Editing Taoism (section)

=== Comparisons with other religions ===
Comparisons between Taoism and [[Epicureanism]] have focused on the absence of a creator or gods controlling the forces of nature in both.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contemplations on the Tao Series |date=2015-04-01 |author=Hiram |url=https://societyofepicurus.com/contemplations-on-the-tao-series/ |website=Society of Friends of Epicurus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008084805/https://societyofepicurus.com/contemplations-on-the-tao-series/ |archive-date=2022-10-08}}</ref> [[Lucretius]]' poem ''[[De rerum natura]]'' describes a naturalist cosmology where there are only atoms and void (a primal duality which mirrors [[yin-yang]] in its dance of assertion/yielding), and where nature takes its course with no gods or masters. Other parallels include the similarities between Daoist ''[[wu wei]]'' (effortless action) and Epicurean ''[[lathe biosas]]'' (live in obscurity), focus on naturalness (''[[ziran]]'') as opposed to conventional virtues, and the prominence of the Epicurus-like Chinese sage [[Yang Chu]] in the foundational Taoist writings.

Some authors have undertaken [[comparative religion|comparative studies]] of Taoism and Christianity. This has been of interest for students of the [[history of religion]] such as [[J. J. M. de Groot]],{{sfnp|Werblowsky|2002 |p=25}} among others. A comparison of the teachings of Laozi and [[Jesus of Nazareth]] has been made by several authors, such as Martin Aronson,{{sfnp|Aronson|2002|p={{page needed|date=March 2021}}}} and Toropov & Hansen (2002), who believe that there are parallels that should not be ignored.{{sfnp|Toropov|Hansen|2002|pp=169–181}} In the opinion of J. Isamu Yamamoto, the main difference is that Christianity preaches a [[personal God]] while Daoism does not.{{sfnp|Yamamoto|1998|pp=69–70}} Yet, a number of authors, including [[Lin Yutang]],{{sfnp|Ruokanen|Zhanzhu Huang|2010|p=137}} have argued that some moral and ethical tenets of the religions are similar.{{sfnp|Zhiming|2010|p={{page needed|date=March 2021}}}}{{sfnp|Chung|2001|p=141–145}} In neighboring [[Taoism in Vietnam|Vietnam]], Taoist values have been shown to adapt to social norms and formed emerging sociocultural beliefs together with Confucianism. It also imitates some [[Hinduism]] concept.{{sfnp|Napier|Pham|Nguyen|Nguyen|2018}}