Taoism

Taoism

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ANTHONY'S __[|http://www.religioustolerance.org]__ ·  **History of Taoism ****: **   ·  Tao (pronounced "//Dow//") ·  as //path,// or //the way// ·  "//refers to a power which envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living. The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.)//" ·  The founder of Taoism is to be Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE ) ·  Alternative spellings ·  He was searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted society during his lifetime  ·  his book: //Tao-te-Ching (a.k.a. Daodejing).// ·  Taoism started a combination of psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religious faith in 440 CE    ·   At that time Lao-Tse became popularly venerated as a deity ·  Taoism, along with Buddhism and Confucianism, became one of the three great religions of China ·  the end of the Ch'ing Dynasty in 1911, state support for Taoism ended ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Much of the Taoist heritage was destroyed during the next period of warlordism ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">After the Communist victory in 1949, religious freedom was restricted ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">"//The new government put monks to manual labor, confiscated temples, and plundered treasures. Several million monks were reduced to fewer than 50,000//" by 1960 ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">During the cultural revolution in China from 1966 to 1976 remaining Taoist heritage was destroyed ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">religious tolerance has been restored under Deng Xiao-ping from 1982 to the present time ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Taoism currently has about 20 million followers ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">primarily centered in Taiwan ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">30,000 Taoists live in North America ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">1,720 in Canada <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Taoism has had a significant impact on North American culture in areas of "//acupuncture, herbalism, holistic medicine, meditation and martial arts//   ·   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Taoist concepts, beliefs and practices: <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> ·   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">"//The Tao surrounds everyone and therefore everyone must listen to find enlightenment.// ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">believed that spirits pervaded nature ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">...The gods in heaven acted like and were treated like the officials in the world of men ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">; worshipping the gods was a kind of rehearsal of attitudes toward secular authorities. ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">On the other hand, the demons and ghosts of hell acted like and were treated like the bullies, outlaws, and threatening strangers in the real world ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">; they were bribed by the people and were ritually arrested by the martial forces of the spirit officials." 3   ·   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Taoists strongly promote health and vitality   ·   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">.Each person must nurture the //Ch'i// (air, breath) that has been given to them   ·   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">.Taoists follow the art of "//wu wei,//" which is to let nature take its course.   ·   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Taoists believe that "//people are compassionate by nature...left to their own devices [they] will show this compassion without expecting a reward.//"   ·   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The Yin Yang symbol:   ·   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">This is a well known Taoist symbol <span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">. "//It represents the balance of opposites in the universe. When they are equally present, all is calm.//  ·   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">When one is outweighed by the other, there is confusion and disarray." ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The two swirling shapes inside the symbol give the impression of change -- the only constant factor in the universe. ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">One tradition states that Yin (or Ying; the dark side) represents the breath that formed the earth. ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Yang (the light side) symbolizes the breath that formed the heavens. ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">However, since nothing in nature is purely black or purely white, the symbol includes a small black spot in the white swirl, and a corresponding white spot in the black swirl. ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ultimately, the 'yin' and 'yang' can symbolize any two polarized forces in nature ·  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Taosts believe that humans often intervene in nature and upset the balance of Yin and Yang

Brooksie:

Resource: http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm

The Founder of Taoism: Lao-tzu Resource: []
 * Taoism is known as the path of the way (in direct translation)
 * The founder Lao-Tse (604-531) B.C.E
 * Refers the the powers that flow living and non-living things together
 * One with nature
 * Creates a certain balance of mortality if not sun no moon, no female no male
 * The religion created the symbol Ying and Yang
 * The black of the symbol stands for the women meaning bad and evil
 * The white of them symbol stands for the male, meaning purity and good
 * Religion currently has 20 million followers, primarily centered in Taiwan
 * 30,000 Taoists live in North America made a great impact on country with its medicine and martial arts.

Grace West http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/2001/06/What-Taoists-Believe.aspx

Translates directly to “ The Way” Deities- don’t refer to god Believe in divine power beyond explanation Based on nature Balance of the body, Yin and Yang Ever action has some Yin (negative) and some yang (positive) Any attempt to go towards one or the other will result in a short and ineffective life. Let nature take control and go with nature’s path for you, no egos. Good and Evil- do not hold these positions against each other, if something is labeled as good it automatically makes evil

Taoism BY: izzy

- Chi is a fundamental to Taoism. It sometimes is separate from the physical world. - Taoism has never been a unified religion, Taoism often have very distinct beliefs - vitality, [|peace], "non-action" (wu wei), emptiness, [|detachment] , flexibility, receptiveness, spontaneity, the [|relativism] of human ways of life, ways of speaking and guiding [|behavior] - The body ties directly into the [|Chinese five elements]. - Lao-Tse (604-531 [|BCE] ), was searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted society during his lifetime - Tao is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life. - Each believer's goal is to harmonize themselves with the Tao. - Five main organs and orifices of the body correspond to the five parts of the sky: water, fire, wood, metal and earth. - Each person must nurture the //Ch'i// (air, breath) that has been given to them. - One should plan in advance and consider carefully each action before making it.
 * || -   ** Belief in Deity ** ||

Olivia Dynan Taoism: “Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river,” Lao tse. -Daosism evolved w/t major traditions of china- Confucianism, Buddhism ethnic creeds and popular religion, adapted many features. - Today consists of multiplicity of beliefs and practices, continues to develop - Founder of Taoism said to be Lao-Tse, searching for way would avoid feudal warfare and conflicts that disrupted society. This result was a book he made, - Combination of psychology and philosophy, evolved into religious faith in 440 B.C., adopted as a sate religion. - Confucianism became 1 of 3 great religions in china, state support for Taoism ended. - Had to do with nature, one with nature. - Taoist heritage destroyed during period of warlordism, communist victory in 1949, religious freedom was restricted - 20 million followers centered in Taiwan. - Tao means Path, in English (path to new life) - Ying and yang, known Taoist symbol, represents “the balance of opposites in the universe.” http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm

Meg Gegler:

Taoism- http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm · In the English language, means “path”/ “the way” · Lao-Tse (604-531BCE)= believe to be founder, believed he was a mythical figure. Became famous during the time when the religion was being evolved into a state religion. · Tse- searching for a method to avoid the ongoing feudal warfare and other troubles during his time. · Taoism: a religious faith in 440 CE, state religion · Was a combo. of philosophy and psychology at first · Focuses on nature, immortality, longevity, wu wei, health, and spontaneity. Also focuses on balance (the ying-yang symbol) · Taoist- belief in the Deity (the way)

=Nick= __[]__ Translates in english to the path or the way Founder believed to be Lao-Tse, lived the same time as Confucius, he was a possibly mythical figure, but some suggest he lived in the 4th century Taoism started as a a philosophy and eventually became a religion Taoism became one of the 3 big religions, through different government and wars the Taoist heritage was mostly destroyed, today more religious tolerance has allowed it to some what come back Tao is the first cause of the universe, ultimate goal is to harmonize your self to the Tao Taoism is the alternative to Confucian tradition. “The two traditions have coexisted in the country, region, and generally within the same individual.” They promote health, each person has Ch’i that has been given to them, to progress oneself you must progress your compassion, moderation and humility They were big on the harmony balance theme ie: they must harmonize them selfs with the tao, and yin yang Yin Yang is meant to represent the balance of opposites in the universe there is always dark in the light and there is always light in the dark and it balances because of that. Yin Yang is also a medical theory They were big on the advancement in medical knowledge

OMARI

In Taoism specifically some negatives are that it could be easily taken advantage of if it were suddenly introduced into today’s society. Specific aspects of it that people would take advantage of would be the trust and sexuality of it. Eventually people would see that the religion didn’t work out very well and could be used as an excuse for irresponsible actions which would be covered up by others trusting you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism