In a sense it is inappropriate to treat the two totally separate phenomena of the title under the single rubric of Taoism. Philosophical and religious Taoism share the use of the word tao and not very much else—most of Lao-tzu’s recommendations were and still are blatantly ignored by followers of religious Taoism.

The latter term itself has come to be used as a blanket title denoting everything recognisably ‘religious’ in China which was not obviously Confucian or Buddhist, when it is perhaps best defined in antithesis to China’s age-old indigenous ‘popular’ religion. To counter the insidious influence of the latter was the prime concern of the early followers of the Way of the Heavenly Masters.

More on the topic In a sense it is inappropriate to treat the two totally separate phenomena of the title under the single rubric of Taoism. Philosophical and religious Taoism share the use of the word tao and not very much else—most of Lao-tzu’s recommendations were and still are blatantly ignored by followers of religious Taoism.:

1. The Rediscovery of Eastern Religious Thought
2. Religious Conflict and the Future of Zionism
3. Religious Taoism
4. Women's Equity and Single Parent Births
5. Religious Observances Throughout the Year
6. The Religious Life of the Jain Laity
7. Callirhoe Orans: Women as Religious Practitioners
8. Role of Religious Functionaries
9. Political-Religious Images
10. Modernization and Related Phenomena