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Contrast this to his next diagram, showing the Chinese psychological paradigm. In this case, the Confucian values of filiality, propriety and harmony lead to radically different outcomes in terms of needs, behaviours – and a diminished self.

As a result, behaviours that seem pathological in the West – such as being overly dependent on what others think about you – are normal in Confucian countries. And in Confucian countries behaviours that are seen as  pathological – such as independent behaviour and thought – is normal in Western cultures.

In the case of Confucianism, Confucian values lead to a need for approval, which shows itself in approval seeking behaviours such as the following:

• choosing careers that will please parents, even though you don’t really want to do that work;
• behaving in the expected manner, even though you feel otherwise;
• suppressing conflict and pretending that everything is okay in public, even though there is obviously tension.

Ultimately the person is a non-being, only a persona. Yes, they are a father, a son, a member of a group – they are in relationship with others – but their feelings and personal preferences don’t really matter. Just that they behave in the approved way within those roles.

Now this is not to say that the Western world has gotten personhood entirely right – not at all! Trinitarian theology tells us that ultimate reality is beings in relationship – just as the Father, the Son and the Spirit are three persons, eternally in loving relationship with one another. And it can be easily seen that the view of the self that arises from the Trinity is just as different from the Western view of the person, as it is from the Confucian view of the person.

Here is a diagram I shared with some fourth-year students at Moore College recently:

Western individualism has generated a society where the focus is on the individual, and not so much on loving relationships. The highest good is to be "true to yourself" – no matter what everyone else thinks. And you see this reflected in many Hollywood movies! However Confucianism has generated a society where people have roles in interconnected relationships – but personal feelings and desires are not important. The highest good here is to do your duty, even at great personal cost…

If such a Confucian view of the person influences Christianity, this leads to a Christianity that focuses on our duty to God. On right behaviour. On reading the Bible. On making sacrifices for God. But minimises the affections – loving God, longing for the return of Christ, thirsting for God’s word.

In Mark 7 Jesus talks about a people who love God with their lips – but whose hearts are far from him.  Instinctively, Chinese people might think that God would be pleased by such sacrificial obedience. However, God is not honoured – ultimately, Jesus calls such people ‘hypocrites’…

[ PS: things like loving God, longing for the return of Christ, thirsting for God's word are called 'affections'. You'll find some posts on the affections back in January and February... ]