What part of Taoism do Atheist find to be 'fictional'?

Question

Not directed to all, so I apologize if you feel it is as such. But I have had many tell me that Taoism is just as fictional and delusional as any other belief-system.

悪魔 ジューリイェン AM's ヤクザ Liaison,

He said that the Tao was an indescribable force. It could only be experienced. He made no attempt to describe it, but instead told you how to acheive contact with it, so you could expiernce it yourself.

Lao-Tzu was against people acting hastily in any aspect of life, and felt that learning should be done at a slower natural pace for people overall instead of hastily done, otherwise the wrong lessons might be taught and corrupt the minds of the students. At least, that is what I got from it.

悪魔 ジューリイェン AM's ヤクザ Liaison,

Point taken. I just never really got the notion to stop growing intellectually from the Tao Te Ching, and that is all I follow in my Taoist belief-system.

Answer 1

What makes you think an atheist finds Taoism "fictional"?

Answer 2

I'm an Atheist, and I don't find any part of Taoism to be 'fictional' per se. As I consider myself a Taoist as well, to some degree.
There are parts of Taoism I'm definitely at odds with, however. Lao Tzu constantly advocates anti-intellectualism, going as far to decry contrivance of knowledge. Lao Tzu also constantly alludes to this mysterious "Tao" The Way, which he can't define for us, nor can he relate it to anything. He basically just tells. "You can't know what I'm talking about, -I- don't even know what I'm talking about. But you have to follow it." What? What's that supposed to mean Laotze? If he doesn't know what he's talking about, and he posits with certainty that we cannot either, then why should we care?

Edit:

P'u, the uncarved block learns nothing, does nothing, and just is-- he lives a completely natural life away from unnecessary learning. Lao Tzu was indeed advocating anti-intellectualism. Lao Tzu was above all a naturalist who wanted a return to the 'old ways.'
Moreover, Lao Tzu said very clearly that he cannot define the Tao, only experience it. Add that to his logical framework of all terms creating eachother. He claims with certainty that black and white create eachother, and each term has its opposite. Yet the Tao has no opposite. It is, and encompasses all. Wouldn't the Tao necessitate an unTao--or an anti-Tao if that's the case?

Answer 3

There is nothing in Taoism that said you must believe in this or that. Tao is a way of life but not the only way of life. Many things can be achieved by harnessing the power of the mind. There is a price to pay though. It is not easy to undo.

How about this mantra:

There is no God but Gods....I AM the messenger.

Answer 4

It is conceptual, but not really fictional, it does not have a mythical creature to worship to.

Anyway, for the person who say Taoism as being fictional, he/she should read some of the Taoist scripture before he/she make any comment.

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nondescript, Wu Wei is not an invisible power, it is a state of mind. Wu Wei is a state where you should learn to stop doing stupid, useless, non-functional, guilty, harmful and hurting things.

Answer 5

If you are referring to "atheists", then I do not know, since I personally find that it is rather accurate. The idea of the Tao itself could be considered fictional, but aside from that, I have no clue.

If you are asking about a specific atheist...well...take it up with him...

Answer 6

The tao. they believe that human souls are simply patterns of behavior created by the mind, and therefore don't get the idea of a place where souls come from and go to, or the idea of anything being infinite, yadda yadda yadda, etc.

Answer 7

Taoism is more of a philosophy much like Buddhism.

I certainly wouldn't consider it to be a religion.

Answer 8

Wu Wei. The whole idea of some sort of "invisible power" within you is fictional. I equate it with the "spirit" and "soul" nonsense.

Answer 9

someone made up taoism and confuse to make people easy to manage

Answer 10

Which atheist?