I wonder what a reading of Paul might make of Lao Tzu. The differences, the casus belli, is there of course. (Though if Christ had seen only difference and dismissed commonality the way many of his followers do, he would have looked not for the reason to die, but the reason to kill.) Taoism in a traditional Chinese context does have a personal god, but the text itself to Western eyes looks very philosophical. Paul preaches the Name of his God. Lao Tzu speaks of The Way Things Are, you know.

But if Confucianism is a sort of Law, the Tao is something else; Paul is something other than Law, as in Romans, Galatians, and elsewhere. “The sting of sin is the law.” Not the classic elementary schoolteacher line. Lao would like that. “Only when a family loses its harmony do we hear of ‘dutiful sons’. Only when a state is in chaos do we hear of ‘loyal ministers’.” This is rather Pauline. And in “Abandon holiness, discard cleverness” there is a sort of echo to Luther’s much-maligned, “Sin, and sin boldly”.

Which isn’t to say that you’ll get everyone to like you, as people don’t work like that. It probably doesn’t mean that you’ll get yourself to like everybody else, although if you were a saint you could get yourself to like people actively persecuting you, much less those Greek to you. But if you don’t like someone it’s your choice; at least, if your hatred is imposed, it is an imposition from within. Perhaps Luther is right and we don’t have real freedom; never trust a happy song, as the saying goes. But I would certainly believe that my hatred is imposed by myself on myself, (and that I am ‘free’ to choose to hate but without God not free to choose to love, and thus bound and can only do wrong, until in heaven I will be free and only do right), than to believe that my hatred is imposed on me by God, and that I should rest in my hate, like a smug intellectual in a costly bed.

…. “Long ago kings and lords called themselves
“orphaned,” “lonely,” and “unworthy”
What honor can there be without humility?
What heights can be reached without being low?”

(No comment necessary.)

…. “(Let’s not overthink this thing:)
The more cleverness, the more strange events.” Etc.

I’ll allow that he’s closer to Americana than Pauline studies; I’ll allow that the master plan is usually not having a master plan. I suppose the bad thing about books is control; the Sage here hates control, and meaningless words. You don’t control the world, but you can control what books you read, which can make you think that everything is like that.

…. The yielding overcomes the arrogant,
As Jesus overcomes the world
~ the Tao of Christ

Beware the old devil,
Looking for faults instead of looking for God.
Well was it said,
“Seek and ye shall find.”

A classic. Very enjoyable and thought-provoking. ( )

Excellent encouragement for those trying to lead peaceful, harmonious lives. ( )

I LOVE this version. very poetic translation yet retains the simplicity and meaning ( )