Taoism Vs Christianity Essay Research Paper THE free essay sample

Taoism Vs. Christianity Essay, Research Paper THE WAY TO IMMORTALITY A Comparison Between Taoism and Christianity and the Paths They Take to Reach Immortality By: Emily Capaldi PH 200 The basic construction of both Taoism and Christianity are parallel because they work to achieve the same end. It is evident in both faiths that by following a pure way, and devoiding 1s ego of earthly aspirations, wealth, and desires, one may make the ultimate end of immortality. But the manner in which 1 reaches this end is really different. Both faiths believe in an entity that has existed before the existence, is the Godhead of all things, and loves and provides for all of creative activity. The Taoist believes in Tao, which remains a? formless? , religious stare of head. It rejects names and is hence? nameless? and unable to be spoken. Christians, nevertheless, believe in God, which takes on an active human signifier and is spoken as? the word? of God. However, it is the differences between Tao and God that present the most apparent factors that separate Taoism from Christianity. Unlike the Tao, God regulations as a supreme being, while the Tao is at one with all, and does non get the hang over anything. It is obvious that immortality is the end in both faiths, but the Taoist construct of immortality, and the manner in which they go immortal differs from the of the Christians. Immortality, to the Taoist, is to accomplish Tao, going at one with the existence. Christian immortality is to range Eden, and walk along side God. Besides, the Taoist must follow an single way, that comes from within. While a Christian may make heaven merely by Acts of the Apostless of his/her ain goodness in conformity with their relationship with God. Creation, in both Taoism and Christianity, is stemmed from a beginning that ever was and ever will be. Taoists base their beliefs around the Tao, and the Christians believe in God. However, the kernel of these two separate thoughts differ dramatically in many other facets. Unlike Tao, which claims to be ? formless? , God takes on an existent signifier, the image of adult male. The really first sentence of John? s Gospel provinces, ? In the beginning was the 1 who was called the word # 8230 ; ? This statement confirms the being of a individual being. Subsequently in the text it is said that? the word became flesh and dwelt among us? , therefore going like a human. In contrast, the great Tao is? infinite? ; it flows everyplace and is ever present, yet it can non be seen or touched. It is? empty like a bowl? and ? bottomless? yet its capacity can non be exhausted. The Tao? s ain intangibleness demonstrates the impression that it is frameless and hence is non constructed into any form or signifier. While address and understanding remain the footing for following Christianity, the Tao can non be spoken, and hence can neer be to the full explained in words. Harmonizing to the Gospel of John, in the Christian Bible, God sent John down to earth to talk? the word? and take the people to hold religion. In order for Christians to get an apprehension of their religion, they must have some signifier of learning or direction. Christians go to church to hear? the word? that is verbally preached to them through the words of a priest, who acts as a retainer to God. With this being understood it can be concluded that without linguistic communication, as the footing for understanding, Christianity could non exist. Taoism, on the other manus, emphasizes the fact that it is mute and hence can neer be verbally told or explained. Tao is described as being ? nameless? . It is exceeds beyond verbal communicating and comprehension. ? Wordss can be used to talk of it, but they can non be used to incorporate it. ? Both Tao and God love and take attention of all of creative activity. Every populating thing depends on them for life. But the Tao is non a supreme being as God is to the Christians because Taoism is non monotheistic. The chief focal point in Taoism is non the worship of one God, but alternatively coming into harmoniousness with Tao. Tao? apparels and provenders all things but does non claim to be maestro over them. ? Therefore he says, ? the existence and I exist together, and all things and I are one. ? God, on the other manus, bases above the existence a s a higher being. He regulations by power, puting certain criterions which Christians are to populate by and obey in order to make redemption. The Ten Commandments, besides known as? the jurisprudence of adult male? , are a set of regulations, developed by God, that people are to stay by in order to avoid error. Another component that separates the Tao from God is the manner in which they guide the universe. It is through Supreme beings ain actions that Christians are guided, whereas Tao regulations by non moving. God wagess those who lead a virtuous life and punishes those who have sinned in order to learn them the right manner to populate. Tao does non rule the universe with force, ? it constantly takes no action, and yet nil is left undone? . Whether a individual chooses the way of the Taoist or of a Christian they are finally taking towards the same end of immortality. Both faiths believe that there is an being without terminal, that a individuals psyche is ageless and hence neer dies. In fact the psyche, in both Taoism and Christianity, migrates to another life where it lives in harmoniousness and cloud nine for all infinity. But the Taoist thought of immortality greatly differs from that in Christian beliefs. A Taoist wants to accomplish Tao, to happen the manner, making a deeper life where a individuals psyche becomes at one with the existence. Christians believe that their psyche will populate everlastingly in peace, one time they reach heaven, a much different province of immortality than the Tao. Unlike Tao, Heaven is a physical resettlement of a individuals psyche. When a psyche ranges heaven it walks along side God, still bing as a individual being. Person who achieves Tao nevertheless, becomes at one with nature itself, unifying with all of being. As stated in the text? Bing one with nature is to be at one with Tao. ? Reaching Tao is non about a specific re-location of the psyche as it is with Heaven in Christianity. Alternatively Tao is about making a new degree of consciousness which arises when the head and organic structure are joined together and exceed into a deeper wisdom. Similarly, in both Taoism and Christianity, one must hold to follow and un-corruptive life style. If one is to make either Tao or Heaven, they must avoid all earthly enticements and desires that may take to the pollution of a virtuous manner of life. Desires such as aspiration, celebrity, and selfishness are seen as distractions to a harmonious life. It is merely when one rids his/herself of such desires that immortality can be achieved. Despite these similar standards for ageless life, the manner in which they follow these waies are contrasting. A Christian follows a really rigorous set of philosophies developed by God, and enforced by the church. It is God itself that guides Christians, and shows them ? the manner? to carry through this end of ageless life. Without God moving as a leader, Christians would hold no construct of right from incorrect. In the absence of God? s way they would non be able to of all time make Eden. In Taoism, the manner to accomplish Tao is single, it comes from inside the truster. The significance of Tao is translated as? the manner? , but this manner can neer be taught. Unlike God, who shows you? the manner? , Tao does non specify a way for the Taoist, it must come from within. Taoism? seeks naturalness? , following natures rules in order to achieve an enlightened and sceptered entryway into world. The chase of these types of criterions will guarantee a life of felicity and repose which far surpasses anything that all of world? s inventiveness can invent. It is evident in both Taoism and Christianity that merely through proper life, by following a pure way, can one accomplish the ultimate end of immortality. In both faiths it is possible to keep a pure life style merely when all desires and personal aspirations are forsaken along the class of one? s life. However, it is clear that the differences between the two faiths far outweigh the similarities. Tao and God, the two chief entities from each faith, are the taking factors that divide Taoism and Christianity into two really stray sets of beliefs. It can be concluded that the Taoist construct of the immortal hereafter and the method in which a individual reaches ageless life, greatly differs from that of the Christian.