The Useless Tree

Religion

  • Baiyunguan: White Cloud Temple

    I went to Baiyunguan – White Cloud Temple – today, a place where Daoism is practiced as a religion. It's an important location, a key site for the Quanzhen sect of Daoism.  I have to admit, I do not know… Continue reading

  • Universal Culture

    Just back from a brief trip to Rome.  My first time there.  What a fantastic city.  We took a day trip as well to Assisi, the birthplace and resting place of St. Francis.  And while there I had a riveting… Continue reading

  • Thoughts on Chinese Atheism

    A map popped up in the Washington Post last week, illustrating a recent report (pdf) on expressions of religiosity and atheism around the world.  It seems China has the greatest share of the global population of self-identified atheists.  And this… Continue reading

  • Confucius in Church

    That's the title of a piece in The Global Times a couple of days ago, reporting on a class, held under the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in which Chinese Christians read The Analects and contemplate parallels… Continue reading

  • Confucianism is not a Religion

    Now, there's an attention-grabbing headline.  It seems almost arrogant to so directly claim a clear answer to the rather complex question: is Confucianism a religion?  But I put it up there to insert myself into the perennial debate, which has… Continue reading

  • Science, Religion, Daoism

    An nice little piece in the NYT The Stone philosophy blog by Tim Crane (no relation) about the difference between scientific and religious knowledge and belief.   Upon reading it, my first impression (which holds as my continuing impression) is… Continue reading

  • Why is this news?

    So there I am yesterday, preparing for my ancient Chinese philosophy tutorial (which begins next week), when I see this headline on CNN: "Stephen Hawking: God didn't create universe."   I then see a similar story on the AP wire,… Continue reading

  • Welcome Beliefnet visitors…

    … and thanks to Rod Dreher for the link. For those interested in the intersection of Confucianism and Christianity, which I have not blogged about recently, let me bring up two posts from the archives. Christianity or Confucianism: Which Engenders… Continue reading

  • Confucius and the Pope

    The Catholic Church has released a new document, "Instructions Dignitas Personae on Certain Bioethical Questions," that applies to a broad range of topics: In a resounding confirmation that the Catholic church's pro-life concern extends to the brave new world of… Continue reading

  • Religious Taoism Today

    When I invoke Taoism, I almost always mean philosophical Taoism.  I tend to avoid the other side of the tradition, religious Taoism, not because I disrespect it (I don't) but because I have not studied it sufficiently to feel comfortable… Continue reading