Worship of Gods in Taoism

[EverChanging]

I have no clue if what I've read on this subject is true as it was a random Internet website, so I'm looking for information or sources here if available.

I read that while there are traditional Chinese ways of worshiping or performing devotions to Taoist gods, it is not offensive to pray to the gods in ways that are familiar from one's own cultural background. So Hindus may worship them in a Hindu style and say a Hindu mantra, and Buddhists will worship them in a familiar way. I suppose a Christian could worship them in a Christian style. There are no hard and fast rules about how to worship the gods, and their images can even be placed on the same altar with gods of other religions with no problem.

Is this true?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

I have no clue if what I've read on this subject is true as it was a random Internet website, so I'm looking for information or sources here if available.

I read that while there are traditional Chinese ways of worshiping or performing devotions to Taoist gods, it is not offensive to pray to the gods in ways that are familiar from one's own cultural background. So Hindus may worship them in a Hindu style and say a Hindu mantra, and Buddhists will worship them in a familiar way. I suppose a Christian could worship them in a Christian style. There are no hard and fast rules about how to worship the gods, and their images can even be placed on the same altar with gods of other religions with no problem.

Is this true?

Depends heavily on the religion. I dont know Toaism, but Nichiren Buddhist (SGI) would have a hissy fit if they saw a Buddha statue on the altar. I have a crucifix a neighbor have me when I had been confirmed Catholic. Id never put that on my altar.

Im modern pagan in a sense that I dont worship deities and am not reconstructing pre-christian faiths. Yet, I do use folk magic and seasonal worship. As I do have more than one altar in my home. Im flexible to a sense of not disrespecting other faiths. Toaism, I honestly dont know.

edit

Didnt see the DIR sign. Take my comment as a grain of salt.

 

[GoodbyeDave]

A lot of Christians incorporate devotions to pagan gods, equating them to angels: think of all those African churches that do it. I suppose it depends on what the gods in question think of Christianity. My gods would probably take a dim view of it, but the Chinese gods have not seen their worshipers persecuted. You can but pray: if they don't want you, they will ignore you or give you some sign: pay attention to your dreams, for example.

 

[EverChanging]

That's interesting. I wondered because I've seen pictures of Taoist temples with altars that include Jesus, the Blessed Virgin, and St. Joseph.

I generally do not honor pagan gods unless I'm invited to a ceremony as a guest. I don't really feel a connection to them and it would require learning the background and customs that are very foreign and difficult to connect to for me.

Generally speaking if a need associated with a foreign deity resonates with me I adapt something from my own background to fill the need. I pray to a particular saint/god (albeit an unofficial one) that is known in popular culture as a martyr of sorts, especially among the gay community, and have a proto-myth and rabbit symbolism associated with him with multiple layers of meaning. He is similar to the Rabbit God Tu'er Shen. I did this after having a particular dream about the Taoists burning paper money in large barrels to Tu'er Shen. That gave me a much stronger emotional connection and allowed me to perform my devotions based on my cultural background and what feels right to me personally from my eclectic background.

 

[chevron1]

I have no clue if what I've read on this subject is true as it was a random Internet website, so I'm looking for information or sources here if available.

I read that while there are traditional Chinese ways of worshiping or performing devotions to Taoist gods, it is not offensive to pray to the gods in ways that are familiar from one's own cultural background. So Hindus may worship them in a Hindu style and say a Hindu mantra, and Buddhists will worship them in a familiar way. I suppose a Christian could worship them in a Christian style. There are no hard and fast rules about how to worship the gods, and their images can even be placed on the same altar with gods of other religions with no problem. Is this true?

Below is the altar at the Chinoy cemetery in the Philippines. It as a nice mix of deities, including Buddha, Jesus and Mary. It specifically can be a Taoist altar because "Tao precedes the gods" [from the TTC ch. 4] and the gods are children of Tao [from TTC ch. 39], so Taoist altars may be quite eclectic.

 

[vaguelyhumanoid]

Taoism traditionally incorporates Chinese gods but I feel like you could follow Western gods or no god and still practice Taoism. There's no place for a jealous, universe-ruling deity though - Tao precedes and encompasses all things.

 

[chevron1]

Taoism traditionally incorporates Chinese gods but I feel like you could follow Western gods or no god and still practice Taoism. There's no place for a jealous, universe-ruling deity though - Tao precedes and encompasses all things.

yes, tao precedes the gods. that's the way it should have been from the first get go on the place we see religion.

 

[dust1n]

Taoism is practiced as a religion in various Asian communities, but its theology is not foundationally dependent on the existence of an anthropomorphic godlike figurehead (even though some communities do worship Laozi as the attributed founder of the philosophical doctrine, as well as other deities from ancient Chinese folklore); on a theological basis, the Taoist religion has more affinities with pantheistic traditions around the world, given its philosophical emphasis on the formlessness of the Tao and the primacy of the "Way" rather than anthropomorphic concepts of "God".

Nevertheless, as Taoist beliefs include teachings based on various sources, and are often intermingled with Chinese folk religious practice, popular Taoist religious sects have co-opted mythical figures from Chinese folklore as well as actual Taoist personages as figures of worship, with the latter better understood as analogous to "saints" in Catholic veneration rather than as divine deities in and of themselves, even though they were also often mythologised to possess superhuman or supernatural powers. Different branches of Taoism often have differing beliefs, especially concerning deities and the proper composition of the pantheon.[72] Nevertheless, there are certain core beliefs that nearly all the sects share.[73] Traditional conceptions of Tao should not be confused with the Western concepts of theism, however. Being one with the Tao does not necessarily indicate a union with an eternal spirit in, for example, the Hindu sense.[49][56]

Popular Taoism typically presents the Jade Emperor as the official head deity. Intellectual ("elite") Taoists, such as the Celestial Masters sect, usually present Laozi (Laojun, "Lord Lao") and the Three Pure Ones at the top of the pantheon of deities.[21][74] The pantheon tends to mirror the bureaucracy of Imperial China; deities also may be promoted or demoted for their actions.[75]

While a number of immortals or other mysterious figures appear in the Zhuangzi, and to a lesser extent in the Tao Te Ching, these have generally not become the objects of worship.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism

 

[Unfathomable Tao]

I would say as a philosophical Taoist that the gods are ways in which humans attempt to construct a relatable image or archetype of the ultimate mystery. I cannot speak for theistic Taoists, but I see no issue with an electic shrine. You know what resonates with you and what images help you. I tend to think these all point to the Tao, or are ways in which humans attempt to aspire to it. How could it be wrong, if it harms no one or oneself?