Is Taoism theistic?If not why?

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I’ve heard that in Taoism the Toa like a divine and eternal origin point that the source of everything.Except for anthropomorphic qualities that some people would give to God,to me that sounds kind of like him.However I know that Taoism is like a naturalistic religion and (even though I’m not to sure I think) the emphasis is more on human action.I’ve also remember once while reading something about Taoism it said “it’s older then God”(I saw it on wikiquote.Is it possible for the Tao to be God (even if not from the traditional Judeo-Christian perspective)?.If not why cant it?
 
I’m sorry but now that I think about I should have named that thread “Can Taoism be theistic?”.That is a mistake on my part.Thank you very much so for your time.
 
I’m sorry but now that I think about I should have named that thread “Can Taoism be theistic?”.That is a mistake on my part.Thank you very much so for your time.
Hi sidetrack,
That’s one way of looking at it.

There was always SOMETHING out there in the deep, mysterious void. IT was ONE. IT was simple when ignored and complex when observed. IT was incomprehensible and without definition. And in its complexity IT was neither “being” nor “non-being;” neither male nor female. IT was without form, and without need of sustenance of any kind. IT knew neither time nor space and yet IT birthed all “being” as yin and all “non-being” as yang. IT was TAO… the Way of Things… the eternal source and sustainer of all things.

…And then there was time and sequence of events, and yin and yang gave birth to the illusion of all division and “being.”

When men began to divide things by naming them, many named IT “God” and gave IT cultural names.

And thus it came to be that…

There are as many names for God as there are tongues to speak them.

There are as many faces of God as there are eyes to behold them.

There are as many paths to God as there are feet to walk them.

No name is the complete name.

No face is the complete face.

No path is the complete path.

I don’t know the source of that quote, but it pretty well says it.

Xuan
 
Hi sidetrack,

There are as many names for God as there are tongues to speak them.

There are as many faces of God as there are eyes to behold them.

There are as many paths to God as there are feet to walk them.

No name is the complete name.

No face is the complete face.

No path is the complete path.

I don’t know the source of that quote, but it pretty well says it.

Xuan
Beautifully said.

Thanks,
Sufjon
 
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