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RELIGION LIBRARY
Taoism
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Overview
Origins
History
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Rituals and Worship
Ethics and Community
Sacred Narratives
While it lacks a primary and foundational sacred narrative, Taoism has many sacred stories. Among these are narratives describing encounters with spirits and journeys to spirit realms.
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Ultimate Reality and Divine Beings
Tao existed "before heaven and earth." From Tao came a primordial matrix of undifferentiated energy, and from this matrix, all of existence, including myriads of Taoist gods, emerged.
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Human Nature and the Purpose of Existence
To maintain or recover a natural alignment between humanity and the world, many perform self-cultivation techniques. These are believed to improve one's health, and potentially even lead to immortality. They also promote order and harmony within the community.
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Taoism: Suffering and the Problem of Evil
Taoist ideas about suffering and evil come from a variety of sources and are quite diverse. Many look to Taoist priests to resolve illness or misfortune by communicating on their behalf to the gods.
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Afterlife and Salvation
Early Taoism focused on this-worldly goals or on immortality of the physical body. Later, in reaction to Buddhism, Taoism incorporated concepts of heaven, hell, and rebirth.
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History
Rituals and Worship
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