Name Name of Deity Sacred Text Leadership Basic Beliefs Location of Symbols/Icons Amount of origin followers Date Where largest started percentage of followers exist Taoism Polytheistic Lao-Tzu The two Spiritual People in this religion generally (Daoism) leader: Tao is not a most believe that... (“The Old god, but a important There is no all-powerful god. One”)—he Sage unifying force is looked Taoist texts Some worship more personal in the universe. upon as a are the Tao gods in order to try to be in 550 BCE Some Taoists god by Te Ching, harmony with Tao, to achieve believe in some said to have balance in their lives. Chinese many gods, Taoists. been written Tao (pronounced "Dow") can be character "Tao" most borrowed by Lao-tzu roughly translated into English from other and the as or It is path, the way. cultures. China Chuang basically indefinable. It has to be These gods Today: Around Tzu, named experienced. It "refers to A 225 million in themselves are 550 BCE after its power which envelops, China, subject to the author. surrounds and flows through all South East Asia Tao. things, living and non-living. The Mainly Taiwan; Tao regulates natural processes Some reside in North America and nourishes balance in the and Canada as Universe. It embodies the well harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark) Belief System Founder
Name Amount of followers Where largest percentage of followers exist Name of Deity Location of origin Date started Sacred Text Leadership Basic Beliefs Symbols/Icons Taoism (Daoism) 550 BCE Today: Around 225 million in China, South East Asia Mainly Taiwan; Some reside in North America and Canada as well Polytheistic Tao is not a god, but a unifying force in the universe. Some Taoists believe in many gods, most borrowed from other cultures. These gods themselves are subject to the Tao. Lao-Tzu (“The Old One”)—he is looked upon as a god by some Taoists. China 550 BCE The two most important Taoist texts are the Tao Te Ching, said to have been written by Lao-tzu and the Chuang Tzu, named after its author. Spiritual leader: Sage People in this religion generally believe that... There is no all-powerful god. Some worship more personal gods in order to try to be in harmony with Tao, to achieve balance in their lives. Tao (pronounced "Dow") can be roughly translated into English as path, or the way. It is basically indefinable. It has to be experienced. It "refers to A power which envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living. The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark) Chinese character "Tao" Belief System Founder
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