Appendix 2: Jesus and Muhammad Join Hands: Confucius and Gandhi as Bridges for World Peace

War and Peace are the Focus of the World Today

The Russia-Ukraine War, after two years, has resulted in victories and defeats on both sides, leading to a stalemate. Overall, Putin’s initial initiation of the war failed, leaving him in a difficult position. The US, with its $75 billion in aid, also faces a heavy burden; the stalemate is unsustainable, putting them in a difficult position as well, thus increasing the chances of peace talks. Daily news about the war makes it the world’s primary focus.

World War I has not ended, and World War II has begun. Last October, Palestinian militants launched a sudden large-scale attack on Israel, taking a large number of hostages. Israel retaliated, resulting in over 20,000 deaths. International calls for restraint have led to the current stalemate. Israel has suffered heavy losses, with hostages still being taken, and will not stop. The war continues intermittently, with no end in sight.

Internationally, it is widely believed that the conflict between Taiwan and the CCP is the most likely third battlefield to erupt. The Taiwan presidential election is most likely to provoke CCP military intervention, attracting 30 countries and 400 media outlets to Taiwan to observe the election campaign. Fortunately, US President Biden did not encourage “Taiwan independence,” and the CCP did not threaten military action.

Religious conflict is the deep-seated root of war.

Palestinians worship Allah, while Israel worships Jehovah. Ukraine and Russia are both Orthodox Christians, but Ukraine leans towards Western Christianity. The CCP is Marxist atheist, while Taiwan believes in Confucius and Jesus. Ultimately, resolving the war issue requires resolving the religious conflict.

Moses was great, but his weaknesses were fatal.

Moses (1330-1210 BC) was the national leader of the Jewish people in the 13th century BC and the founder of Judaism. He is considered a very important prophet in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Moses created the Ten Commandments. The most important and valuable of the Ten Commandments are the six commandments:

Honor your father and mother; Do not murder; Do not commit adultery; Do not steal; Do not bear false witness against your neighbor; Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his or her land, his male or female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

The Ten Commandments gradually became secular law, successfully becoming a code of faith. Moses initially said, “There shall be no other gods before me and the Lord God.” This was necessary for establishing the initial faith. However, later preachers absolutized this statement, using it as an excuse to exclude all other faiths, leading to endless disputes and becoming the founder’s fatal weakness.

China enjoys religious freedom without war.

Chinese civilization has historically enjoyed religious freedom, accommodating various religions from both within and outside China without exclusivity. “Greatness lies in tolerance,” and there were no struggles between religious and imperial power, unlike the centuries-long religious wars of Europe. Foreign religions such as Buddhism and Christianity were also readily accepted.

Historical records show that Emperor Yao appeared 4000 years ago (2356-2255 BC). Confucius said, “Only Heaven is great, and only Yao followed its example.” The historian Sima Qian said, “His benevolence was like Heaven, and his wisdom was like a god.”

Emperor Yao passed the throne to Shun. Yao asked, “What is most important?” Shun replied, “To worship God.” This shows that 4000 years ago, China had already established a belief in God. The emperor’s most important task was “to worship God.” The “God” spoken of by Shun is likely the same as the Jehovah spoken of by Moses 3300 years ago; both originate from heaven.

The belief in God existed in China 4000 years ago.

There are no historical records in China regarding who invented God. No one has a monopoly on God, nor the right to exclude others’ beliefs. The *Classic of Poetry*, dating back over 3000 years, contains several poems praising God (Heaven). One is “Heaven Creates” (天作): “Heaven created Mount Qi, where King Wen was blessed, and his descendants protected it.” It praises the sacred site of Mount Qi created by Heaven. Another is “The Mandate of Heaven” (维天之命): “The mandate of Heaven bestows favor upon my King Wen, and his great-grandson cherishes it.” Another is “The Birth of the People” (生民), which tells of how the mother of King Houji of Zhou, during a suburban sacrifice, conceived after stepping on God’s footprint and gave birth to Houji, indicating that the king originated from God. A third is “The Ministers” (臣工), which praises God for a bountiful harvest. “The bright and clear God, through countless years of peace and prosperity.”

The Book of Songs also contains the lines: “The Emperor’s command was not disobeyed, reaching even Tang and Qi,” and “The Emperor is revered, his command is modeled upon the nine provinces.” (Following the mandate of Heaven, they dared not disobey; the Emperor commanded the nine provinces to emulate Tang of Shang.)

In the Book of Rites, compiled by Confucius, the chapter on “Royal System” states: “When the Son of Heaven is about to go out, he is like the God of Heaven.” God is the personification of Heaven.

Beijing still has the Temple of Heaven. Every year, the emperor offered sacrifices to Heaven and revered God, with a grander ceremony than in the West. People prayed for “blessings from the Heavenly Official.”

Mao Zedong spent decades “fighting against Heaven, finding endless joy in it.” Fighting against Heaven was fighting against God. Mao Zedong openly said: “There is no law or Heaven.”

Centuries of Religious Wars in Europe

Before me are three books, totaling 2000 pages. The first is *The Crusades: A Two-Hundred-Year History of Christian and Islamic Wars* (1095–1291). Several large-scale mobilizations caused heavy losses to the people of Western Europe, with hundreds of thousands of Crusaders dying. This exacerbated the conflict between the Islamic world and the Western Christian world. In 1291, Acre, a Christian stronghold on the Syrian coast, fell into Muslim hands, and the Kingdom of Jerusalem was destroyed. The Crusades launched nine campaigns, lasting 200 years, ultimately ending in failure.

The second part, *The Thirty Years’ War* (1618–1648), describes how the 16th-century Protestant Reformation and its expansion shook imperial authority, leading to a civil war within the Holy Roman Empire that escalated into a massive European war lasting 30 years and resulting in 8 million deaths (more than the later World War I). Nearly 50% of the men in the German principalities perished. France rose to become the most powerful hegemon. The German states became more fragmented, until Prussia rose to power 250 years later, once again vying for supremacy with France. This may have been God’s punishment for Germany’s Reformation and the destruction of papal authority.

The third part, *The Hundred Years’ War* (1337–1453) and *The Second Hundred Years’ War* (1689–1815), further explores this conflict. The First Hundred Years’ War lasted 116 years, involving five generations of monarchs vying for power, with France emerging victorious. The Second Hundred Years’ War was a period of British expansion. It was intermittent, including the Seven Years’ War, the American Revolution, and the Napoleonic Wars, involving European nations like the Netherlands, and to some extent became a “world war.” Ultimately, Britain emerged victorious, becoming the dominant “empire on which the sun never sets.” These two Christian nations fought each other, largely without sectarian conflict, focusing primarily on the struggle for national hegemony.

The Crusades (200 years) and the Anglo-French Wars (200 years) did not have as significant a global impact as the Thirty Years’ War. The deaths occurred in less than 30 years, stemming from religious schism, the conflict between Protestantism and Catholicism, the decline of the Pope, the loss of the Holy Roman Empire’s sanctity, the rise of nationalism and utopia, and the birth of the communist devil.

Matteo Ricci’s missionary work unexpectedly led to the discovery of Confucius.

In the 16th century, the 26-year-old Matteo Ricci was sent to the East by the Papacy to preach. Ricci first preached in India for four years, with limited success; the Indians remained committed to their Hindu Brahmanical tradition. Later, Matteo Ricci was ordered to go to China. He first studied Chinese in Macau for two years, learning Cantonese and Mandarin. The Chinese characters were completely different from Latin, and Ricci mastered them with astonishing perseverance and memory.

Ricci initially wore monastic robes, similar to those of Catholic priests. Later, finding that the Chinese preferred Confucian attire, he switched to Confucian robes, resembling official robes. He not only promoted Catholicism, but also, with his extensive knowledge, collaborated with locals in Zhaoqing to translate Euclid’s *Elements*. He was the first to bring geometry to China, and also translated *The True Record of the Lord of Heaven* into Chinese, explaining Catholic doctrine. However, the Chinese had never heard of Catholicism and always understood it as a branch of Buddhism, calling Ricci “Tai Xi” (meaning “Western”).

Ricci was very intelligent. He quickly discovered Confucius’s *Four Books* and *Five Classics*, and the *Analects*, which he treasured. He began translating the *Analects* into Latin, and later had it published for the first time in Paris. He successfully predicted a solar eclipse in Nanchang, making him a celebrity. He was warmly received by the Prince of Jian’an, a relative of the emperor, and befriended several Confucian scholars and nobles, who invited him to lecture at the Bailudong Academy. He used the Four Books and Five Classics of Confucius to expound Catholic doctrine, gaining acceptance from many.

In 1600, Matteo Ricci went to Beijing with gifts. The following year, Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty received him and was very pleased with the self-ringing clock he presented. He also brought with him a map of the world, a Atlantic harp, and a Bible. The emperor issued an edict allowing Ricci and others to reside in Beijing permanently.

Ricci lived in Beijing for nine years, befriending prominent figures such as Xu Guangqi. Ricci believed that the Chinese practices of worshipping Heaven, ancestors, and Confucius were not contradictory to Catholicism. He believed that “Heaven and God are one.” “Heaven” was a personified “God,” and he allowed believers to maintain their customs of worshipping Heaven, ancestors, and Confucius—this was known as the “Ricci Rules.” Ricci gained 200 Catholics in Beijing. This rule was approved by the Vatican and enforced until it was challenged by Spanish religious groups, and even further until the Qing Dynasty Emperor Kangxi denounced it as “incomprehensible” and declared, “There are no unfaithful and unfilial gods in the world.” It wasn’t until 200 years later, in 1939, that the Vatican announced the restoration of the “Ricci Rules,” achieving harmonious coexistence between Jesus and Confucius.

Matteo Ricci died in Beijing in 1610 at the age of 58. He never returned to Italy, never married, had no children, and devoted himself entirely to Jesus and Confucius, promoting peaceful coexistence between East and West. He was the first Westerner permitted to be buried in Beijing. Following this, missionary work was permitted throughout China, and over a hundred missionaries were subsequently legally buried in Ricci’s tomb. The tomb was destroyed during the Boxer Rebellion in 1900, and Empress Dowager Cixi rebuilt it, adding an “apology stele.” In 1966, during the Cultural Revolution, Red Guards again vandalized the tomb and destroyed the tombstones. In 1979, Deng Xiaoping approved the reconstruction of the tomb and its inclusion in the list of protected cultural relics.

Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucius, and Lao Tzu: Hand in Hand for World Peace

In the past 30 years, Christianity has grown to 2.3 billion people worldwide, accounting for one-third of the world’s religious population, including Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and Eastern Orthodoxy. The largest, Roman Catholicism, has 1.2 billion members.

Muslims number 1.6 billion, the second largest globally. Hinduism has 1.1 billion, mainly in India. Buddhism has 500 million, mainly in East Asian countries. Confucius is primarily in China, but the CCP classifies him as an atheist. Lao Tzu is not a religion, but his *Tao Te Ching* has been distributed over 600 million times globally, more than the Bible.

With Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucius, and Lao Tzu joining hands globally, the current trend suggests that world peace will not be achieved until the 2040s-2050s.

Bin Laden’s attacks on the United States caused two “ten-year wars.”

Most wealthy countries in the world are Christian. Christianity has brought material civilization, but due to the inherent weakness of Moses and Jesus—egocentrism—it cannot lead the world to peace. The 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001 triggered a 10-year US war in Afghanistan. The US deployed 120,000 troops, but ultimately failed. This sparked the Iraq War in 2003, another 10-year conflict. The US did not achieve a complete victory, and the war gave rise to the more radical Islamic State, with ongoing terrorist activities and increasing global unrest. Although Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind 9/11, was eventually killed by US forces, he still holds sway in Islamic countries.

Islamic religion blurs the lines between theocracy and state power, and is more strongly religious.

Putin’s Russia, which shares the same Christian faith, launched the Ukraine war in 2022, which remains fiercely contested. Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, resulting in over 20,000 deaths. Neither of these two fronts shows any sign of ending.

The Muslim world has 1.6 billion people, approximately one-quarter of the world’s population. 62% live in the Asia-Pacific region, and 20% in the Middle East and North Africa. Muhammad founded Islam in the 7th century. He acknowledged Jesus as a great prophet, but considered the scriptures of Moses and Jesus to be fragmentary records. He believed only the Quran, transmitted by Muhammad in 610 AD, was the original text of God, and was directly labeled the “Antichrist” by Martin Luther. The Quran is considered full of lies, contributing to the antagonism between Christianity and Islam.

Islamic countries did not undergo the religious reforms experienced by Christian countries in the 15th and 16th centuries. Many Middle Eastern countries maintain a system where political and religious authority are intertwined. Political power has not been separated from theocracy, democratic reforms have been slow, and the sanctity of Islam is often stronger than that of Christianity, leading to hostility towards Christianity. Examples include the extreme actions of Osama bin Laden, culminating in the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States that killed 3,000 people, and the subsequent ten-year wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The fundamental solution lies in a future doctrinal approach, with mutual recognition of each other’s faiths and the understanding that one’s own faith is not the only one. Mutual respect for freedom of religion is essential to breaking free from religious antagonism and resolving a knot that has caused countless deaths over millennia. Each person has their own belief; faith can only be respected, not criticized. One cannot claim their faith is superior to others; everyone is happy.

Hinduism has no unified belief.

Hinduism is primarily found in India. Hindus number 1.1 billion, comprising 80% of the Indian population. Indians also have 160 million Muslims, 30 million Christians, 20 million Sikhs, and 10 million Buddhists. Hinduism has no unified belief. It divides people into four castes: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, each with its own moral codes and customs, prohibiting intermarriage. Beyond these four castes, there is also the “Untouchables” (those who cannot be touched). Mahatma Gandhi classified himself as an “Untouchable,” a group of 230 million people with considerable influence. While Indian law has abolished the prohibition on intermarriage in the last century, the age-old custom still largely respects this prohibition.

Hinduism has no unified belief; it has a creator god similar to that of Christianity, an omnipotent God who reigns over all spirits. Some believe in reincarnation, endless cycles of rebirth. Religious freedom exists; each person has their own belief, without mutual exclusion or binding force. It can be considered a paradise of faith, a religious exhibition, but all sects generally adhere to the principles of kindness, honesty, purity, patience, and self-discipline, regardless of caste or sect. It can be considered a polytheistic religion, emphasizing freedom of belief and non-exclusivity. Most sects believe that all beings must learn, cultivate themselves, do good deeds, and revere the divine to achieve their ultimate goal.

Indonesia prohibits non-belief.

In Indonesia, with a population of 270 million, 86% are Muslim, while the remainder practice Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and animism. Non-belief is prohibited (communist atheism is illegal). This stems from the 1965 coup attempt by Mao Zedong, which involved 3 million Indonesian communists attempting to seize power, but was thwarted by Suharto, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Indonesians and a 10-year diplomatic severance with China.

Indonesia does not allow non-belief. Buddhism has 500 million followers: 240 million in mainland China, 60 million in Thailand, 50 million in Myanmar, and 45 million in Japan. Buddhism originated in Nepal, where a prince achieved liberation from the cycle of birth and death at the age of 35, becoming known as Shakyamuni “Buddha,” meaning “the enlightened one.” Northern Mahayana Buddhism is the Han Chinese form of Buddhism, benefiting all sentient beings. Mahayana Buddhism uses an ox-cart to universally deliver all beings, while Hinayana Buddhism uses a sheep-cart, seeking only to relieve one’s own suffering—a “self-liberated one.” Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, North Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam all belong to Northern Mahayana Buddhism.

Shakyamuni passed away at the age of 80, leaving behind many disciples. Buddhism venerates only Shakyamuni; there is no higher god. Buddhism emphasizes spiritual practice, aiming to attain Buddhahood, and its teachings are profound and far-reaching.

Mao Zedong’s Communist Party stole the Buddhist concept of “enlightenment” and established its own proletarian “enlightenment.” Every party member is measured by this “proletarian enlightenment.” His “enlightenment” is worlds apart from the Buddhist concept of “enlightenment.”

In mainland China, 240 million people practice Buddhism, 40 million practice Christianity, and 20 million practice Islam. 73% of the population adheres to folk beliefs, including atheism and non-religious folk beliefs.

Buddhism emphasizes self-cultivation but lacks a higher faith.

Mahayana Buddhism uses Confucian language for explanation. Directly translating Sanskrit from India is incomprehensible to the Chinese and difficult to accept. Using language familiar to Confucian scholars, Buddhism was quickly accepted by many Chinese. Zeng Shen said, “I examine myself thrice daily: Have I been disloyal in serving others? Have I been untrustworthy in dealing with friends? Have I neglected to practice what I have been taught?” Zeng Shen did not specifically explain how to cultivate oneself, a deficiency that Buddhism filled. Buddhism’s specific methods of self-cultivation precisely filled the gaps in Confucianism. From emperors to common people, it was quickly and widely adopted, surpassing Confucianism for centuries during the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Even in modern times, some Hindu beliefs are still absorbed. For example, the belief in reincarnation: many people believe the soul is immortal and can be reborn, hoping to be reborn into a wealthy family, or that bad deeds in a previous life will lead to reincarnation as an animal, like a cat or dog. Some young people believe in reincarnation after death, that they can be reborn as heroes in 20 years. They believe that accumulating good deeds can lead to rebirth into a noble family.

Confucius and Lao Tzu are philosophies, not religions.

Confucius is not a religion, but a philosophy. Although sometimes called “Confucianism,” it has no religious rituals. It has many followers in Asian countries such as mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore, as well as in many Western countries. The exact number is unknown, but it has been widely disseminated globally for 2500 years, having a profound global impact.

For 2000 years in China, every dynasty has used Confucianism as its political platform. Only after the Communist Party seized power in 1949 did it adopt a communist platform. After Mao Zedong’s death, democratic reforms gradually began. In 2011, Hu Jintao came to power, proposing a people-centered approach to governance. The 9-ton statue of Confucius erected east of Tiananmen Square, intended to announce the beginning of a Confucian revival, was forcibly removed by the retired Jiang Zemin after only three months. The revival of Confucius failed, followed by Jiang Zemin’s election of Xi Jinping to replace Li Keqiang. Ten years later, Jiang restored Mao Zedong’s ways, then purged Li Keqiang to prevent his resurgence.

Xi Jinping dares not abolish Confucius, but a 9-ton statue of Confucius remains in a museum, not to be erected again. He outwardly utilizes Confucius’s reputation, continuing to run Confucius Institutes, but Confucius has become a title of respect, aligned with Xi Jinping’s ideology.

Confucius is a bridge between Jesus and Muhammad.

The future revival of Confucius awaits Xi Jinping’s downfall. The revival of Confucius is certain; it will first be established in China, then influence the world. Toynbee’s 20th-century prediction will surely come true in the 21st century. Confucius’s magnanimous cultural spirit will inevitably influence the world. The first quote from Confucius’s *Analects* is, “Is it not delightful to have friends coming from afar?” and “Within the four seas, all are brothers.” Confucius will undoubtedly be a bridge between Christianity and Islam. If Confucius fully plays his role, he will eliminate the differences between Christianity and Islam, achieving world peace.

Lao Tzu’s anti-war stance aligns with the world’s need for peace.

Lao Tzu’s 5,000-word *Tao Te Ching* has been widely translated and distributed worldwide, with over 600 million copies sold, surpassing the Bible. The *Tao Te Ching*, with its philosophical appeal, deeply attracts people from all countries, transcending national boundaries. Its primary aim is to oppose war, regardless of religion, aligning with the world’s most pressing need today. Lao Tzu, assisting Confucius, will undoubtedly successfully resolve the millennia-old divide between Christianity and Islam.

In the future, the East will help the West resolve religious differences, with China, Japan, and India avoiding extremism. The Chinese have widespread faith in Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucius; the Japanese also have widespread faith in Shinto, Buddhism, and Confucius.

Humanity will sail together on a great ship, sharing the same boat, towards peace.

In the latter half of the 21st century, humanity, along with Jesus, Islam, Buddhism, Confucius, and Lao Tzu, will sail together on a great ship, sharing the same boat, braving the winds and waves, towards the shore of peace. Children of all colors—black, white, brown, yellow, and red—sing joyful hymns praising God.

The passionate vision Liang Qichao foretold a century ago—”The rising sun shines brightly. The river emerges from its hidden source, flowing into a vast ocean. The hidden dragon soars from the abyss, its scales and claws flashing. The young tiger roars in the valley, terrifying all beasts. The eagle tests its wings, stirring up dust and wind. The rare flower begins to bloom, resplendent and magnificent. The sword is sharpened, its edge gleaming. The sky is blue above, the earth is yellow below. Spanning a thousand ages, encompassing the eight directions. The future is like the sea, the days to come are long”—will be realized in the 21st century.

Zhong Wen
February 8, 2024