A Christian Reads the Tao te Ching

Since the show is "finished" (for now), the Patreon site is no longer active. However, there are still hosting costs, and I still have expenses! If you would like to show gratitude with a small donation in a very easy way, you can do so at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crttc. No account creation required!

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After two and a half years, we've reached the very last episode of the Tao te Ching! I'm not sure what's next for me, but at least for now, I'll stop regular posting here as I focus on some other pressing things in life and brainstorm possible future ideas. 

This chapter is a nice summary of three of the key themes of the Tao te Ching that we've focused on in these last few years:
1. Wisdom over learning
2. Using too many words
3. The selfless ideal

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Chapter 80 presents Lao Tzu's vision of the ideal society, the "Taoist utopia". Although it is not a "realistic" picture at first glance, writing it off would be a big mistake. The chapter not only praises minimalism and simple living, but also contains a thinly veiled but cutting cultural critique that is just as relevant today as it was 2600 years ago.

1. The simple life - minimalism and Christian activist Shane Claiborne's "Irresistible Revolution"

2. The cultural critique - overpopulation, overdevelopment, industrialization, and insatiable desires

3. A clarification - is this chapter really idolizing a boring, antisocial life?

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We're skipping chapter 78 since we looked at it all the way back in episode 6! Chapter 79 is focused on the complex repercussions of human conflict. This is a shorter episode, and I'll split it into just two pieces:

1. "Just let it go" - conflict resolution the Taoist way

2. Peace is worth the risk - Christ as the ultimate example

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Chapter 77 describes the Tao as being like the drawing of a bow, where the top is brought down and the bottom is brought up. It is a cultural critique about how the way of man tends to upset the natural balance of things. The episode will have three general thematic movements:

1. Equilibrium and balance in the universe and in our lives

2. The "Robin Hood effect" - taking from the rich and giving to the poor

3. Lao Tzu's static equilibrium versus Christ's redemptive restoration

Here's the blog entry I quote from: https://www.coreyfarr.com/post/extreme-makeover-eden-edition

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Chapter 76 takes us back to the familiar territory of "weakness" that is actually strength. Living things are soft, supple, flexible, and "weak". Dead things are hard, brittle, rigid, and "strong". I'll start this episode by sharing about one of the most influential - and meek - men I've ever known. Then we'll break it up into two basic sections:

1. Meekness and humility as true strength

2. Adaptability as the key to life

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In this episode, we look at chapter 75, which critiques the greedy leadership of Lao Tzu's China or any government in general. I'll start with reading from Jesus's parable of the foolish rich man as well as his famous words on "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." The rest of the episode is pretty simply divided into two parts:

1. Greed in leadership

2. Greed in in general terms in our daily lives and the dangers of greed creeping up on us as we start to accumulate even a little bit of extra money

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In this episode, we look at chapter 74, which is a bit different in tone and content than other chapters around it. The central focus is the fear of death, and the central metaphor is the "Master Executioner" - whose job we should not try to take. We'll look at a literal interpretation first, followed by a more spiritualized/metaphorical one.

1. The death penalty - Lao Tzu and Shane Claiborne

2. Fear and judgment in religion

3. Do not judge others

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Here's an outline to help follow this complex episode!

Today we'll look at chapter 73, which seems a bit disconnected and confusing at first (which is why it took me two extra weeks to prepare). We'll touch on a few side topics, then we'll spend the majority of the book relating this chapter's idea of perfect wu wei to the seven areas of balance identified by independent author Doruk Cansev in his new book Balanced: Unleash the Power of your Personality.

You can find Doruk's book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09157T1MH/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

1. The Tao as DNA of the universe

2. Balancing courage with caution - the spectra of Liveliness (aware and passionate) and Self-esteem (humble and confident)

3. The Tao does not strive/compete/wage war yet it always overcomes/wins/conquers - the spectra of Tension (calm and active) 

4. The Tao does not speak yet it always responds - the spectrum of Warmth (loving and independent)

5. The Tao does not ask/command yet it is always obeyed/supplied with its needs - the spectrum of Agreeableness (compassionate and assertive)

6. Marshall Davis on God as relationally wu-wei and perfectly balanced

7. The Tao is relaxed/seems to have no aim yet it is good at making plans/its purpose is fulfilled - the spectra of Openness to change (flexible and focused) Perfectionism (relaxed and disciplined)

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