge in philosophy, religion and perhaps Chinese culture, this book should be interesting for you. For most of us mortals however, it isn't structured well enough to stick.
Consider Confucius, Lao Tzu, and the Chinese Philosophy instead.

[Min · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting subject for me, largely because there is such a divide of language, and culture to make understanding difficult, especially with the nation of China being, relatively, closed. As the introduction explains, both the West, and China have historically considered themselves unique, and the center of the world.

I have scant knowledge of Taoism--enough to know that I know very little about its millennia of history, and plethora of forms that have bloomed, and died through those centuries. Some of them characterized by mediumship, and magical basis, while some focused in a messianic, proselytizing mode as their form is the true, and only form of belief that is right.

The work begins with earliest known form of belief in China. There is scant information, yet, scholarship, and research are growing to find the roots of Chinese belief systems. Which leads into discussion of the very meaning, and nature of the term "religion" that has such a rigid definition in the West-- that does not suit the East. I deeply believe that it needs to be examined more closely particularly in regard to many new movements growing, and developing that sit outside the standard concepts of religion. The ruler was the one that propitiated Heaven by the right rituals, and that would lead to favor, or displeasure, of Heaven. Ghosts and spirits were an element of belief.
Later, an aspect of proper behavior, thus in one's own hands, to receive favor, or displeasure.

The audio is cleanly divided into equal portions for each system. The Taoist section does a wonderful service by discussing the many regional forms through time, especially the fact that there are thousands more scriptures than Westerners are even aware exist. While discussing the influence Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism had upon each other, I am surprised that, in the case of Taoism, Manicheaism wasn't mentioned for its great influence, particularly the messianic forms. There is constant comparison to Catholicism because of similarity in form with confession, regulated ritual, a reverence for many Powers such as Celestials, Immortals, and deified heroes, to name a few points.

[Johnsonk5 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good introduction to two of the major philosophies of the ancient Chinese world. The book compares and contrasts Taoism and Confucianism with Christianity and Judaism to give uncultured Western readers like myself a sense of how these worldviews differ from western religions and also how they're similar.

Drawbacks are that its a rather short text and so its not super in depth. I'm sure scholars will scoff at such a meager book designed to sum up thousands of years of philosophy in a few pages, but it seems like a good starting point.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know what to say about this audiobook. I found the biography of Confucius interesting, but the section on Taoism seemed like a lot of information without a framework that I could understand. It sounded right, but I could not retain what I was being told.

I'm not sure that I will listen to this audiobook again. Maybe after I have more background in the subject.

[Rachel Shields Ebersole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mildly interesting. I'm sure there are other introductions that do more justice to what surely ought to be a fascinating topic. Negative stars for the stereotypical accents used to vocalize sources and scholars quoted. The 90s were strange time, I guess. I don't know who thought that was a good idea at any time though!

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

might be abit short, interesting history behind what I guess is my cultural heritage..

[Dulce Castellon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Engaging: *
Story: *
Prose:*

[Paul Triller]

A little cerebral side trip into a subject of which I am totally unfamiliar.

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very biased perspectives in so many ways, leading to outright errors.

[Cally Clifft · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

[Rob Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

You get what you get.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool to learn how teachings of confucianism are still being used in modern speech everyday. "Treat others how you want to be treated" and "when you help others you're helping yourself".

[Bailey]

interesting, brief overview

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books covers a lot of territory. Equal time is given to both Chinese traditions. There is a lot of information from a lot of perspectives, unfortunately the use of multiple readers causes more distraction than clarification.