Catholics and Taoists discussed “Cultivating a Harmonious Society through Interreligious Dialogue” at a conference in Hong Kong earlier this month.
Taoism a diverse tradition indigenous to China emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao—generally understood as being the impersonal, enigmatic process of transformation ultimately underlying reality. It serves as both a religion and a philosophy, with some members of other religions – including some Christians – claiming to follow the Tao philosophy.
There are an estimated 20 million people following Taoism as a religious faith, the vast majority of them in East Asia.
The conference – jointly organised by the Vatican Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and Hong Kong’s Catholic Diocese and Taoist Association – has gathered together scholars and experts from across Asia, as well as some European countries.
“The conference was a huge success,” said Msgr. Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage, the under-secretary of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.
“Everyone was very happy. Their hospitality was great. There was a spirit of openness and listening to each other,” he told Crux.