THE TA0U1ST RELIGION. 3 2 9 



THE TAOUIST RELIGION. 



By WARREN G. BENTON. 



IN an attempt to unravel the mysteries of the religions of the 

 Chinese, one is confused at the outset by the almost obliter- 

 ated lines between the three leading forms of religion existing 

 side by side. The process of amalgamation has gone on for so 

 many centuries that one is liable to be misled in an effort to ana- 

 lyze the different creeds. The fact is that Buddhism, Taouism, 

 and Confucianism have existed in the same minds until a belief 

 in the distinctive phases of each has become quite common. And 

 even those who nominally accept the Christian religion, either 

 Catholic or Protestant, really add the new to the old faiths, and 

 believe more or less in the four religions. It is thus true that in 

 one mind may be found a belief in four primarily distinct and 

 separate religions each having added its quota toward a result 

 whose aggregate beliefs are derived from wholly dissimilar 

 sources ; and the result is, as might be looked for, a unique speci- 

 men of religionist. 



In this paper I shall endeavor to indicate the particular feat- 

 ures of Taouism. 



This system of religion is pronounced indigenous to China. 

 Its founder was one Laou-tse, who is supposed to have lived con- 

 temporary with Confucius, and to have been some years older 

 than that celebrated philosopher. The word Taou signifies rea- 

 son, and therefore a Taouist is a rationalist, in name at least ; but, 

 in fact, the Taouists are the most irrational of all the religionists 

 of the East. 



The tendency in rationalism is toward the utter destruction of 

 belief in the existence of unseen spirits of evil. Enlightened rea- 

 son dethrones devils; but Laou-tse created devils innumerable, 

 and the chief concern of the Taouist sect has always been to 

 manipulate these emissaries of evil. Modern rationalists deny 

 the existence of devils, and relegate them to the category of 

 myths and to personified ideas. 



Not so the rationalist of the Orient. He finds his greatest 

 pleasure in contemplating the very atmosphere he breathes as 

 filled with spirits constantly seeking his injury ; and to outwit 

 his satanic majesty is the chief end of life. 



The sect is founded on the monarchic plan. The chief high 

 priest corresponds to the Pope in the Catholic religion, and all 

 authority is vested in him. His decrees constitute the laws of the 

 sect, and all power to perform miracles must come from him to 

 the priesthood. He has the power to exorcise devils and to heal 



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