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Toward a Typology of Religious Thought: A Chinese Example

Religious phenomena are often analyzed by means of the idea of types, but few typological analyses of religious thought exist. This situation is caused in large part by the independent development of "history of religions" and "theology" or the "philosophy of religion." Typological analyses of religious thought are possible, however. Moreover, they ought to aid the understanding of both the general religious phenomenon and the particular examples studied, as do such analyses in other areas. Analyzing types of religious thought as others have analyzed, say, types of religious communities, should achieve significant results. Any general typology of religious thought is impossible, or at least unwise, in the immediate future, but particular thinkers who exemplify different types can be examined. Such a process should cast light on both the thinker and the general question of types of religious thought.' The examination here centers on Mencius, the classical Confucian thinker (probable dates 371-289 B.C.E.). It aims to articulate the "practical type" of-his religious thought, using his reflections upon the traditional religious idea of the Heavenly Mandate (T'ien ming) as the primary example. This type becomes evident by analyzing the questions he answers and leaves unanswered, the intentions of his formulations, etc. The type deals with religious question in an unspeculative fashion because its orientation is to the transformation of human action. Men-