Ch. 4's Big Question: Is a secular outlook on the world an essentially modern phenomenon, or does it have precedents in the second-wave era?

A secular outlook on the world has precedents in the second-wave era. This has mostly happened in Chinese history as Confucius was its most important character. Confucianism and Greek rationalism are examples of this secular outlook, paying a little attention to the gods, but the heavy emphasis on education a moral betterment without a religious perspective.

Confucius replied to his teaching that "as if the spirits were present," (Stayer, 154) meaning the universe was moral throughout their human-beings. However, social harmony has concerned throughout the thrust of Confucian teaching, there have still a conflict that we don't live full time in the world because lives are always different for everybody. But, social harmony is still significant while precedents are existing for people to have in the second-wave era in the modern world of world history.

Finally, "Confucianism marked Chinese elite culture by its secular, or nonreligious character" (Stayer, 154). However, in Confucian teaching, "Confucius did not deny the reality of gods and spirits" (Stayer, 154). I must know about what kind of gods and spirits I am. This shows "Confucians values clearly justified the many inequalities of Chinese society, but they also established certain expectations for the superior parties in China's social hierarchy" (Stayer, 154).


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