Gospel Barriers
The Hakkas
Confucianism
Confucianism
is one of the more predominant Hakka "religions" (really
more of a philosophy), ranking second only to Taoism in terms of sheer
influence. For centuries, the Hakka Chinese have used Confucian
teaching and values as their foundation for dealing with relationship issues in
everyday life.
The
sage Confucius - who believed in neither gods nor the afterlife -
lived around 500 BC, and taught that peace exists where proper
submission is practiced. Child to parent … student to teacher …
slave to master … citizen to the state. In fact, this rather mundane teaching might have hit the ranks
of obscurity were it not for subsequent emperors using it to wield
greater control over their subjects.
These Confucian values have since trickled down through history until forming a pool of tradition that affects how Hakkas, even now, respond to authority … especially parents or elder family members. Many are tightly bound by these cultural expectations of unquestioned submission. Consider the powerful hold that this view might have on children (of any age) who are seeking a Jesus that their parents would have them deny. Such is the bondage of Confucianism today.
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