Taoism and religious coping

Abstract

In facing life adversity, coping strategy is adopted to resume control over the environment; otherwise, mental health and wellbeing will be adversely affected. In this light, it is found that religion affects coping, as for those people having religious belief, their coping strategies will primarily be based on their affiliated religion. This study aims to examine the religious coping of Taoism - a religion indigenous to China. The devotional activities lay down in Taoism permit people to interact with the supernatural forces in the universe. Through the rituals, people can psychologically experience an enhanced control over the environment which results from associating vicariously with the deities. Given the scarcity of study on the Eastern religion in extant literature, this study contributes to the understanding of the religious coping in Taoism, a religion mainly practiced in China.