CONFUCIANISM, CONTRASTED WITH CHRISTIANITY Confucianism began in ancient China.  Some say it is really more a code of moral or behavorial beliefs than a religion, but it is very influential, especially among Chinese including the many now in all nations earthwide.  Followers look forward to practical immediate benefits that come from behaving in harmony with others such as parents, members of government and national rulers.  Leaders who closely follow this belief system are especially supposed to show good conduct, and most of those whom they lead tend to become like the leaders.  Confucianism opposes social classes but supports the ideal of people achieving according to merit, that is how well they can do their jobs instead of who they are related to or their friends. Confucianism teaches people to be humane and wise instead of unduly aggressive, and it puts a very strong positive emphasis on education and learning.  It has a lot of rituals instead of formal worship or meditation.  The founder Confucius, was born about 550 years before Christ.  He sometimes spoke of supernatural beings in ways that sound agnostic, but a Confucianist can, for example, at the same time be a Taoist, Christian, Muslim, Shintoist or Buddhist or even a combination of those. Confucianism may include, but need not include features and beliefs that go back before Confucius.  For example some Confucianists believe in ancestor worship, sacrifice to ancestral spirits and an abstract God in heaven.  Some see ancient kings and Confucius himself as become deities, that is powerful spirits or gods.  Confucianism itself does not teach that there is an afterlife but many followers do believe in it.  Confucianism contrasts with Christianity which centers on Christ and does teach resurrection to heaven or on earth.  The Good News of Christianity says because of Christ's ransom sacrifice ALL will have be resurrected, have a second chance which means those who never even knew Christ existed, those who did not know and did not do what God wants, those born into Buddhism etc who never knew about Christ etc; read for example Acts 24:15 and John 3:16.   Freely make and share copies of this. christianwitnesses.com