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The Human Calling: Three Thousand Years of Eastern and Western Philosophical History
A study of the world’s religious movements and what their history says about society today.
The Human Calling is a vigorously researched and profoundly spiritual narrative history of the world’s religious movements as they relate to society’s collective understanding of the duties they have to fellow people and looks ahead to what lessons from history can be applied as people navigate a technological age.
Focusing on the rise and fall of spiritual movements in both the East and West, The Human Calling examines what the world’s major religions have historically offered, asks what people are here for outside of pure survival, and makes the persuasive argument for Christianity as the best leader to guide individuals on the path toward better caring for one another—our human calling. The Human Calling takes readers through humanity’s three great thought first is the Axial Age, the source of the first great human reflection on public spirit and public orderThe second is the twelfth to seventeenths centuries, wrestles with the question of whether people can attain individual rationality in God’s orderThe third delves into the independent reasoning societies of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and looks forward to what people want their third great reflection on God’s plan to be during their own period of societal flux
The Human Calling is a vigorously researched and profoundly spiritual narrative history of the world’s religious movements as they relate to society’s collective understanding of the duties they have to fellow people and looks ahead to what lessons from history can be applied as people navigate a technological age.
Focusing on the rise and fall of spiritual movements in both the East and West, The Human Calling examines what the world’s major religions have historically offered, asks what people are here for outside of pure survival, and makes the persuasive argument for Christianity as the best leader to guide individuals on the path toward better caring for one another—our human calling. The Human Calling takes readers through humanity’s three great thought first is the Axial Age, the source of the first great human reflection on public spirit and public orderThe second is the twelfth to seventeenths centuries, wrestles with the question of whether people can attain individual rationality in God’s orderThe third delves into the independent reasoning societies of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and looks forward to what people want their third great reflection on God’s plan to be during their own period of societal flux
579 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 25, 2022
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9522 people want to read
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September 26, 2024
I'll preface this with I definitely misunderstood what this book was. I thought it was what the title and subtitle implied: a history of philosophy and religion comparing East and West. Parts of this book were that, and those parts were fairly decent (at least the parts prior to the Middle Ages). Because this the description of this book mentions it is vigorously researched, I'm going to hold it to that in this review.
Warning flags started popping up for me in chapter 5 on Judaism. Prior to that, any discussion regarding religion was from a neutral perspective of analyzing myth as myth. I know he knows what myth is because he explains the concept quite well and stated that myths are not necessarily true but ways of explaining the world. Once he gets to Judaism, the style changes. He talks about it as absolute and literal truth, so completely changing perspective and introducing a bias that Judeo-Christianity is correct and everything can be reviewed from a different lens.
A few chapters later, we get to Christianity, in which he exposes he's theologically illiterate. These chapters are written under the premise that everything in the Bible is literal and factually true, despite the fact we know many parts are not. In the first chapter on Jesus alone, he falsely states Jesus was born in Bethlehem (he wasn't) and that Jesus read the Torah as a child (Jesus would have spoken Aramaic and it is unlikely he would have been able to read in write in his native language, yet alone read the Torah in Hebrew). In the second paragraph, he states that Jesus' use of "son of man" can be interchangeably used as meaning "son of God" and that Jesus declared himself as such. Jesus never said he was the "son of God", although he referred to himself as the "son of man" quite often. The rest of that chapter continues along these lines, completely exposing the author as not having done real research on Christianity and instead, living entirely in the realm of Biblical literalism and Christian apologetics.
At this point, I was almost ready to call it quits, but I wanted to see where he took things. We got some more decent history of China and how religion played a role during that history. That descends into full-fledged Christian apologetics, in which he states faith is rational and only faith can provide truth. He dismisses any other religion from being able to do this. That's laughable given that his notion of truth is completely farcical, while dismissing religions like Buddhism as incapable of being rational. Read the Dalai Lama's The Universe in a Single Atom and you'll see how farfetched that statement is.
He then goes into some pretty cringe chapters on how (in my words) the West is Awesome and China sucks. He talks about how the East didn't contribute to science while completely ignoring the contributions Islam made (as well as those of China). By chapter 12, the wheels completely fell off. This covers the Enlightenment, in which he dismisses anyone who doesn't align reason with faith (such as Rosseau) as a radical. He praises Christianity for giving us thinkers like Locke and Smith, who helped us along the way toward capitalism and a love affair for private property. He ignores all the bad stuff about the figures he likes (as he did with the bad stuff Christianity has been behind) and then dismisses the thinkers he doesn't agree with as being wrong.
Then comes chapter 13 in which case I had about had enough. The book completely shifts from philosophy and religion to economics. It was like an entirely new book started. His understanding of economics is about as good as his understanding of Christianity. And there are contradictions everywhere. He praises free markets and then says how bad inequality is. He praises the pursuit of private property and Locke while saying how big of a problem the consumer mindset is. He complains about how we worship technology now instead of God while praising the very people who led us down this path. It was almost as if he said "Chat GPT, write me a chapter on economics taking both sides at once".
In the final chapter, he showed the true level of his ignorance. I need only one statement alone to show that: "more and more people choose to be homosexual". Why should I trust someone's 500-page volume on how we have to realign society and humanity when he thinks people choose to be homosexual. Can't wait to meet this asshole in hell!
Warning flags started popping up for me in chapter 5 on Judaism. Prior to that, any discussion regarding religion was from a neutral perspective of analyzing myth as myth. I know he knows what myth is because he explains the concept quite well and stated that myths are not necessarily true but ways of explaining the world. Once he gets to Judaism, the style changes. He talks about it as absolute and literal truth, so completely changing perspective and introducing a bias that Judeo-Christianity is correct and everything can be reviewed from a different lens.
A few chapters later, we get to Christianity, in which he exposes he's theologically illiterate. These chapters are written under the premise that everything in the Bible is literal and factually true, despite the fact we know many parts are not. In the first chapter on Jesus alone, he falsely states Jesus was born in Bethlehem (he wasn't) and that Jesus read the Torah as a child (Jesus would have spoken Aramaic and it is unlikely he would have been able to read in write in his native language, yet alone read the Torah in Hebrew). In the second paragraph, he states that Jesus' use of "son of man" can be interchangeably used as meaning "son of God" and that Jesus declared himself as such. Jesus never said he was the "son of God", although he referred to himself as the "son of man" quite often. The rest of that chapter continues along these lines, completely exposing the author as not having done real research on Christianity and instead, living entirely in the realm of Biblical literalism and Christian apologetics.
At this point, I was almost ready to call it quits, but I wanted to see where he took things. We got some more decent history of China and how religion played a role during that history. That descends into full-fledged Christian apologetics, in which he states faith is rational and only faith can provide truth. He dismisses any other religion from being able to do this. That's laughable given that his notion of truth is completely farcical, while dismissing religions like Buddhism as incapable of being rational. Read the Dalai Lama's The Universe in a Single Atom and you'll see how farfetched that statement is.
He then goes into some pretty cringe chapters on how (in my words) the West is Awesome and China sucks. He talks about how the East didn't contribute to science while completely ignoring the contributions Islam made (as well as those of China). By chapter 12, the wheels completely fell off. This covers the Enlightenment, in which he dismisses anyone who doesn't align reason with faith (such as Rosseau) as a radical. He praises Christianity for giving us thinkers like Locke and Smith, who helped us along the way toward capitalism and a love affair for private property. He ignores all the bad stuff about the figures he likes (as he did with the bad stuff Christianity has been behind) and then dismisses the thinkers he doesn't agree with as being wrong.
Then comes chapter 13 in which case I had about had enough. The book completely shifts from philosophy and religion to economics. It was like an entirely new book started. His understanding of economics is about as good as his understanding of Christianity. And there are contradictions everywhere. He praises free markets and then says how bad inequality is. He praises the pursuit of private property and Locke while saying how big of a problem the consumer mindset is. He complains about how we worship technology now instead of God while praising the very people who led us down this path. It was almost as if he said "Chat GPT, write me a chapter on economics taking both sides at once".
In the final chapter, he showed the true level of his ignorance. I need only one statement alone to show that: "more and more people choose to be homosexual". Why should I trust someone's 500-page volume on how we have to realign society and humanity when he thinks people choose to be homosexual. Can't wait to meet this asshole in hell!
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May 7, 2023As a book reviewer, my general rule is that I must read the book before reviewing it. Now, that seems as if it goes without saying. I have made an exception with The Human Calling: Three Thousand Years of Eastern and Western Philosophical History by Daofeng He. Daofeng He was born in 1956 in Yunnan, southwest China. He has a master’s degree in economics.
The Human Calling, with references, is 541 pages long, a hefty volume. It is not a book to be read quickly or lightly. Therefore, for this review, I am giving an overview of the book including the chapters I have completed.
There are 12 chapters with four to five sections in each chapter. The book does not treat each topic lightly. With violence a part of daily life, or so it seems, I turned to Chapter 2, Section 5: “The Depths of the Paradox of Violence.” In this section, He asks such questions as “How should we think and act?” Another question is “How can we maintain freedom while promoting the public interest?”
In Chapter 3, Section 5: “The High Peak of Aristotle’s Logic,” He addresses Aristotle’s beliefs such as “that living beings are different from other objects because they have life.” He goes on to indicate that not only humans possess a soul, but plants have a “vegetative soul, since they ingest other things while maintaining their distinctness from these things, allowing for infinite replication.”
As readers can tell, the ideas are lofty and not to be taken lightly. Reading chunks of the text and taking time to consider the chapters and reflect on them will give readers the most out of the book. It’s not the kind of book for most book clubs. For those book clubs that do tackle it, reading portions of the book for each meeting will make sense.
The Human Calling, with references, is 541 pages long, a hefty volume. It is not a book to be read quickly or lightly. Therefore, for this review, I am giving an overview of the book including the chapters I have completed.
There are 12 chapters with four to five sections in each chapter. The book does not treat each topic lightly. With violence a part of daily life, or so it seems, I turned to Chapter 2, Section 5: “The Depths of the Paradox of Violence.” In this section, He asks such questions as “How should we think and act?” Another question is “How can we maintain freedom while promoting the public interest?”
In Chapter 3, Section 5: “The High Peak of Aristotle’s Logic,” He addresses Aristotle’s beliefs such as “that living beings are different from other objects because they have life.” He goes on to indicate that not only humans possess a soul, but plants have a “vegetative soul, since they ingest other things while maintaining their distinctness from these things, allowing for infinite replication.”
As readers can tell, the ideas are lofty and not to be taken lightly. Reading chunks of the text and taking time to consider the chapters and reflect on them will give readers the most out of the book. It’s not the kind of book for most book clubs. For those book clubs that do tackle it, reading portions of the book for each meeting will make sense.
April 24, 2023
He takes readers on a sweeping journey through the history of human thought, from the ancient world to the present day. He explores the major philosophical traditions of both the East and the West, and shows how they have shaped our understanding of our place in the world.
He begins by discussing the Axial Age, a period of great intellectual ferment that saw the rise of some of the world's major religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. He then moves on to the Classical Age, when Greek and Roman philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero developed their own unique ideas about the nature of reality and the good life.
He then covers the Middle Ages, when Christian thinkers such as Augustine and Aquinas grappled with the relationship between faith and reason. He also discusses the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the rise of modern science.
In the final section of the book, He looks at the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. He argues that we need to find a new way of thinking about our relationship to the world, one that is more sustainable and equitable.
The Human Calling is a challenging but rewarding read. It is a book that will make you think about the big questions in life, and it will give you a new appreciation for the diversity of human thought.
He begins by discussing the Axial Age, a period of great intellectual ferment that saw the rise of some of the world's major religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. He then moves on to the Classical Age, when Greek and Roman philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero developed their own unique ideas about the nature of reality and the good life.
He then covers the Middle Ages, when Christian thinkers such as Augustine and Aquinas grappled with the relationship between faith and reason. He also discusses the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the rise of modern science.
In the final section of the book, He looks at the challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. He argues that we need to find a new way of thinking about our relationship to the world, one that is more sustainable and equitable.
The Human Calling is a challenging but rewarding read. It is a book that will make you think about the big questions in life, and it will give you a new appreciation for the diversity of human thought.
April 22, 2023
You must travel with philanthropist Daofeng He on an expansive 3,000-year trip through Eastern and Western philosophy, history, and religion to capture an insightful and informative overview derived from his biographical narrative – combined with supportive Western and Asian academic research. Educate and entertain yourself through a lens of provocative “human calling” offering revelations about what being human means in light of government, laws, and human abilities like economical and technological progress. These are consistent themes throughout the book that contribute to what beckons human beings past their arrogant aspirations and selfish ambitions. Realize that acknowledging and following a human calling benefits how charitable welfare helps spread “God’s goodness and love for people in places where government and market fail to work.” (p. 432).
April 26, 2023
This is an extraordinary work that delves into the philosophical history of the East and the West. It is a fascinating and thought-provoking book that explores the concept of human calling and how it has evolved over the last three millennia.
The author has done a remarkable job in presenting complex philosophical ideas in a clear and concise manner, making this book accessible to readers from all backgrounds. This is not just a book about philosophy; it is a journey through time that invites readers to question the meaning of their own lives and to explore the purpose of human existence.
The author seamlessly integrates Eastern and Western philosophical traditions and shows how the ideas and beliefs of both traditions have influenced and informed each other over the centuries. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in philosophy, history, or simply the pursuit of knowledge.
The author has done a remarkable job in presenting complex philosophical ideas in a clear and concise manner, making this book accessible to readers from all backgrounds. This is not just a book about philosophy; it is a journey through time that invites readers to question the meaning of their own lives and to explore the purpose of human existence.
The author seamlessly integrates Eastern and Western philosophical traditions and shows how the ideas and beliefs of both traditions have influenced and informed each other over the centuries. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in philosophy, history, or simply the pursuit of knowledge.
April 29, 2023
For readers who are confident in their beliefs, readers who are exploring their beliefs, readers who want to learn more about the numerous belief systems around the globe, students of spiritual systems, and readers who want a thorough overview of the evolution of belief systems throughout human history, this book has something of interest for all audiences. Daofeng He has done thorough research of belief systems the world over from the beginnings of human record through present day. Both Eastern and Western philosophies are considered and discussed respectfully. Daofeng also raises interesting theories about how these belief systems influence each other and will continue to do so, suggesting ways our current belief systems will continue to evolve and change though future generations. A fascinating exposition.
April 26, 2023
In every culture through history, people have instinctively searched for something, or someone, to believe in. Over time, this has resulted in a plethora of belief systems for an individual to practice. Due to this large amount of choice, some may find that choosing the right belief system, or no organized belief system at all, can be confusing and overwhelming. In The Human Calling, author Daofeng He does the research for readers. Covering a variety of eastern and western belief systems, He explores the cultural significance and impact each system has had historically. He has succeeded in taking many complex ideas and presented them in such a way as to be understandable and palatable to readers without the need for extensive background in the subject matter.
April 27, 2023
An amazing journey through religion/philosophy
In this book, Dao Feng He discusses eastern and western religion and philosophy throughout the last 3000 years. Many of the spiritual events that have taken place have shaped human history. Not only that, but Dao Feng discusses how the human perspective and the conflicting and intertwined histories of human ability and “human calling” defined the history of civilizations in both the East and West. The information in this book is very intriguing. He comes to the conclusion that our sacred human calling is defending the public spirit of freedom, equality, fairness, justice, and righteousness that God gave us. Definitely thought provoking.
In this book, Dao Feng He discusses eastern and western religion and philosophy throughout the last 3000 years. Many of the spiritual events that have taken place have shaped human history. Not only that, but Dao Feng discusses how the human perspective and the conflicting and intertwined histories of human ability and “human calling” defined the history of civilizations in both the East and West. The information in this book is very intriguing. He comes to the conclusion that our sacred human calling is defending the public spirit of freedom, equality, fairness, justice, and righteousness that God gave us. Definitely thought provoking.
April 28, 2023
“A tree without roots will waste away”
The Human Calling is a book discussing religions from all corners of the world wrapped up in a journal from a former atheist in finding his true path in life. This book is fascinating. It speaks of alienation. Wing one of the major problems facing individuals today and that being the greatest strife between human ability and the human calling. I highly recommend this piece. It is a wonderful work of art that connects the human plight to the only logical and consistent divine direction and strength. I will keep revisiting the text, where I know I can draw wisdom.
The Human Calling is a book discussing religions from all corners of the world wrapped up in a journal from a former atheist in finding his true path in life. This book is fascinating. It speaks of alienation. Wing one of the major problems facing individuals today and that being the greatest strife between human ability and the human calling. I highly recommend this piece. It is a wonderful work of art that connects the human plight to the only logical and consistent divine direction and strength. I will keep revisiting the text, where I know I can draw wisdom.
March 5, 2024
Daytona Beach Shores FL Community Center Book Club reader Barb says….This book was amazing to me. The author researched 3000 years of both Biblical and political history of both East and West countries. Then compared the outcome of both in regards to how they tried to solve the problems incurred by the use of “free will”. Unfortunately, it turned out badly no matter what they decided to do to repair the “evil”. The evil being, since they became successful, they also became greedy and selfish. I did not find the answer to what the Human Calling actually is and unfortunately came away with more questions than answers. #BookTribBC
May 1, 2023
Quite the Read
This is simply intriguing. It goes over so many things concerning human mentality and our interactions with things psychologically. There's so much to soak in and contemplate. Every new section teeming with fascinating points. The section talking about the "depreciation of polytheism and life's 'collective meaninglessness'" was really interesting. The Romans had always been a subject in most every history class in school, but there was more information and ideologies here than I've ever heard before.
This is simply intriguing. It goes over so many things concerning human mentality and our interactions with things psychologically. There's so much to soak in and contemplate. Every new section teeming with fascinating points. The section talking about the "depreciation of polytheism and life's 'collective meaninglessness'" was really interesting. The Romans had always been a subject in most every history class in school, but there was more information and ideologies here than I've ever heard before.
April 26, 2023
Powerfully written
Daofeng is well renowned, and highly regarded, an accolade that is deserved.
This well researched book is both fascinating and educational.
Covering three thousand years of philosophical history, religious beliefs, and cultural changes. This book is deeply insightful and relevant.
The author has taken this deep subject matter and managed to give it an easy structure that makes this book a pleasure to read.
Daofeng is well renowned, and highly regarded, an accolade that is deserved.
This well researched book is both fascinating and educational.
Covering three thousand years of philosophical history, religious beliefs, and cultural changes. This book is deeply insightful and relevant.
The author has taken this deep subject matter and managed to give it an easy structure that makes this book a pleasure to read.
November 17, 2024
The Human Calling is an amazing book filled with not only philosophy, but history. Daofeng He bridges religion with science in a very approachable way, even for an agnostic. Careful examinations of each culture, shockingly unbiased, give this book life and make it a pleasure to easily pick up and put down.
I also appreciate the ending of this book the best. It is an appropriately realistic view of the near-future; not something many people are quick to discuss.
I also appreciate the ending of this book the best. It is an appropriately realistic view of the near-future; not something many people are quick to discuss.
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April 7, 2023Daofeng He’s THE HUMAN CALLING is a sweeping and powerful account of the philosophical foundations of Eastern and Western Civilization, a bold and unapologetic Christian #anthropology that is perfect to read this Easter Weekend!
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July 13, 2025
0.5 / 5.0
The Human Calling
Simplistic review of Human Society. Very loose with facts and interpretation of events is designed to prove supremacy of Christian God and illiberal ideology.
The Human Calling
Simplistic review of Human Society. Very loose with facts and interpretation of events is designed to prove supremacy of Christian God and illiberal ideology.
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