I think that we view Confucianism as archaic and too conservative especially in the modern west. After reading and doing some additional research on the teachings of Confucius I have come to the conclusion that Confucianism is portrayed very differently today than what it teaches. For example, the Bible has many teachings that are considered conservative and outdated however it is still a very influential piece that is simply interpreted in a more modern way. I think that Confucius’ teachings can be interpreted in a more applicable way that centers around the “golden rule” that could benefit society.
I believe that Confucian teachings have been manipulated to fit the ideals of certain aspects of society. For example, a Confucian society focuses on the idea of harmony which is acquired when everyone fulfills their responsibility and role in the society. It is interesting that this ideal is presented by the Communist party in a completely different way. The Communist party also uses the word “harmonious” but in this context, harmony means that a society is cooperative under one political party. Similarly, filial piety is an ideal that emphasizes the importance of respect for role models and leaders and it has been skewed to idealize strict rules and blind obedience. Overall, I would love to read up more on the teachings of Confucius and how they can fit into our modern-day society.