Way of Taoism : evolution, entrenchment or extinction.

• Main Authors: Lim, Philip Jingyang., Toh, Lee Hoon., Zheng, Aiping.
• Other Authors: Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Journalism::Reporting on community
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/38689
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Taoism has been bleeding devotees in the past few years, with challenges from within and without the religion. What was once Singapore's most widespread religion is fighting a battle of attrition in recent years, and many have pointed the finger at Taoism's fundamental principles of adopting a laid-back attitude towards life and therefore not putting much effort in converting new followers as being at the root of the problem. Reports have also said devotees are leaving Taoism for arguably more popular and mainstream religions such as Buddhism and Christianity, who have stepped up their game to draw followers into their fold. In the face of steadily decreasing numbers, Taoist leaders have realized that they cannot remain laissez faire any more and are staging a comeback in various incarnations and platforms, ranging from youth groups and societies to Internet forums and social networking sites. We aim to explore the evolution of Taoism, and see if there is a revival of what was once Singapore's most popular religion, and whether it has changed and adapted to cater to modern interpretations and audiences. What is the state of Taoism now, and where will it go from here? Who are the new Taoists today as well as those who have left the faith? Will it remain true to its roots, or will it evolve to face modern challenges?