My parents have always taught me everything is good in moderation. My elementary, middle and high school education have taught me that the Bible, among many other religious or cultural centerpieces, can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Since I hold these pearls of wisdom to be true, I would say this unit is correctly entitled "Ways of Knowing (Faith)," because every person goes through their own unique life experiences that shape what they know and in what they believe. My catholic education has taught me and instilled in me my religious beliefs. However, through simply experiencing life, I have shaped my own values and morals. Through traveling the world and experiencing other cultures, meeting people from a variety of backgrounds, and learning about the vast amount of religions there are in the world, I have come to respect and acknowledge the unity that beliefs and core values bring to a group.
The Daodejing of Laozi instructs one not to search for the answers or even try to live the dao (the way), de (virtue), or jing (classic), because once one strives to attain these they are instantly following the opposite of the teachings. I believe you cannot really try to interpret the Daodejing, instead you must just read it and accept it. There is a remarkable amount of similarity between the Daodejing and the Bible. Although the Bible contains stories, history, and miracles meant to teach life lessons, it too is emphasized to be taken into many different viewpoints and interpretations. Both readings include a plethora of arguments against jealousy, greed, excessive want/desire, and treachery. A huge example of jealousy found in the Bible is the story of Joseph... and his technicolor dreamcoat. A coat that his father Issac gives him and which his seven brothers decide to fake his death and sell him to the Pharoah over (because they were jealous of him). Fortunately, the Bible continues the story with Joseph rising in power with the Pharoah and forgiving his brothers after seeing his family suffer through the famine. The Daodejing would prefer to instruct us to stay out of problems for as far as to insure our own safety. However, the Daodejing would also tell us to be fair, king, forgiving people, especially in government. I think if both texts were closely examined and scrutinized, one could break down each of the hidden meanings and find similar if not equal core values. Living simply, truthfully, and with nature are recommendations found in both texts. I would not be surprised to see a phrase similar to Daodejing's "do not neglect one's belly in order to please one's eyes," in the Bible. However, while "the Daoist sage is guided by prereflective intuitions and tendencies rather than by preestablished or self-conscious policies or principles," a Christian or Catholic followers is constantly aware of his or her acts and whether they are moral or unmoral according to what the Church teaches, steming from how the leaders interpret the Bible.
Therefore, I see the texts are being similar in value depending on interpretation but also very much different in outcome. The Daodejing is almost a self-journey while the Bible, most times, connects a group of people on the same path through the same actions and beliefs with which they live. While the Daoist ideal would be to fully live your life free from harm, full of health, and enjoying comfort and contentment, the Bible, on the other hand, includes stories of followers literally dying for what they believe in and cherish. The Bible wants its followers to stand up for what they believe and if you die for it then you are a martyr who is looked upon with much honor.
So although I kept stating that the texts values can be similar, there is an ultimate view that neither of the texts would be able to agree upon. While in the Dao we "do nothing yet nothing remains undone," we can see great followers, those who live by the Bible, preaching on street corners to get the message they interpreted or have learned out to those who have not. Of course, there will always be a wide range of people who act differently in how they live out their religion, but there will never really be a Daoist person trying to teach another about Daoism because then they are strictly going against anything Daoist whatsoever. The Bible, specifically the Genesis readings, focus on history of family, Creation (which involves nature!), and the horrible acts that people committed and that God made them suffer for and learn from. The Daodejing is about enjoying and fully living life in the complete way. There really isn't a God that punishes or that one must honor or obey.
A final point I would clarify is that there really is a different interpretation of each reading depending on each person. The Daodejing could be looked at as a more life related text while the Bible readings could be lessons to live by and uphold, believing in what one interprets the stories to mean. No matter what one believes, being the good person that one can be can automatically grant him or her a fulfilling life, no matter what they accept or hold to be true.
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