Hinduism And Confucianism Analysis

Five main points: The social and religious background of the Reformation. Martin Luther’s challenge to the church and the course of Reformation in Germany. The reformation in Switzerland, France, and England.

For hundreds of years, the Catholic Church dictated Medieval Europe until the 16th century when Martin Luther condemned its exploitation. As a result, new religous movements known as the Protestant Reformation resisted Catholic philosophy. For instance, in the first chapter, Weber discerns that people in higher social classes were overwhelmingly Protestant. Moreover, that this could be justified by the fact that richer districts tended to convert to Protestantism. Granted, this leads us to wonder why were districts that were economically developed also favorable to revolution during the Reformation.

Tawney explains the rise of capitalism and shift in Christianity as a two-way street. The change in Christian views on social and economic life as well as the rise of capitalism can a be associated with the change in the societal setting and its view on

Buddhism, initially widely accepted in China over the centuries has been criticized. Rather than having a positive effect, Buddhism has been condemned due to its “barbaric” nature in comparison to Confucianism. Buddhism was a faith that has been deemed as an outcast due to it only being recently adopted in China. Before Buddhism, Confucianism was the religion that dominated from 206-220 BC, originating in China by a Chinese philosopher known as Confucius. Buddhism is a universal religion that originated during the 6th century BC in India and was practiced in various regions, and came to prevail in China due to the fall of the Han Dynasty; China, lacking political structure, turned towards Buddhism.

Christian Desire. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.). Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire deals with what Cavanaugh refers to as “the basic matters of economic life”, which is the free market, consumerism, globalization, and scarcity, as he aims to change the reader’s views on each of these topics. Cavanaugh also gives his argument both for and against each of these matters, which are often characterized by stories or comparisons which make his arguments and points a little easier to understand and a little clearer.

According to Euan Cameron, Germany was the birthplace of the sixteenth-century reformation because coincidental disputes in the Reichstag and disputes between academics discredited the Old Church. Tensions between Germanic state leadership and the Church provided Luther with the support of the German states. Academic disputes also gave Luther’s future opponents a bad reputation with the German literate elite. Moreover, popularization of anti-papal arguments among humanists gave Luther support before Germanic people understood Luther’s true intentions.

William T Cavanaugh (2008), wrote Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire which is a philosophical book, which focus on four (4) economic life matters that addresses the consumer culture within society. These four economic life matters are free market, consumerism, globalization and economic scarcity. In order for this topic to be discussed on a theological point of view, the author draws the reader’s attention to human life, the ends of life in God. The key question in every process is whether or not the transaction contributes to the flourishing of each person involved. In order to address these questions the author points to concrete examples of alternative economic practices in which Christians participate-: business, co-operatives, credit union, practices of consumption which marks the vision for Christian economic life.

William T Cavanaugh (2008), wrote Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire which is a philosophical book, which focus on four (4) economic life matters that addresses the consumer culture within society. These four economic life matters are free market, consumerism, globalization and economic scarcity. In order for this topic to be discussed on a theological point of view, the author draws the reader’s attention to human life, the ends of life in God. The key question in every process is whether or not the transaction contributes to the flourishing of each person involved. In order to address these questions the author points to concrete examples of alternative economic practices in which Christians participate-: business, co-operatives, credit union, practices of consumption which marks the vision for Christian economic life.

As a whole, during the Gilded Age “the middle and upper-middle class seemed to be becoming, in part as a result of its wartime experience, less sensitive to the suffering and hardship of the poor” (Ginzberg 207). Subsequently, “[m]iddle-class Protestantism became increasingly defensive of privilege, insensitive to the poor, and harsh towards efforts to change from within” (Ginzberg 207). In fact, “[m]any ministers came to endorse a corporate defense of property and expressed hostility to labor organizing” and it was believed that in no place “did the business spirit find greater favor than in the Protestant church” (Ginzberg 207). Similarly, Carter finds that the Gilded Age “was a time when the gospel of Christ was felt to be in full harmony with the Gospel of Wealth” (Ginzberg 207 fix citation). Had it been religion that shaped the morals of the people during the Gilded Age then the protestant church still would have reflected the same “self giving love seen in Christ” (Latourette 83) that christianity was built on.

In his famous Cross of Gold speech, Bryan uses a religious element to discuss the labour theory of economics and to illustrate the moral decline of the government. The true Americans are the “hardy pioneers who have braved all the dangers of the wilderness, who have made the desert to blossom as the rose- the pioneers away out there who rear their children near to Nature’s heart”. Not the … “few financial magnates who, in a back room, corner the money of the world”(811). This is what Bryan considers a problem in the United States. The true businessmen, the farmers and miners, who use their God-given talents, muscle and brain, to create wealth are being overlooked by the capitalists who call themselves businessmen.

In “The Protestant Work Ethic: Just Another ‘Urban Legend?’” Jonathan Klemens states what the work ethic is and how it applies in American society. Klemens explains that the work ethic has helped the nation as a whole. Klemens explains that people work hard to achieve “the company or organization’s missions” (122). Not only that, Klemens also explains that people would work hard to gain the particular professions they desire instead of just working with no goals.

The emergence of the Protestant Reformation, with the likes of Protestant reformers, such as Luther and Zwingli,

The changes made in the Protestant Reformation greatly affect our life today. Without the Reformation, religion would play a very different role in the lives of the average person. The lasting effects of the Reformation play a key role in our lives. Religion used to be the basis of a person’s life.

Thus, be standing up against the representative of the Catholic Church, he opened the door of the Protestant reformation. As for Jean Calvin, he is the one that has given an impetus to this period. Indeed, he firstly tried to expand the ideas of the Reformation in Paris but was quickly stopped by some threats. He then was called to Genève where he organized his own

Should todays Christians be pro or anti free market, pro or anti-globalization? How are we to survive in a modern world of scarcity? Theologian William Cavanaugh uses Christian resources to incisively address basic economic matters like the free market, consumer culture, globalization, and scarcity. Cavanaugh argues that we should not just accept these terms but rather enforce a Christian approach and way of living.