RELG120 American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Services

7.6 Discussion: Daoism

Discussion Seven

The topic reply is due by Wednesday, March 13 at 11 pm Pacific Standard Time.

Peer replies are due by Sunday, March 17 at 11 pm Pacific Standard Time.

Discussion Topic

This week’s discussion is about Daoism.

First, please pick one of the following questions and post an answer. 

Please post your original comment by March 13 at 11 pm. 

Second, please politely respond to one other student before 11 pm on Sunday, March 17. 

Questions

“Wu Wei is the supreme action, the precious suppleness, simplicity, and freedom that flows from us, rather through us, when our private egos and conscious efforts yield to a power not their own.” – The World’s Religions, p. 208 (Escovedo) 

How does the concept of Wu Wei contrast with a Western perspective?

“In the Taoist perspective, even good and evil are not head-on opposites. The West has tended to dichotomize the two, but Taoists are less categorical.” The World’s Wisdom, p. 215. (Escovedo). 

How can the concept of yin/yang be applied to today’s national and global events?

• Confucianism and Taoism differ because Confucianism focuses on the harmony of society while Taoism focuses on the harmony of one with nature. Confucianism was designed for conformity and the teachings emphasized the oral and traditional values that should exist in order to ensure a peaceful society. Taoism is almost the opposite of this. Taoism disregards the hope for societal order, but rather on the individual’s liberation of their imagination and being impulsive.