Continued from “Tao and the Divine Simplicity 5
Opening Pandora's Box
Whether or not this relationship is, in fact, a direct consequence of the Christian religion is a very interesting question to explore. To open this issue is not unlike opening Pandora's box.
Taoists see civilization as an affectation of humanity and justice. Laws and the institutions to enforce them do much more harm than good. Since bad men outnumber good men, it is inevitable that the powerful tool of government will one day be yielded by bad men. Such has been the case in the history of the human race and such will continue to be the case.
Christianity has been seen, by many Christians, to be the source of civilization. It has been seen to be on the side of law and order. This is not a mistaken view. Christianity has been a very influential force in the construction of civilization. This is at odds with the anti-civilization position of Chuangtse. However, it may be argued that Christianity has taken up the insight of Taoism regarding the inadequacy of doing good out of motivation and transformed it into something that corrects an inadequacy in Taoism's vision. This inadequacy of Taoism lies in the inability to address the positive role that law plays in society. Chuangtse is correct in saying that motivated good is really not good. He is incorrect in advocating the total elimination of law. Laws will be made and enforced as long as human beings dwell on this Earth. There is no way to simply eliminate them.
Chuangtse is correct when he says that law kills morality. Not only does it reinforce the separation between what is good and the one who does good; it also, as St. Paul so eloquently pointed out, condemns Man. Man cannot keep the Law. St. Paul saw the resolution of the dilemma within the person of Jesus Christ. By dying with Christ, one dies to the Law. The Law passes judgment and extracts its requirement of death.
The one who dies with Christ is no longer under the Law, since its work has been done. This mystic unity with Christ frees the Christian to do good without motivation. The Law is fulfilled by the good man, not to escape punishment or to be good. It is fulfilled out of love, out of union with the lawgiver: God. Good becomes something done unconsciously.
But now we are rid of the Law, freed by death from our imprisonment, free to serve in a new spiritual way and not the old way of a written law. (The Jerusalem Bible, Romans 7:6)
This is the Christian vision. The Law is not discarded as evil, but it is recognized that the Law imprisons. Christianity has generally agreed with St. Thomas that following the Law out of fear is a kind of good. Eventually, the good within the Law will "take root" within the individual who follows the Law. This is possible because virtue (excluding the theological virtues which are infused) is in us by nature, though not perfectly (see St. Thomas, ST, Q.63 Art. I). Thus, with the help of God, we can awaken these virtues to maturity. This is done through the process that St. Paul described. Through the struggle with the Law, we eventually die to the Law and then can begin to fulfill the Law in a spirit of love rather than a fear of punishment.
This New Law of love was inaugurated and made possible by Christ.
For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. (The Jerusalem Bible, Matthew 5:20)
Chuangtse's warning about the dangers of the State still carry some weight when one surveys the historical landscape of the human race and sees it dotted with totalitarian governments. Hitler used the laws of Germany to get where he got.
If nothing else, Chuangtse's essay alerts those who have ears to the treacherous tightrope that the world walks. He is certainly correct that the "government that governs the least, governs the best."
How long will it be before he can say that "...humanity and justice are not handcuffs and chains"?
He will probably be waiting until judgment day.
Conclusion
Further study of the contribution that Taoism could make to Christianity would, in this writers opinion, prove very fruitful. There are enough similarities in insight to warrant such a study. This writer would be shocked to find out that such a study hasn't already been done at some point in time.
The fact that Buddhism mixed with Taoism to form Zen Buddhism demonstrates the unique and valuable vision of Taoism. It is no surprise that Zen Buddhism has enjoyed such a wide spread appeal.
The Taoist doctrine of non-action seems to be called detachment by many Christian writers. If to act, yet not act is to act without being attached to the results, then this may be the same as accepting the Providence of God.
This writer feels that religion is a human institution that strives to bring individuals into harmony with God. This human endeavor is not done without the help of God. This help from God has manifest itself in many cultures, many religions. It is not mistaken, in this writers opinion, to see one of these religions prevailing for the entire human race.
The religion that will accomplish this will be the one which successfully incorporates into itself all of the insights of the religions of the world. Being a Christian, this writer can't help but believe that Christianity is the religion that will accomplish this task.
If this belief is proven to be mistaken, this writer will have to be a good Taoist and rest in the unity of Tao, the peace that passes understanding. It will be, after all, the Providence of God.
