Confucius’s teachings and philosophies are considered secular and worldly - more focused on how the interactions and relationships of humans could impact a society - rather than a supernatural being or divine force. Confucius believed that the supernatural, such as god, spirits, and ancestors, for example, should be respected, but in a detached way. This connected to his understanding that supernatural figures did not directly impact the cultivation of virtue and dignity within a man, and his beliefs were secular - grounded in worldly interactions and edicts. As referenced in the text, “Fan Ch’ih asked what constituted wisdom. The Master said, ‘To give oneself earnestly to the duties due to men, and while respecting spiritual beings, to keep
