Christian theory of human nature and Confucian theory of human Nature and legalist theory of human nature

The theory of human nature has been discussed since ancient times.

In the pre-Qin period, the theory of goodness of nature, represented by Confucius and Mencius of Confucianism, holds that human nature is good, and acquired learning and education is to keep people's innate goodness.

Xunzi, another representative of Confucianism, believes that human nature is evil, even saints are no exception. And the saints eventually become saints and respected by others, because they make a lot of efforts to reform their own nature, while some people are just the opposite, they indulge their own nature, obey their own passions, misbehave. Xunzi's theory of evil nature and Mencius's theory of good nature are not contradictory. Xunzi's theory of evil nature is a supplement to Mencius' theory of good nature. Mencius said that human nature is good, human nature is good, Xunzi thought: human nature in addition to good, there are evil. So what to do? We can teach people to be good through etiquette. Xunzi put forward the thought of evil human nature, in fact, to emphasize the role of etiquette education, he did not advocate evil nature, his ultimate goal is to lead people to good. At least Xunzi's theory of evil is not as extreme and thorough as Han Feizi's.

Mencius emphasized that education is to maintain and develop human goodness.

Xunzi put forward the theory of evil nature, its main purpose is not to criticize human nature, but to emphasize the importance of education. Lay the foundation for his implementation of etiquette education.

According to Confucianism, the kinship between parents and children is the most beautiful and selfless relationship in the world, with infinite warmth rippling between each other.

However, in the eyes of legalists, this is not the case. They believe that even if the relationship is as close as father and son, husband and wife and brother, there are still interests and calculations, there are interests and intrigues. If parents are to their children, they celebrate their sons and kill their daughters. ... Therefore, parents of children, also with the heart of calculation to treat each other, but the situation is not the father and son! "(Han Feizi · Liu Fan) Han Feizi said that parents would clap their hands to celebrate the birth of a boy and wish to kill the birth of a girl. So baby girls are still abandoned. Why is that? This is full of economic interests calculation and consideration, in the agricultural society, in the words of the countryside, the birth of a girl is a "loss of money," the girl once raised to adulthood will be married to another family, but also a sum of dowry; Boys, on the other hand, are sufficient security for the family labor force. In rural China, the concept of raising children for old age is still deeply rooted in the hearts of many people. Therefore, Han Feizi came to the conclusion that such a calculation of interests still exists between parents and children, let alone between princes and subjects. For the crown prince's mother, she has nothing to lose by killing her husband. When her son became king, she could enjoy wealth and honor, and even enjoy the pleasures of both men and women. Like Zhao Ji, the mother of Qin Shi Huang, she could find several lovers to satisfy her desires. Han feizi's interpretation of human nature is truly impressive, and sends a chill down the monarch's back.

Therefore, legalists believe that man is unreliable and law is reliable, and the theory of evil nature is another theoretical basis of the thought of rule of law

But Xunzi's student, Han Feizi li, had broken with Confucianism. This is also the addition of Chinese understanding of human nature.

The doctrine of original sin is the Christian belief that everyone is born with sin and that their sin comes from their ancestors, Adam and Eve. They broke their covenant with God and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and their disobedience brought sin, as well as guilt and shame. People's temperament and soul have been corrupted, and from time to time they do things against god's will, even leading to various human tragedies

In the Old Testament, this event is shocking and shocking. Cain and Abel were brothers, but the elder brother killed the younger. This terrible human tragedy shows that the human heart has become selfish, narrow, cold, tyrannical, and has lost its original innocence, goodness, and simplicity. Both in defiance of God's commandments and teachings, and in defiance of family and brotherhood. This terrible result is enough to remind the world of the need for the active intervention and salvation of God, Jehovah.

Jesus Christ, who did many, many good things to save mankind, was finally crucified to save mankind. The Gospel story of Judas betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver is selfish.

Therefore, Christian teaching believes that people should actively save themselves by god's grace and restore the goodness and beauty of human nature.