No 18

(Taoism)

Tao (pronounced "Dow") can be roughly translated into English as path, or the way. Its followers say that it is indefinable; it has to be experienced. It "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” (Examples: there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.) The founder of Taoism is believed by many to be Lao-Tse (604-531 BC??). He was searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted society during his lifetime. The result was his book: Tao-te-Ching (a.k.a. Daodejing). Others believe that he is a mythical character.  Taoism started as a combination of psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religious faith when it was adopted as a state religion.

The Yin Yang symbol, they say, represents the balance of opposites in the universe. An example of this is to say that: “there is a little good in all bad and a little bad in all good”.

This Chinese religion is totally humanistic and atheistic; it is to be avoided because God is completely out of the picture. I’ve seen Christians with with this symbol aound their necks. If you see a Christian with the Yin Yang symbol around his or her neck, I strongly advise that you ask them to remove it not because it has mystical powers but because it does not glorify God.