J5J@psuvm.psu.edu (John A. Johnson) (06/19/91)
It would be hard for me to believe that anyone who has read both the Tao Teh Ching and the Bible could fail to note some striking similarities for certain passages. One general theme common to both books is the paradoxical sayings of Lao Tzu and Jesus (for example, both said things such as "yield and overcome" and "the last shall be first"). Both books also recommend "becoming as a child." Any readers out there also notice this? I have been compiling a list of these parallels, and would appreciate input. Also, I would like to know if a book on the parallels between Taoism and Christianity has ever been published. I have seen many such books that compare and draw parallels between Buddhism (particularly the Zen variety) and Christianity, but not a book on Taoism and Christianity. John
eo@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (Ed Oliveri) (06/20/91)
In article <1991Jun19.162650.13568@nas.nasa.gov> J5J@psuvm.psu.edu (John A. Johnson) writes: >It would be hard for me to believe that anyone who has read both the >Tao Teh Ching and the Bible could fail to note some striking similarities >for certain passages. One general theme common to both books is the >paradoxical sayings of Lao Tzu and Jesus (for example, both said things >such as "yield and overcome" and "the last shall be first"). Both >books also recommend "becoming as a child." > Yes, but couldn't this be due to some (perhaps hidden) bias on the part of the Tao Teh Ching's translator? I wondered about this when I read the Thomas Merton translation many years ago. -- Ed Oliveri, eo@cbnewsb.att.com OR att!cbnewsb!eo
mayne@sun16.scri.fsu.edu (Bill Mayne) (06/21/91)
In article <1991Jun19.162650.13568@nas.nasa.gov> J5J@psuvm.psu.edu (John A. Johnson) remarks on some similarities between the Tao Teh Ching and the Bible. >...I would like to know >if a book on the parallels between Taoism and Christianity has ever >been published. I have seen many such books that compare and draw >parallels between Buddhism (particularly the Zen variety) and Christianity, >but not a book on Taoism and Christianity. It is not surprising that you find similar passages in the writings of various religions. They all arise out of the same human experience. I haven't seen any books specifically on similarities and differences between Taoism and Christianity. I have seen some mention of this topic in the popular writings of Alan Watts. One passage which comes to mind is when he describes philosophical Taoism as "the polar opposite of Billy Graham's muscular Christianity." Watt's book which has the most to do with Taoism is "Tao, the Watercourse Way", but many others touch on the subject. I am not sure where I ran across the remark on Billy Graham. The thing that strikes me about philosophical Taoism is how unlike Christianity it is. But then a striking thing about Christianity as we know it is how different it is than the little we know of the actual teachings of Jesus. Come to think of it, one similarity is that both have been corrupted almost beyond recognition by being turned into organized religions. Traditional institutional Taoism as found in China (especially pre-Mao) is said to be mainly a bunch of superstition and folk medicine, with little obvious connection to the laid back philosophy we in the west associate with Taoism. This should not be taken as a criticism of Taoist philosophy, which I admire very much and try in my limited way to apply to my own life. It is more a comment on how difficult it is for any great philosophy to survive becoming popular and then institutionalized. Bill Mayne