Christianity vs. Taoism
Have any of you ever heard of Taoism (also spelled Daoism)? Or, perhaps you are more familiar with the Ying Yang symbol shown above? This symbol is very common in our society today. People wear the Ying Yang like it’s the peace symbol of the seventies, when actually the symbol is connected with the belief system of Taoism.
The founder of Taoism, Lao-Tse, is believed to have lived 500-600 years before the birth of Christ, around the time of Confucius. Taoism began as a philosophy, but evolved into a religious belief system around 440 A.D when people began to worship Lao-Tse as a deity. The religion become one of three religions practiced in China. Today, Taoism has 20 million followers and is centered mainly in Taiwan.
The following are some basic beliefs that make up Taoism:
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Tao (pronounced DAO) is described as the way or the path and must be experienced. It is the first cause of the universe and is the force that flows through all life. The Tao is indefinable.
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The goal of a person who believes in Taoism is to harmonize themselves with the Tao.
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Listening to the Tao around you will bring you enlightenment. You do this by meditation and outer observation.
- The Ch’i is the breath or air given to a person.
- Taoists do not pray to God but rather seek the answer to life’s problems.
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The Ying Yang symbol represents the opposites of the universe in balance. In some traditions it is taught that the Ying represents the breath that formed the earth and the Yang represents the breath that formed the heavens.
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This information has been taken from http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm. Check out this website if you want more info.
Do you think Taoism is similiar or different than Christianity?
The most noticeable difference between Taoism and Christianity is the recognition of sin. I didn’t find anything in my research of Taoism that acknowledged sin. In fact, they believe that if people are left to their own devices, everyone will eventually be compassionate to one another without expecting anything back. Taoism doesn’t recognize the need for redemption or salvation. Instead of worshiping the God who created the heavens and earth, Taoism says “God” is just a force that people need to harmonize themselves with. There is no personal relationship between you and the Tao.
As Christians we can pray to the Father that created us, we can have a personal relationship with Him, and we have the ability to know who God is from the Bible. In contrast, Taoists do not pray or have a personal relationship with anything. Their “God” is indefinable. In my research I wasn’t able to find anything that gave any clue to what Taoism teaches about the after life. If any of you know, please comment. My wild guess is that it teaches reincarnation, but I could be wrong.
After doing this research, I found many parallels between Taoism and New Age teaching. The most noteworthy is the need to harmonize ourselves with a force. This concept is taught all throughout New Age teaching. Where have you seen this concept taught? Books, television, or school?
In conclusion, is Christianity and Taoism teaching the same thing or the same core truth? NO
What do you think?
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Loved the blog! Unfortunately when I was in my early 20′s I got that YingYang and a few other tatoos on my shoulder. I hate what it represents. I actually had the tatoo put on without even researching what I was putting on my body (so stupid), maybe some day I will have it removed!
God Bless you Gina!
Lorna
Concerning the Taoist views of the afterlife, there can be various views as it’s not really a matter of doctrine. However, Chuang-Tzu wrote:
“The true men of old did not know what it was to love life or to hate death. They did not rejoice in birth, nor strive to put off dissolution. Unconcerned they came and unconcerned they went. That was all. They did not forget whence it was they had sprung, neither did they seek to inquire their return thither. Cheerfully they accepted life, waiting patiently for their restoration (the end). This is what is called not to lead the heart astray from Tao, and not to supplement the natural by human means. Such a one may be called a true man. Such men are free in mind and calm in demeanor.”
Basically, we are all from Tao, and we return to Tao. The human body is built from the sustenance and DNA provided by the parents. As you grow, your body is built from what you consume. When you die, your body decomposes and eventually returns to the planet from which it came. The life which powers our body is drawn from the body of all energy that surrounds us and it is there it returns.
In essence, life is a cycle that ebbs and flows like the oceans.
We do not profess to understand the entirety of that energy, just as Christians sometimes say “Only God knows” or “we cannot fully understand the will of God” or even “the Lord works in mysterious ways”. We all recognize we are part of a greater whole. We believe we are part of the energy of the Universe, just as Christians believe they are are the children of God.
Certainly there are fundamental differences between Taoism and Christianity and I always tell people to follow their instincts when searching for what is right for them. I agree that the teachings differ in many ways but I also recognize there are similarities.
For me, I don’t find a need to focus on the differences and pointing at one or the other to say “this way is absolutely right and this way is absolutely wrong”. Jesus taught to love each other. Anyone who has read the core Taoist doctrines know that the three great treasures are compassion, moderation and humility. These are very compatible with the teachings of Christ.
Christ didn’t tell anyone to love only those who followed him. We are to love, respect, and just be good to each other. We don’t have to agree with everyone else’s viewpoint, and likewise everyone else doesn’t have to agree with ours.
And just a thought, you will be hard pressed to hear about a Taoist killing anyone because of their beliefs. We don’t shoot doctors because we don’t like abortion, we don’t blow ourselves up in marketplaces because our religion will reward us for killing infidels. We are loving, tolerant, compassionate and try to live with as little conflict as possible.
That’s all I have to say, and good work on the blog. I found you via Twitter. Be safe.
Your post here seems to wind through both religious and philosophical Taoism without really identifying either.
While almost all belief systems share some core values — though often expressed in a very diverse ways — I don’t think Christianity and philosophical Taoism intersect very often. Personally, I’m very happy about that since I think much of the Christian tradition is misguided, at best.
Taoareyou – Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the father except through me” John 4:16. This statement is what separates Christianity from all other religions. All other religions have ethical and moral guidelines (love one another, care for the poor, do good deeds, etc…), but Christianity and faith in Jesus is not about doing good deeds, loving others, or caring for the poor. It’s about accepting Christ as truth, life, and the only path to the father. When that acceptance takes place in an individual loving others, caring for others, and trying to become more like Christ should be the central focus of the Christian.
We want to be like Christ because of what we understand he’s done for us (gives us the opportunity to be free from sin and eventually be with him in eternity).
Regarding the violence of religion (Christians killing abortionists, Muslim suicide bombers, etc…) I think it is unwise to point out individuals who have made poor decisions in this world to lump all religions as violent by nature. Taoism comes from eastern sect, and if you search your history you’ll find a lot of oriental wars throughout the years included taoists. A lot of Thai boxers are devout Taosits (very violent sport). Now I do not bring that point up to say that all Taoists are violent. I bring it up to counter your argument that individuals within a religion do not represent the core of that religious belief system. It’s unwise to attack one’s religion based on individuals within that system.