Taoism
Taoism is a religious and philosophical belief system which emphasizes that humans and animals should live in balance with the universe, referred to as Tao, and that the spirit is immortal with the spirit rejoining the universe after the bodies death.[1]
A central text of Taoism is the Tao Te Ching traditionally thought to have been authored by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu who is understood to be the image of Tao or a God in some schools of Taoist thought.[1] Regarding Lao Tzu Shoghi Effendi provided the following guidance in a letter written on his behalf:
Regarding Lao-Tse: The Bahá’ís do not consider him a prophet, or even a secondary prophet or messenger, unlike Buddha or Zoroaster, both of whom were divinely-appointed and fully independent Manifestations of God.[2]
In a Bahá’í Studies article Phyllis Chew notes that Lao Tzu did not make a claim of divinity or revelation, as such the way Taoism conceptualizes religion is distinct from the the Bahá’í Faith which conceptualizes religion on the basis of a claim of Divine Revelation. She also notes that Taoism is distinct from the Faith as it consists of many different loosely connected schools of thought, with some being wholly philosophical rather than religious, and has no precise membership requirements.[3]
In the 1930's religious academic M. Gabriel Gobron wrote a statement noting that he had observed that the Bahá’í community had a respectful attitude towards Taoism rather than considering it inferior to Christianity.[4]
Refereneces[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Wise Apple, Taoism, National Geographic, 2024, published online, accessed December 12, 2024
- ↑ Helen Bassett Hornby, ed. (1988) [1st pub. 1983]. Lights of Guidance: A Bahá’í Reference File by Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and Universal House of Justice New Delhi: Baháí Publishing Trust. No. 1694. ISBN 978-8185091464.
- ↑ Phyllis Ghim-Lian Chew, Life, Death and Immortality: The Taoist Religion in Singapore and the Bahá'í Faith, Singapore Baha'i Studies Review, Vol. 2, 1997, p 83
- ↑ The Bahá’í World, An International Record. (1939). National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. New York City, NY. Volume 7 (1936-1938), Pg(s) 644. View as PDF.
