In 50 words or less?
Tell you what: I'll try to do that for you *if* you'll do the same for
Christian theology. But please try to incorporate some of the important
concepts, such as Original Sin, Messiahhood, Sacrifice, God's Grace, and
Salvation and Damnation.
Without addressing those points, your 50 words-or-less explanation is
just a lot
of empty words.
A point you don't seem to understand: A Taoist *IS* an atheist. (While
I
professs to be an agnostic, I am also, after a fashion, a Taoist.)
You can't express Taoist philosophy in 50 words or less, but its isn't
all
that complicated. Taoists do not believe in a supreme being, a God (or
gods)
who intervene(s), or any other of the many supernatural phenomenon
associated
with the Mosaic faiths. They don't believe in gods of any sort.
Put simply, they're a lot like the Deists who founded the United States,
only
Taoists don't worry about a Prime Mover (or First Cause.)
Taoists believe that order permeates the universe, and that if we
simply recognize that order and try to live in harmony with it, life can
be
enriching.
Taoism, like Confucianism, is a very "social" philosophy, seeing social
harmony in THIS world as being far more important than "selfish"
searches
for salvation.
(It was the practice in China, for thousands of years, to be a
Confucianist
during one's active life and a Taoist upon retirement. The focus
was slightly different: the Confucianist actively sought to act
(intervene
actively) in a "social" manner; the Taoist sought to "not-act" (minimize
intervention) in a "social" manner. The goal in both cases was the
same:
living in harmony with one's fellow man.)
I'll wait for your Reader's Digest explanation of Christianity.