What is Taoism / Daoism?

Answer

Taoism (also spelled Daoism) is a religion whose followers are primarily located in Far Eastern countries like China, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and Singapore, where its temples can be found. Current estimates suggest that several hundred million individuals follow some form of Taoism, with approximately 20 to 30 million in mainland China. This is noteworthy as mainland China is a communist nation that prohibits many religious practices. The origins of Taoism can be traced back to the 3rd or 4th century B.C. Like most religions, Taoism has its own collection of scriptures, with the primary one simply known as the “Tao.” Additional texts are also included, and the complete Taoist canon is referred to as the Daozang. The term “Tao” originates from the Chinese character of the same name, meaning “way” or “path.”

Taoism has never been a singular religion, and some scholars categorize it into three groups: philosophical, religious, and Chinese folk religion. Due to this diversity, it is challenging to pinpoint specific Taoist beliefs. In general terms, Tao focuses on the universal flow or the underlying force of natural order that maintains balance and harmony in all things. It is viewed as a source of both existence and “non-existence.” Some Eastern religions describe this as the “yin and yang” of the universe, representing the balancing forces of “good” and “evil.”

The majority of Taoists hold beliefs ranging from polytheism (belief in multiple gods) to ancestor worship. Taoist rituals often take place during holidays in their calendar, where offerings of food are made to the gods or the spirits of deceased ancestors. Other forms of tribute involve burning paper money, believed to materialize in the spirit realm for the use of departed ancestors. Several martial arts disciplines such as T’ai Chi Ch’uan and Bagua Zang have their origins in Taoism. Taoism is not widely practiced in the Western world, and it seems to be gaining more recognition.Some have confused Tao with Zen, as evidenced by the books The Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra or The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff.

Although the word Tao means “way,” it is not the true Way. There are many religions that claim to be one of the ways to reach God. However, Jesus Christ stated that He is the only way to God “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”, (John 14:6). Because Taoism denies this, it fails to address the sin nature of humanity. Every person (except Jesus) is born with a sin nature inherited from Adam in the Garden of Eden, and it is this sin that separates us from God. A holy and righteous God must judge sin. However, in His mercy, He sent His Son Jesus (who was God in the flesh) into the world to die on the cross and exchange His righteousness for our sin “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”, (2 Corinthians 5:21). It is only by accepting this atoning death and believing in Christ that we can escape God’s judgment and receive eternal life (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christ, not Tao, is the path to eternal life.