God, As Nature Sees God: A Christian Reading of the Tao Te Ching

Rating:
Summary: A Christian taking the Tao Te Ching seriously
Review: Having read previous revews, let's get a couple of things straight. First, the author of this interesting book is a Christian, and makes no bones about it. Therefore it's unsurprising that his interpretation of the Tao Te Ching is a Christian interpretation. This is what he has set out to do. Second, this is an interpretation of and a commentary on the Tao Te Ching, and not on Taoism as a whole. Therefore the view of Taoism is inevitably and rightly limited. The cover says 'A Christian Reading of the Tao Te Ching' and this is exactly what the book contains. If you don't think it's legitimate for a Christian to read the Tao Te Ching, and comment on it publicly, don't buy this book.

Now that's out of the way, let's get on with the review. John Mabry is a Christian priest, involved with 'Creation Spirituality' magazine, who has been interested in the Tao Te Ching ever since a friend passed it to him breathlessly, with the words, 'This is the holy word of God'. Intrigued, Mabry set out to investigate. The first part of the book is Mabry's complete version of The Tao Te Ching, with rather beautiful pen and ink illustrations by Jim Hardesty. The second section is a meditation on the text, in eight chapters as follows: The nature of the tao Paradox Desire Non-Action Leadership Oneness World and Self Holiness

The version of the Tao Te Ching is fine as far as it goes, but it should not be mistaken for a translation. Mabry gives no information about the process of creating this part of the book, so can only assume it is a gloss based on other English translations (although the only one mentioned is Stephen Mitchell's).

The second section, the commentary, is very good, and addresses some points that will clearly be important to Christian readers: 'The first question we must address is this: is the Tao God? Obviously, there is no avoiding this question. It was certainly the question most present in my mind during my initial reading of the Tao Te Ching. So. in the spirit of the Tao, I will answer: yes and no.'(p. 107)

Looking at the notes at the back of the book, Mabry's favourite writers seem to be Thomas Merton, Alan Watts and Matthew Fox. This should give some indication of the tenor of the commentary.

If you are interested in Christian interpretations of the Tao Te Ching, you could also look at Joseph Petulla's 'The Tao Te Ching and the Christian Way'.

To put this recent western interest in Taoism into some kind of context, try J.J. Clarke's 'The Tao of the West'.

Rating:
Summary: A book that is for the christian,,,Not the Taoistl
Review: I read as much of this book as I was able to without losing my dinner. I did replace it back on the shelf at the bookstore... Eastern thought cannot be compared to primitive christian thought and I find it quite obnoxious and amusing that this author has tried to relate Taoist thought with inferior and primitve chistian belief systems...I must admit though, if your a Taoist, this book will provide some humor as the ingorance is quite humerous.

Rating:
Summary: Now Now...
Review: While I must agree that this is not my favorite translation, it is clear that the viscious words of some other reviewers are not warranted. This text is earnest in its attempt to draw Christians, who, I admit, can be bullish in their unacceptance of other beliefs, into viewing the Tao. How are we going to introduce this gift (the Tao) into a firm system? Here is at least a key into their realm. I admire the authors acceptance.