Taoism Religion - Research Paper Example

Taoism Religion Taoism is a religion that was first practiced in China. Taoism originates from the word Tao, a Chinese word for ‘The way’. Hence, many Chinese citizens believe that by practicing Taoism their lives will not only be peaceful but they will also have lives that are effective and harmonious. The Taoism religion claims that people who resist following ‘the way’ normally live lifestyles that are full of chaos and disaster. The Taoism religion has been in existence for a long period to the extent that it is no longer easy to trace the exact period that this religion was initiated. The reason it is difficult to trace the period Taoism came into existence is because of the religion’s varied and complex roots. According to Fowler (2), Taoism is a religion that is multi-faced, that is, just like any other religion it has its unique as well as blurred sectarian characteristics. However, although other religions are also multi-faced, studies show that Taoism is more multi-faced than most of these religions, this is because for a long time this religion has been involved in several Chinese divergent strands. The study intends to provide a detailed analysis on the on the religion of Taoism as well as their beliefs and practices. What makes the Taoism religion different from the rest is the numerous beliefs that this religion practices and adheres. For example, the people practicing Taoism believe in the existence of immortality, that is spiritual immortality exists and hence can be attained. In the religion of Taoism, although there are different ways of achieving immortality, the most common are through prayers and observing one’s deities (Lebron 439). The main reason Taoists observe their deities is usually in a move to nourish their bodies; by nourishing the body Taoists believe that this reduces old age as well as diseases and death. Similarly, Taoists also believe that everything on earth is not only transient but also temporary, that is, they are prone to decay (Sorajjakool, Carr & Nam 68). According to the Taoism religion, there is nothing more precious on earth than life, since life is the most precious element on earth; Taoists believe that life ought to be enriched, and there is no better way of enriching life one’s life than living in perfect harmony. The main difference between the Taoism and the other Abrahamic religion is that whereas the latter has only one God, in Taoism there are many gods whereby each god has been assigned a unique responsibility. Deities are very common the Asian continent, for example apart from Taoism, other religions that have Deities include the Hindu as well as the Buddha religion. Just like the deities of the Hindus and the Buddha, all deities of the Taoism religion have been designed to represent various qualities and attributes. Although the Taoism religion has many gods, the most common include comprise of Yu Huang, San Ch’ing, San-Kuan as well as San-Yuan and the Pa-hsien. This implies that each god has its unique ceremony that has been specifically designated for it. For example, Yu Huang is normally referred to as the Jade Emperor, that is, he is the ruler of heaven and hence all gods report to him (Fowler 199). Apart from the Yu Huang, there are also the San Ch’ing gods. Unlike other gods, the San Ch’ing gods are not seen as rulers but teachers, this is because they have been tasked with the responsibility of saving mankind through teachings as well as benevolence. Although the Taoism religion mainly teaches on the importance of life in addition to what one ought to do in order to live a life that is good, it also has several beliefs about the afterlife. Just like most religions, Taoism beliefs in the existence of the afterlife. According to the Taoism religion, there is usually no difference between life and death; this is because the dead normally return to Tao. With this information, it becomes evident that Taoists never believe in death; according to them Taoists live forever (Fowler 30). One difference between Taoism and Christianity is that whereas the latter mainly focuses on life after death, the same cannot be said when it comes to Taoism. This is because unlike Christianity, the Taoism religion mainly focuses on the manner in which they can acquire immortality, that is, how they can live forever. Although Taoism is defined by different characteristics, this religion normally has certain characteristics that it cherishes the most, and these are compassion, moderation and humility. According to studies, Taoism practice compassion since they believe that it normally results in courage. Similarly, they also believe in moderation and humility because they result in generosity as well as leadership respectively. The Chinese religion has always been an amalgam of three teachings, that is, Confucianism, Buddhism and finally the Taoism teachings. According to studies, whereas the main task of Confucianism is ensuring that matters of the government as well as social behaviors are well addressed, Buddhism ensures that there is elaborate cosmology in addition to as structured priesthood. However, unlike Confucianism and Buddhism, Taoism plays several roles in the Chinese population. For example, in addition to offering physical and spiritual healing, this religion is also known for securing blessings and protection (Coogan 216). Although Taoism has a strong base in China, the religion has also expanded to other neighboring nations. For example, apart from Japan and Korea, this religion also has a good number of followers in Taiwan. Before the 20th century, Taoism had gained popularity especially in the Asian continent; however, the religion incurred several setbacks during the 20th century. The Cultural Revolution that occurred from 1966-1976 resulted in the decline of the Taoism dominance in the Asian continent. This is because the revolution resulted in the destruction of the Taoists’ temples in addition to the damaging of their holy texts (Coogan 227). Taoism is a religion that has been practiced by the Chinese for a long period. According to studies, Taoism derives its name from the word Tao which means “the way”. This Religion has several beliefs. For example, Taoists believe that people who don’t follow their way are likely to live lives that are not peaceful, that is, their lives will be marred by chaos and disasters. The Taoism religion has many gods that they worship, that is, each god has its role and ceremony. The most common gods in the Taoism religion are Yu Huang, San Ch’ing, San-Kuan as well as San-Yuan and the Pa-hsien. Unlike Christianity, which focuses mainly on the afterlife, the same cannot be said for the Taoism religion. Whereas Christians focus on the life after death, Taoism focuses on the long life and how to achieve immortality. Work Cited Coogan, Michael D. Eastern Religions: Origins, Beliefs, Practices, Holy Texts, Sacred Places. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print. Fowler, Jeaneane D. Pathways to Immortality: An Introduction to the Philosophy and Religion of Taoism. Brighton [u.a.: Sussex Academic Press, 2005. Print. Lebron, Robyn E. Searching for Spiritual Unity: Can There Be Common Ground? A Basic Internet Guide to Forty World Religions & Spiritual Practices. Bloomington, Ind: Crossbooks Publishing, 2012. Print. Sorajjakool, Siroj, Carr, Mark and Nam, Julius. World Religions for Healthcare Professionals. United Kingdom: Routledge, 2009. Print. Read More