|
|
Posted by JC Matteri on April 05, 19102 at 22:20:46:
In Reply to: The Tao and God posted by Socrates on June 07, 19101 at 15:59:03:
: What would the relationship between the Tao and God be? How would they be related? If someone could answer these questions I'd be very thankful.
Hello
For the past year most of my inquiry has been devoted to this question. My reading of the Tao Te Ching is probably unconventional but you may find my comments of some interest. For reference sake, I use the Robert G. Henricks translation.
The first chapter talks about the Tao in two different ways, the Tao that can be named and the nameless. I regard the Tao that can be named as equivalent to Nature or the Universe. I regard the nameless Tao as equivalent to the Creator (i.e. God). The Tao Te Ching sometimes refers to the Tao that can be named as the Mother and to the nameless Tao as the Father. My reading of it might seem to run counter to the place where it says the Tao preceeds God and I cannot readily account for that. Perhaps the God referred to is really the Goddess (=Nature).
Essentially my point of view is this: Nature (the Tao that can be named) is an expression of God ( the nameless Tao). I read the first chapter as saying that those focused on desires will only see natural phenomena (the Tao that can be named). Those in harmony with Tao will discern the actions of the nameless Tao (i.e. God) acting (subtly) behind the scenes.
I would regard the nameless Tao as having some things in common with the god of the major theistic religions. The nameless Tao I would regard as personal (I am sure this would be VERY controversial) but with a personality like the Taoist sage. I would regard the nameless Tao as very powerful but subtle in the use of that power, using it so that we can always say if we so chose that "it happened of its own accord". I regard the nameless Tao as always working through natural processes, even creating the universe without any violation of currently observed natural laws. But, unlike the God of the afore mentioned religions, the nameless Tao does not issue commands nor threaten punishment for their disobedience. The nameless Tao does everything with natural ease as does the Taoist sage.