The “do not question or criticize Taoism” is a bit of an oof of a precept, but honestly it doesn’t seem that bad to me.

My understanding is practitioners were pretty given to both alchemy and astrology and those can both lead to actual scientific advancement… Unless your religion forbids questioning established practices.

Almost had it I guess.

Not them but

Basically it started as a back to earth movement. With the idea that since civilization wasn’t working out everyone should hunker down with their little group following some shaman. For all the many flaws of Chinese government it ran the irrigation systems that kept people alive, it protected the population from invaders, it brought order and wealth that were not only good things in its own right it allowed some part of the population to do things like make art.

Taoism tried to roll this all back. Instead of philosophy and law seeking greater and greater clarity it wanted mysticism. Instead of finding ways that less people would starve it asked people to accept the world with the blind faith that over enough time problems would be fixed. Try telling your hungry child that in nine generations everything will be fine.

The greatest sins of Taoism are engineering and organization. Instead of humans adapting the world to us we must adapt to it, no matter the cost. The only way you can believe in this doctrine is if you believe in a fall. We had a perfect world that we broke. Thus we get original sin again but I can’t even give them credit for that since their philosophers didn’t take their ideas that far.

We humans live in a world that is undesigned. That’s what the data tells us. There was never a one that became two or whatever.