For many years scholars have deliberated the affects religion has in a society. Satisfaction of spiritual and emotional needs in human beings would be effects that most of these scholars deem as true. Some scholars even go as far as to conclude that religion plays an important role in the preclusion of violence. For instance, in Rene Girard’s theory of mimetic desire it is the detachment from religion that leads to the breakthrough of violence. Girard’s theory of mimetic desire doesn’t apply to one society in particular. On the contrary, it can apply to any society, including our present day civilization. Although it is hard to accept most of our society has already detached from their religion. Fortunately we have not reached the complete outburst of violence but our strongly rooted materialistic desire and our own disregard for events that take place in our society taking us there. The only way we can prevent these aspects from leading to violence is by learning from the warnings and teachings of religions such as Taoism.
In our society it is normal to see people rushing from place to place because the common belief is “money makes the world go round.” This belief is somewhat correct. After all money makes it possible for us to obtain things that bring us joy but ultimately money only feeds our materialistic desire. Where we go wrong is when as time progresses greater and greater amounts of money are required in order for us to be satisfied. This keeps us trapped in a never ending cycle of materialism. Religions like Taoism have warned us about this way of life by noting “chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench” (Novak, 153). We give so much importance to this piece of paper that we are willing to live...
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...esent in societies that detach from religion, the Tao is present in all the members of this society. In order to restore peace they must reattach themselves to the Tao. Fortunately, Taoism isn’t the only religion that has the ability to this. If we attach ourselves to any religion whether it is Taoism, Buddhism or Christianity we will find that all these religions condemn the violence that distorts peace. The life these religions prescribe is far more pleasurable than a live led by materialism and violence. As long as we embrace their teachings rather than detach from them the materialistic desire will subside, wars will halt and people will live in peace.
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Over the course of history, individuals have questioned the universe in which we live in and searched for a purpose of our existence. The belief in a higher presence, other than our own, has existed since man can remember. From this belief, religion was established and can survive and flourish. Buddhism and Taoism are two great religious and philosophical traditions in Chinese history. For hundreds of years, these two have shaped Chinese lifestyle and thought. Readings from the Tao Te Ching, Buddhists scriptures, and Herman Hesse’s Siddharta explain the various aspects of Buddhism and Taoism, but in the end there is only one common belief, and that is the existence of a Supreme Being.
Taoism and Confucianism are two major Chinese philosophies. I say that they are philosophies because religions tend to worship deities and Taoism and Confucianism don’t seems to worshiping anything. To some they appear to be different, even clashing but to me, they seem very much alike but they come at it from different points of view. Both philosophies strive to reach harmony but in to very different ways. I do believe the reason they can co-exist is because they see Tao from two different ways.
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Religion is considered as a pervasive force in this world. It shapes people as to how they behave and interact with almost everything present in the society. Influencing behavior, character formations, ideals, policies, standards are just among the dimensions and societal perspectives affected and impacted by religion. Because of these applications and implications in human lives and existence, religion should be understood deeply, particularly, on how it affects the world. Looking at the American perspective of the term "religion," it could be simply
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