Reply #36: No, it hasn't had a fixed meaning. That's the first part of the danger, and the second is

[More Than A Feeling]

the strong emotional response it evokes in many. That's a very unpredictable combination.

I wouldn't say that all meanings behind it are inherently bad either. If someone uses it to mean "the totality of natural processes of the universe," well, I like the natural processes of the universe.

Where I have issues is when the culture supports and even promotes such a dangerous word as an outlet for emotional response. It may validate the more reactionary, authoritarian uses, in the sense that the terms of the discussion are now entirely in a word with the baggage that "god" has.

Therefore, I'd recommend, if someone wanted a suggestion for a religious word of significance to use for "the totality of natural processes", that they use "Tao." It's in the same general area of meaning, it has a cool, exotic mystique, with much less baggage in this culture.