This is a list emphasising Taoism:
(1) as a tradition friendly to serious,
mainstream natural science, (2) as a
tradition seeing mankind in a cosmic
context, not limited to this planet,
(3) as a form of rational and non-dogmatic
nature mysticism (in contrast to
supernaturalistic mysticism), (4) as an
originally Chinese tradition in its
authentic historical and cultural
context both as religion and philosophy,
(4) as a moral tradition emphasising
over 2500 years individual liberty,
discouragement of aggresive wars,
humaneness in the correction of
offenders, respect for the natural
environment, non-materialism and
non-competitiveness, and solidarity
with the humblest members of society,
and (5) as a philosophical, spiritual
and ethical tradition suitable for the
emerging world culture of the
21st Century.