Is Taoism a religion, or a teaching?

I'm trying to find a religion Lil I haven't really been in touch with it in all my life. My family is Buddhist though, I think Therevada, and I've been to all kinds of temples and gatherings but it's hard for me to understand and grasp each concept and idea of Buddhism in general.

Anyways, I got into doing research about Taoism Lil, I was wondering if it is considered a religion? Or a teaching which is not really a religion?

I like concepts of peace, balance, and nature, and have great respects for them.
Well I checked go ogle already ha ha, and even some old answers here on Y!A but I want to ask again. For myself.

Google is your friend.

Taoism began as a philosophy, which has since morphed into a religion complete with several gods.

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Philosophy/Taichi/gods.html

It's a philosophy or way of life.

Actually, the answers are all wrong, Tao started as a religion much like all the lower forms of religions; then as some higher spiritual beings reincarnate into this world and brought the religion up into a higher level of mind understanding- hence a philosophy developed. (C's website confirm my statement.)

So that is why we have the Low Tao, High Tao, and the Mixed Tao (in between the two).

Today, the Low Tao is still very much active in the Chinese based society, it has the Heavenly Emperor- the Jade Emperor of 33 Heavens- the same as the first level Sky Heaven (2ND level of Heavens in Buddhism Cosmetology), and his retinue of heavenly beings and lower gods. Its practice confines to worship different gods, and be a simple good person; achieving that get your awards by going to heaven at the end of human life.

High Tao is almost disappeared, if any still around, it is practiced in secret. When you accomplished High Tao, you become one with the Universe and the Universal Force- the Tao.

The Mixed Tao is between the two, accomplished Mixed Tao- you can work with different gods and command lower realm beings, at the end of human life, you go to heaven and take position as court official of Heavenly Kingdom or remain free agents as immortals. Chi Kung and Martial arts are from this lineage for maintaining health, agility and possibly eternal physical life as immortal in higher teaching.

I have personally holding some lineage of it, and one of my closed friend- who is also my drama brother in Vajrayana Buddhism was one of the contenders to become the lineage holder of a Mixed Tao sect. for all of North America; he gave it up to practice High Tantra- because in High Tantra and High Tao are very similar in achievement.

Philosophy part of Tao that most people read, medicine and martial arts are all come from Low Tao and Mixed Tao. There are traces of High Tao in all of them, but the interpretation is quite different from what the world perceive them to be.