Confucianism is less a set of beliefs than a world view with prescribed practices. Honoring one's heritage and elders, alive and dead, is of paramount importance. There is great reverence for ritual and tradition. You are to honor the "Great Relations," maintaining the appropriate balance between yourself and your role. It is understood that who I am is deeply connected to the network of relations I maintain and honor. This point of view may be useful if we look at life through it. What are the relationships in my life that are due my honor and reverence? Broadening that question, who has been mother to me other than my own mother? A teacher, a friend, another relative, a man? Who has been a teacher for me even though not having that title? The kindly janitor in my school, the newspaper guy, my baby brother? Perhaps my best friend's dad really gave me some real mothering and the local store clerk was like a sister to me. Who would it serve me to acknowledge as a contribution to my life?

Judaism is communally oriented. Questioning and debating are preferred avenues to sort things out, grapple with ideas and points of view with some energy. Discussing ideas can uncover new aspects of a truth. If you are shy about questioning something, hang out at a synagogue and offer it up. See what happens as you get more comfortable with debate and see that asking questions of one's faith is not being sacrilegious. A wonderful gift from Judaism is the notion of Tzedakah which means "giving for righteousness' sake," because it is simply the thing to do. In performing Tzedakah we repair the world, Tikkun Olam. This idea of doing good whether or not I feel like it in the moment is freeing. I don't have to concern myself with whether I feel like going to the soup kitchen today. I just go because my being there, happily or not, means people in need will be served. Now, the joke is that at the end of the day, I am going to feel terrific. This notion of Tzedakah can be helpful whether you are Jewish or not if you are waiting for the right feelings to prompt you to get off the couch.

Islam is a faith involving practical and very physical devotion. If you are devout, you are praying a set prayer five times a day, kneeling down and rising several times while facing Mecca. The connection to God is continued and nurtured throughout the day. Faithful Muslims try to pray in this way while holding down jobs, raising children, running errands. Islam offers a model of committed daily discipline for those who desire a deeper prayer life while also living an active life in the world. It can and is done.

The Parliament program Barbara and I led offered more thoughts about Buddhism, Christianity, Unitarianism and Transcendental Meditation. But those will have to wait for another month.

What do you think about these ideas?