Daoism: A Guide for the Perplexed

Louis Komjathy is Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Diego, USA. He is also Founding Co-Chair of the Daoist Studies Group of the American Academy of Religion and Founding Co-Director of the Center for Daoist Studies.

Louis Komjathy's Daoism: A Guide for the Perplexed dispels the many misconceptions that people have about China's indigenous religion, and sorts through the wealth of recent scholarship about Daoism. In so doing it builds up a clear and authoritative picture of China's indigenous religion that is both reliable and accessible. James Miller, Professor of Religious Studies and Chinese Studies, Queen's University, Canada Whether perplexed, bemused, or simply curious, wayfarers along the path of life will find Louis Komjathy's little book a very knowledgeable and helpful guide to the Daoist tradition (formerly Romanized as Taoism). In a concise but accessible way, Komjathy gives the reader a complete map to the interesting and often wonderfully strange historical, cultural, and religious landscape of Daoism. Honest wayfarers may not be completely un-perplexed when finishing this guide, but they will learn that Daoism is a tradition that honors honest perplexity as a crucial step toward self-awareness and spiritual transformation. Norman Girardot, University Distinguished Professor of Comparative Religions, Lehigh University, USA A very good book, it succeeds in creating an understandable and very well-founded review of the essential elements of this religion. In particular, the author explains the background and context so vividly that once you've finished reading, you will have a great overview of what the life and the faith of a Daoist represents. -- Martina Darga Chinese Medicine (Bloomsbury Translation)

• 1. Tradition2. Community3. Identity4. View5. Personhood6. Practice7. Experience8. Place9. ModernityBibliographyIndex