Christianity vs. Taoism: What’s the Difference?

Christianity and Taoism are two of the world’s major religions, each with its own unique beliefs, practices, and history.

While Christianity originated in the Middle East and is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, Taoism emerged in China and is rooted in the philosophy of Laozi.

This article will explore the key similarities and differences between these two religions, examining their sacred texts, beliefs, practices, and historical development.

Comparing Christianity and Taoism: An Overview

“Christianity” comes from the Greek word “Christos,” meaning “anointed one,” referring to Jesus Christ, with the suffix “-ianity” denoting a belief system.

“Taoism” derives from the Chinese word “Tao” (or “Dao”), meaning “the Way,” with the suffix “-ism” indicating a philosophical or religious system.

Aspect	Christianity	Taoism
Size	Approximately 2.3 billion adherents	Approximately 12-20 million adherents
Date Started	Around 1st century AD	Around 4th century BC
Founder	Jesus Christ (central figure), Apostles (founders)	Laozi (traditionally attributed)
Key Beliefs	Belief in one God (Trinity: Father, Son, Holy Spirit); Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior; Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ; Resurrection of Jesus Christ	Belief in the Tao (the Way) as the ultimate reality; Balance and harmony with nature; Emphasis on simplicity and non-action (wu wei); Cultivation of inner peace and spiritual insight
Key Practices	Prayer, Worship services, Reading the Bible, Baptism, Communion (Eucharist)	Meditation, Tai chi and qigong (physical exercises), Feng shui (harmonizing with the environment), Traditional Chinese medicine and herbalism
Divisions	Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Protestantism	Philosophical Taoism, Religious Taoism, Folk Taoism
Central Location	Vatican City (Catholicism) Various locations for other denominations	China (origin and central location)
Sacred Texts	The Bible (Old and New Testaments)	Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) Zhuangzi I Ching (Yijing)

Who was Laozi?

Laozi was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, traditionally considered the founder of Taoism. He is credited with authoring the Tao Te Ching, a foundational text of Taoist philosophy.

Laozi’s teachings emphasize living in harmony with the Tao, an underlying principle that governs all existence.

What’s the difference between philosophical and religious Taoism?

Philosophical Taoism focuses on the teachings of ancient texts like the Tao Te Ching, emphasizing harmony with the Tao and a natural, simple life.

Religious Taoism involves rituals, deities, and practices for spiritual cultivation and immortality. While both share core concepts, they differ in their practices and beliefs.

Contrasting Christian and Taoist Beliefs

	Christianity	Taoism
God or gods	One God, existing in three persons (Trinity): Father, Son (Jesus Christ), and Holy Spirit	The Tao, an impersonal ultimate reality; various deities and spirits in religious Taoism
The universe	Created by God; a temporary existence that will be transformed in the end times	A manifestation of the Tao; a dynamic balance of opposites (yin and yang)
Ultimate reality	God is the ultimate reality; eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent	The Tao is the ultimate reality; an unchanging, underlying principle that governs all existence
Human beings	Created in the image of God; inherently sinful due to the Fall of Adam and Eve	Part of the natural order; inherently good but can be led astray by desires and societal influences
The problem with the world	Sin, resulting from the Fall of Adam and Eve; leads to suffering, injustice, and separation from God	Imbalance and disharmony; caused by straying from the Tao and natural order
The solution to the problem	Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ; repentance and forgiveness of sins	Returning to the Tao; living in harmony with nature, simplicity, and non-action (wu wei)
The afterlife	Heaven (eternal life with God) for the righteous; Hell (eternal separation from God) for the unrighteous	Varied beliefs; some Taoists seek immortality, while others focus on living in harmony with the Tao in this life

What is the Trinity in Christianity?

The Trinity in Christianity is the belief that God exists as three persons in one essence: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Each person is distinct yet fully God.

What does yin and yang mean in Taoism?

In Taoism, yin and yang represent the dual forces of the universe. Yin is associated with passivity, darkness, and femininity, while yang represents activity, light, and masculinity.

They are interdependent and complementary, creating balance and harmony in the natural world. The interaction of yin and yang shapes all existence.

The Practices of Christianity and Taoism

Practice	Christian Practices	Taoist Practices
Prayer	Central to worship; personal communication with God	Used in rituals and ceremonies; often directed to deities and spirits
Worship Services	Regular gatherings for communal worship, prayer, and Bible readings	Rituals and ceremonies honoring deities, ancestors, and natural forces
Reading Sacred Texts	Reading and studying the Bible (Old and New Testaments)	Reading and studying texts like the Tao Te Ching, Zhuangzi, and I Ching
Dietary Practices	Varies by denomination; some observe fasting or abstain from certain foods	Dietary practices based on traditional Chinese medicine; some Taoists observe fasting or vegetarianism
Rituals	Baptism, Communion (Eucharist), Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick	Offerings to deities and spirits; rituals for purification, protection, and blessings
Symbols	Cross, fish, dove, bread and wine, lamb	Yin-yang symbol, trigrams and hexagrams (I Ching), images of deities
Moral and Ethical Conduct	Following the teachings of Jesus Christ; emphasis on love, forgiveness, and charity	Following the Tao; emphasis on simplicity, harmony, and non-action (wu wei)
Physical Practices	Some Christians practice meditation or contemplative prayer	Tai chi and qigong (physical exercises); meditation and breathing practices

The Sacred Texts of Christianity and Taoism

“Bible” comes from the Greek word “biblia,” meaning “books.” It refers to the collection of sacred texts in Christianity.

“Testament” derives from the Latin “testamentum,” meaning “covenant” or “agreement.” The “Old Testament” contains texts before Jesus, while the “New Testament” includes texts about Jesus and his teachings.

Aspect	Christian Sacred Texts	Taoist Sacred Texts
Name of Texts	The Bible	Tao Te Ching, Zhuangzi, I Ching
Number of Books	66 books (39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament)	Tao Te Ching (1 book), Zhuangzi (1 book), I Ching (1 book)
Language of Composition	Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek	Classical Chinese
Date of Composition	Between 1400 BC and 100 AD	Between 6th and 3rd centuries BC
Authorship	Various authors, including prophets, apostles, and other leaders	Traditionally attributed to Laozi (Tao Te Ching), Zhuangzi (Zhuangzi), and unknown authors (I Ching)
Themes	God’s relationship with humanity, salvation through Jesus Christ, moral and ethical conduct	The Tao (the Way), balance and harmony with nature, simplicity and non-action (wu wei)
Role in Worship	Central to worship services, sermons, and Bible studies	Used in rituals, meditation, and philosophical study
Interpretation	Interpreted through the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Church	Interpreted through the teachings of Taoist masters and sages

10 Significant Events in Christian and Taoist History

Christian Events	Taoist Events
1. Birth of Jesus Christ (circa 4-6 BC)	1. Composition of the Tao Te Ching (circa 4th century BC)
2. Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (circa 30-33 AD)	2. Composition of the Zhuangzi (circa 3rd century BC)
3. Conversion of Paul the Apostle (circa 33-36 AD)	3. Establishment of the Way of the Celestial Masters (circa 2nd century AD)
4. Council of Nicaea (325 AD)	4. Development of Taoist alchemy and immortality practices (circa 4th-5th centuries AD)
5. Conversion of Emperor Constantine (312 AD)	5. Founding of the Quanzhen School (circa 12th century AD)
6. Great Schism (1054 AD)	6. Compilation of the Daozang (Taoist Canon) (circa 15th century AD)
7. Crusades (1096-1291 AD)	7. Spread of Taoism to other East Asian countries (circa 6th-7th centuries AD)
8. Protestant Reformation (1517 AD)	8. Persecution of Taoism during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)
9. Council of Trent (1545-1563 AD)	9. Revival of Taoist practices in modern China (1980s-present)
10. Second Vatican Council (1962-1965 AD)	10. Recognition of Taoism as a religion by the Chinese government (1980s-present)

References:
[1] Taoism – BBC
[2] Taoism – Wikipedia
[3] Christianity – Britannica