A Research on “The Substitution of Morality for Religion”

Liang Shuming believed that in Chinese traditional society Confucianism was“the substitution of morality for religion”. Confucian ritual has similar functions compared with religion. First, Confucian rituals can comfort emotion and encourage will. Second, it can promote the expansion of emotion. Third, it is the objectification and institutionalization of emotion. So, Confucian ritual ultimately achieves “the substitution of morality for religion”. Mr. Liang followed the Confucian doctrine of emotion. There is a fundamental difference between Hume's empiricist emotionalism and Liang' thought. Liang stressed the importance of human rationality. In his view, religion acts as a more powerful force of control, but Confucian ethics are more applicable than religion in breadth and purity. Although his views on religion are debatable, his study of the relationship between Confucianism and religion is still valuable and worthy of continued study.