While on this site, I have debated in favor of my syncretic views, which includes Christianity. Some Christians have responded saying that all these other religions are of the devil, and syncretism is no good. So, is Taoism an evil/misleading religion, I.e. a religion that is a result of Satan attempting to lead people astray? If you think so, what is your reasoning.
I’m not going to explain anything about Taoism. Point being is if a Christian thinks Taoism, which is another religion, is bad, but said Christian doesn’t know anything about it, surely their opinion on the matter is worthless.
I'm a syncretic Christian. That's alot of crap.
Christianity has a problem of extremism. Taoism is a useful philosophy if you divorce it from three major problems:
1. Moral relativism (Taoism is still better than black and white moral extremism though, and it's important to understand traditional Judaism, which was monistic. It is also important to study because Christianity has become dangerously polluted by the non-biblical idea of hell and eternal damnation. Taoist-influenced Christianity is very similar to the idea of Sheol)
2. Atheism (Taoism can only be adapted if one maintains firmly that one believes in God. Taoism isn't atheist like Buddhism, or like atheists for that matter. Rather, they have a sort of position of apathy to the question of whether or not deities exist)
3. The idea that Taoism is a religion (modern Taoism is more of a philosophy. It is useful for understanding the idea of the relationship between God and self, and loving self as others. Most of Christianity is unfortunately too focused on sin, and has forgotten about grace. Or they are too liberal and wish-wishy. Jesus calls his way a narrow way. He doesn't mean rigid or judgemental. He means it's a tightrope walk between a "church" that rejects that Christ's death is perfect offering for the forgiveness of our sins, and a "church" that tells people things like homosexuality aren't sins. Our sins are forgiven, but if we say that we have no sins we deceive ourselves)
Hear what Galatians 1:8 says,
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
This is not speaking about other religions. It's not speaking about other philosophies. These things call themselves other faiths. And I firmly believe that people from other faiths can find their way to salvation. This is not the same as "all ways lead to God." Nobody comes to the Father but from Jesus, because Jesus is the Savior. All other faiths have their own laws and rituals and such, but Jesus is Savior because Jesus offers us all grace.
I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
These other faiths are eventually intended to reconcile themselves to the gospel (don't ask me how). But no, this is speaking of false teachers, people who say they speak on behalf of the gospel, yet distort it. The Muslims for instance tell us that they have the "same god" yet deny the Trinity, the crucifixion, and several other issues. The Catholics don't really follow the Trinity but have idol worship going on, both in statues to the saints and in the rather disgusting image of
Mary as Mother of God. There's the Mormons, and other Christian-like groups that teach things which are not actually in the Bible. The most common type of false gospel though is explained later on Galatians.
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
The idea that we are choosing to obey the law or disobeying it, that we are choosing good or evil. This is not Christianity but the law. Taoism sets us straight. As humans, we are not good
or evil. We are good
and evil.
