1. Is this a religion or not? Why do you think so?
This is not a religion. These are the rules of propriety and proper social conduct. I think so, because it is not so much about heaven or hell, but more about the way people should be brought up in their families, and how they should treat others around them, such as elders and princes.
2.Does this reading support the idea that people are born good /bad/neutral? Cite three examples that support your point of view.
This does not support the idea that people are born good/bad/evil. Instead, it states the rules of propriety and how one should behave in order to be good.
Example 1: "Filial piety and fraternal submission!-- are they not the root of all benevolent actions?" - Book I. Chapter II. 2. - This basically says that Filial piety and fraternal submission are the root of all good things. This backs up my idea, because it states that one can choose to be good by having filial piety and fraternal submission.
Example 2: "...but they are not equal to him, who though, is poor, is yet cheerful, and to him, who though rich, loves the rules of propriety." - Book I. Chapter XV. 1. - This quote also supports my idea, because it says that the poor and the rich can both be good. It does not differentiate between social classes and gives everybody a chance to choose how they want to be.
Example 3: "The Master said of the Shao that it was perfectly beautiful and also perfectly good. He said of the Wu that it was perfectly beautiful but not perfectly good." - Book III. Chapter XXV. - This quote also proves my idea, because it states that just because something is beautiful does not mean that it is always good, and that beauty comes from being good. This gives everyone a chance to show their beauty through their goodness.
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