梁漱溟的“以道德代宗教”思想研究

梁漱溟认为在中国传统社会中儒家“以道德代宗教”。儒家主要通过伦理名分和礼乐揖让代替宗教的功能,伦理礼乐具有情感安慰、意志勖勉的作用,通过情感扩展和情感的客观化、制度化,实现“以道德代宗教”。梁氏沿袭儒家重情主义的路线,与西方休谟的经验论情感主义存在着本质上的区别。梁氏不仅注重情感经验,而且强调人类理性的重要性,主张即情即理、合情合理。在他看来,在约束的强度上,宗教具有更强大的力量;在适用的广度和纯度上,儒家道德则超过宗教。梁漱溟关于儒家与宗教关系的研究在当代仍然具有重要的理论价值。

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.