A Christian Reads the Tao te Ching: Recent Episodes
Corey Farr
Join me in an unusual but deeply fulfilling journey as I work my way through the Tao te Ching, that ancient Chinese book of wisdom and spirituality that didn't draw me away from a Christ-centered faith, but actually helped me hold onto it.
Since the show is "finished" (for now), the Patreon site is no longer active.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.
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The simple life - minimalism and Christian activist Shane Claiborne's "Irresistible Revolution"
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The cultural critique - overpopulation, overdevelopment, industrialization, and insatiable desires
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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:
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"Just let it go" - conflict resolution the Taoist way
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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:
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Equilibrium and balance in the universe and in our lives
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The "Robin Hood effect" - taking from the rich and giving to the poor
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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:
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Meekness and humility as true strength
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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:
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Greed in leadership
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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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Doruk Cansev is a life coach and author of the book Balanced: Unleashing the Power of your Personality, which I used as the inspiration for the structure of episode 59. I also covered my notes on his book much more in-depth on the most recent Patreon members exclusive episode. Today we discuss Taoism a bit, but we dive deep into his books and discuss finding balance in all areas of your life.
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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.
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The death penalty - Lao Tzu and Shane Claiborne
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Fear and judgment in religion
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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
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The Tao as DNA of the universe
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Balancing courage with caution - the spectra of Liveliness (aware and passionate) and Self-esteem (humble and confident)
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The Tao does not strive/compete/wage war yet it always overcomes/wins/conquers - the spectra of Tension (calm and active)
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The Tao does not speak yet it always responds - the spectrum of Warmth (loving and independent)
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The Tao does not ask/command yet it is always obeyed/supplied with its needs - the spectrum of Agreeableness (compassionate and assertive)
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Marshall Davis on God as relationally wu-wei and perfectly balanced
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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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Chapter 72 doesn't really offer an obvious interpretation at the first reading. The variations between translations and the disjunctions between the sections makes it a bit complex. Fortunately, there is a common theme that the most traditional interpretations tend to agree on, and then as always we will take a bit of liberty and move in a more creative and relatable direction. I start the episode sharing some thoughts about fear as a basic emotion and my own experience with panic attacks, then I work through the chapter from two approaches:
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Leaders should not use fear as a motivation - heavy-handed and authoritarian leadership based on intimidation or control is dangerous and unhealthy
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A religion without fear? What could it look like to remove "fear" from our theological vocabulary?
Here's my article on why I don't believe in hell that I mention briefly: https://www.coreyfarr.com/post/i-don-t-believe-in-hell-does-that-mean-i-m-going-there
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Chapter 71 is cryptic, obscure, and one of my absolute favorites. This chapter continues the theme on knowledge from the previous chapter, but focuses especially on ignorance - the fact that we are all ignorant in so many ways, and that not knowing that we don't really know is not just bad, it's a spiritual sickness. I open with a confession of my own ignorance, then divide my interpretation into three sections:
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Simple knowledge and personal development - Know how much you don't know, or you will stagnate
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Social/relational knowledge in a world of information-overload, echo chambers, polarization, and confirmation bias
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The spiritual dimension - I draw in a few passages to show the Bible's ambivalent stance on "knowledge", and then do a short analysis of the book of Ecclesiastes as sort of a Taoist confession/tract/autobiography. This is my personal favorite part!
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In this episode, we look at chapter 70, which is one of the most depressing and least didactic/informative chapters in the Tao te Ching (which is why it took me an extra week to prepare this). Here we have Lao Tzu break into a quasi-lament on how no one understands him or follows his teachings, despite how simple they are to understand. With some careful maneuvering, I think we can actually find some parallels to the "simple" yet difficult teachings of Jesus about the narrow way to the Kingdom of Heaven.
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In this episode, we look at chapter 69, which is incredibly tough to deal with since it is primarily focused on giving advice to military generals. As a Jesus-follower committed to nonviolence, I didn't know what to do with it at first, but with some clever maneuvering and use of paraphrases, I was able to bring it around to something more Christlike.
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Literally analyzing the chapter - Lao Tzu's "almost" non-violent military strategy
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Losing the three jewels
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Honoring the image of God in our "enemies"
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In this episode, we look at the famous chapter 67, where Lao Tzu presents the "Three Jewels" - the entire Taoist ethics summed up in three words: compassion, moderation, and humility. I'll start by sharing about how Christ's compassion demonstrates the compassion that God built into the way the universe works and the way people work. Then we'll look at each of the three jewels one by one:
- The countercultural nature of the Three Jewels
- Compassion as the source of bravery
- Moderation as the source of generosity
- Humility as the source of leadership
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In this episode, we look at chapters 66 and 68, which continue the train of thought of non-contention and wu wei that we started last week, but this time in relation to leadership. I'll start with talking about the characteristics of servant leadership, then focus on the chapters one by one:
1. Chapter 66 - the best leaders take the attitudes of servants and "lead from behind"
2. Chapter 68 - the attitude of non-contention and mutually beneficial "competition"
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Sorry for no episode this week. I was down for the count with the flu last week. (Not COVID!) Head on over and subscribe at the Patreon page to get early access to the next episode. :)
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In this episode, we look at chapter 63, which is all about tasks and problems. I'll start by talking about how learning how to break big tasks into small pieces has radically transformed my life, then we'll break down the chapter into two main sections:
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A "mini-sermon" on wu wei (action without action) through a series of paradoxes
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The active/decisive side of wu wei, or "the path of least resistance"
- Lessons from the universe
- The path of the wise man
- A warning against underestimating the difficulties of problems
- "The great secret" to an effective life
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In this episode, we look at chapter 62, which is one of the only chapters where Lao Tzu compares good and bad people and the ONLY chapter where he uses a word often translated as "sin". I'll start by talking about how radically countercultural and even offensive Jesus's teachings of enemy-love are in the Middle Eastern culture I work in, then we'll take a look at three aspects of this chapter:
- The Tao (and Christ) as treasure to the good and refuge to the bad
- Do not abandon a bad person (and what even IS a bad person?)
- Hopeful universalism - a great motivation to spread the love of Christ
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As I'm away for the summer, I'll be sharing some episodes from my Patreon exclusive feed, which are available to all subscribers at the $5/month level or higher. Here are the original show notes:
A wild journey prompted by a ridiculous plot line from one of my favorite book series of all time. How much divine revelation is embedded in creation? Is this revelation sufficient for "salvation" for those who have never heard the message of Christ? What is the ultimate question to the meaning of life, and how should we go about finding the answer to it? What does human suffering have to do with that question? Nothing? Or everything? How did we end up at a propositional theology when the whole story of the Bible is about relational theology? Join me on this roller coaster of an episode!
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As I'm away for the summer, I'll be sharing some episodes from my Patreon exclusive feed, which are available to all subscribers at the $5/month level or higher. This was the very first ever exclusive, and I hope you enjoy! Here are the original show notes:
Thanks Bob (not Brian like I said in the episode!) for this profound insight. Both the Tao te Ching and the Gospels are about emptying the bowl, but in very different ways. The TTC is about deconstruction, but the Gospels are about construction. Join me in this episode to hear me muse on that context through the use of two very different prayers and the very first sermon of Jesus from The Chosen series, in which he surprisingly preaches to (drum roll please) children!
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As I'm away for the summer, I'll be sharing some episodes from my Patreon exclusive feed, which are available to all subscribers at the $5/month level or higher. This was the very first ever exclusive, and I hope you enjoy! Here are the original show notes:
It's finally here! The first Patreon exclusive episode will continue to dig into the theme of optimism and happiness. What place (if any) does it have in Christian theology and Taoist thought? (Hint: I think the answer is none.)
Also, I know I make some very strong statements in this episode. Please know there are lots of things that need to be qualified or further explored. For example, the statement that "God is not concerned with the nations or people's rights" is both true and untrue on many levels. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts!
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I'm flying home to the US for the next eight weeks! I most likely won't be able to continue putting out regular episodes, but I will share some of the past exclusive episodes I've done for Patreon subscribers. If you aren't a subscriber and you like what you hear, head on over to the Patreon page to get access for only $5/month.
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In this episode, we look at chapter 65, which is yet another "political" chapter. I'll start with sharing a little of my journey from deciding to go to seminary to wrestling with the idea of what it means to "do theology". Then we'll look at the chapter from two very different angles:
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Avoiding "cleverness" - simplicity and integrity in leadership. In this section we will consider the fact that Lao Tzu seems to be very anti-democratic if we read him at face value.
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The importance of "unlearning" - we'll talk about the idea of education and return to our old concept of the important of unlearning. We'll also bring in David Jones's stark contrast between the "educated" person versus the life-long learner.
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This is, of course, the followup to last week's episode on our "feminine" side. Today, we'll look at the masculine - the yang to match last week's yin. Keep in mind these have almost nothing to do with normative gender roles. Today we'll follow last week's structure by looking at three sets of virtue characteristics aiming towards three goals/ideals. Note that the goals stay the same, but the characteristics are the "opposites" of the ones we talked about last week.
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Proactive action and confrontation -> an invitation to cooperation
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Active commitment -> transformation
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"Confident humility" and self-awareness -> abundance of love
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Episode 5 was called "Getting in touch with God's feminine side" and it has been a really popular episode. Today, we'll do the first of two episodes on our "feminine" and "masculine" sides, or our yin and yang virtues. Keep in mind these have almost nothing to do with normative gender roles. Lao Tzu shows us quite clearly that all people need a balance of both, yet he stresses the feminine more often since we live in such a "masculine" world. Today we'll look at three sets of characteristics pointing to three ultimate goals. Next week, we'll look at their equal and opposite counterparts that point to the same goals.
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Submission and yielding -> an invitation to cooperation
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Openness and receptivity -> transformation
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Humility and self-aware selflessness -> abundance of love
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As Monty Python would say, "And now for something completely different!" This week I'll give some insight and explanation into what is, next to Taoism, probably the most important and influential foundational belief system in my life: Christian Anarchism. It sounds a lot more edgy than it is in some ways, though. Christian Anarchism is not about trying to overthrow the government, but a theological and ethical way of viewing the relationship between the Kingdom of God and the kingdoms (and empires) of this world.
Although this episode brings us pretty far away from the Tao te Ching, I do use chapter 61 as a starting point. This is, indeed, something completely different, and I recognize this episode won't be for everybody, but feel free to join me if you're interested!
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In this episode, we look at chapter 60, which has several very different ideas all smashed into one. I'll start with a meditation on the nature of our relationship to the "ghosts" in our lives - the people who try to bring us down. The rest of the episode is divided into a few parts:
- "Ruling a nation is like cooking a small fish" - the importance of non-meddling in leadership
- "Give evil nothing to oppose, and it will disappear all by itself" - is evil an actual force to be contended with, or simply a bending of the inherent goodness of the universe?
- "No longer haunted, but whole" - dealing with the ghosts of trauma and pain that haunt us
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In this episode, we look at chapters 58-59, which (in my estimation) offer two very different narratives for approaching life and leadership, with two very different results. I'll bring in two core concepts from theologian Walter Brueggemann (link below) to flesh out the discussion. I start with a meditation on Ecclesiastes 11 and the nature of internalized fear from focusing on an unknown future. The rest of the episode is divided into a few parts:
- Breakdown of the parallels between chapters 58-59
- The myth of scarcity - the belief that there isn't enough
- The liturgy of abundance - the belief in God's good provision
Here is the link to Brueggemann's article "The Liturgy of Abundance, the Myth of Scarcity" - https://www.religion-online.org/article/the-liturgy-of-abundance-the-myth-of-scarcity/
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In this episode, we look at chapter 56, one of the most directive and imperative chapters in the Tao te Ching. The first half of the episode sets the stage for the chapter, then I break down four of the central commands in the chapter and how we see them exemplified in the life of Jesus:
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Blunt your sharpness - the sharp edge of arrogance
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Untie your knots - the complexities of personal interactions
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Soften your brightness - public displays of intelligence and pride
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Become one with the dust - staying in touch with the material world
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Summing it all up in one word: integrity
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Back in December, I had a conversation with two Christian-Taoist "kindred spirits", Jeff and Stacie from the Protect Your Noggin podcast. Since I haven't been able to finish prep for this week's regularly scheduled episode, I figured I would share (part of) that interview with you here, since I had a great time doing it!
This will give you a lot more insight into my own background and give a fresh perspective on reading the Tao te Ching as a Christian. Jeff and Stacie are also working through the TTC on their show as well as doing their own translation/paraphrase, so we had a lot of fun bouncing ideas off each other.
Check them out at https://www.protectyournoggin.org/
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In this episode, we finish chapter 55, talking about the danger of resisting decay and trying to "prolong the life" of things that are in decline.
I start the episode by sharing my own discomfort with the word "evangelical" and my great struggle with trying to hold onto it and now my honest desire to reject it entirely due to the current situation in the US, because I believe it is dying.. The rest of the episode looks at four different ways we try to "prolong" the life when things really need to change and even die:
- Becoming people-pleasers - trying to maintain a false sense of harmony/balance
- "Conservative" thinking - not in the political sense, but in the sense of trying to idolize and hold onto the past as somehow more ideal than the present
- Deconstruction and reconstruction - how to walk through our journeys not only of challenging old beliefs, but coming back around and redefining them
- What about the Bible? - how the hermeneutic of "new movements" of the Spirit from the book Solus Jesus can help us understand the living, breathing nature of the collection of books and documents we call "Scripture"
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In this episode, we start looking at chapter 55. We'll cover it from another angle this week, but today I want to dig into the word "constancy", also translated as the eternal and unchanging.
I start the episode by sharing a few poems, most of which I've shared on the show before, to prime the pump for thinking about how we think about God. The rest of the episode is loosely divided into three parts:
- The benefit of using different philosophical systems to approach theology
- Platonic thought - the good, bad, and ugly of traditional Western theology
- Taoist thought - the untapped wells of the Taoist idea of the eternal and unchanging, and how these can shape our approach to faith
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In this episode, we look at the second part of chapter 54, which encourages us to be rooted in Te (virtue).
I start the episode by introducing what I call the "Bonhoeffer principle" - that loving your vision/dream of community more than the community itself will ultimately destroy it. The rest of the episode explores the dynamics of virtue in community.
- The ever-expanding sphere of virtue and the principle of attraction (again)
- The Bonhoeffer Principle - four ways to effectively destroy a community
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In this episode, we look at the first part of chapter 54, which encourages us to be rooted in Te (virtue).
I start the episode sharing about how last Sunday I completely failed to live rooted in the Tao as the chapter says. The rest of the episode explores what it looks like to evaluate how we are doing as far as Taoist-Christian virtue goes by looking at four perspectives:
- Perspective of work
- Perspective of others
- Perspective of time
- Perspective of ourselves (read more about this in my post "Who am I?": https://www.coreyfarr.com/post/who-am-i-how-we-try-to-solve-our-identity-crises)
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This is my attempt at a Christmas special, although I admit I may come across as a Grinch or a Scrooge. Please bear with me until the end of the episode to see that (hopefully) that's not the case.
Episode 39 looks at chapter 53, which is primarily a critique of the materialism and hoarding of the rich and ruling class. I start by considering how our own materialistic distortion of the Christmas season draws us away from the very simple and powerful truths that Advent is meant to communicate.
The rest of the episode is divided into three parts:
- The simplicity of the Way and how easily we are distracted from it
- Two of the greatest distractions in life: power and wealth
- That's Christmas, but it's not Christ - taking this chapter beyond finger-pointing at the elite and using it to examine our own hearts
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Episode 38 looks at the second half of chapter 52, which is intensely complex and profound. Using Paul Tillich's Christian definition of the "eternal now", we're going to a deep dive into what is hopefully a very new perspective (or at least was for me) on repentance and forgiveness. We'll end up a long way away from the words of Lao Tzu - and yet we'll find resonance with his words just the same.
I start by asking questions about what it looks like to live the quiet, relaxed Taoist outlook when life is overwhelmingly busy and there's nothing we can do about it. In light of the "eternal now", perhaps we can measure success by small victories of choosing to be present and repent of our negative outlook, rather than counting the times we failed to do so.
The rest of the episode is loosely divided into three overlapping parts:
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Eternity, constancy, or your normal routine? (Or all three?) - Living the tension of the already and not-yet Kingdom of God
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The sacrament of repentance - "Returning to insight" over and over again, rather than measuring behaviors or setting boundary markers.
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Forgiveness - Not erasing the past, but divinely redefining and reframing it in the light of the present.
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Episode 37 looks at chapter 52, which is intensely complex and profound.
I start by musing on the importance of guarding our words and senses in Lao Tzu's style in the midst of a world of constant information overload and communication lacking in nuance.
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The mother and the children - the unity of all things, Lao Tzu's "theology", and absorbing the qualities of God through union
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"Shut your mouth, guard your senses" - making space to experience union, echoes back to the overflowing bowl of chapter 9 and the sensory overload of chapter 12 making space to experience union
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Episode 36 looks at chapter 51, in which the abstract Tao, the origin and sustainer of all things, points to the more concrete virtue of Te, the selfless and ever-giving behavior of those in touch with the Tao as they emulate it. For Lao Tzu, we can only understand Te/virtue by first observing Tao/the order of all things. For Christians, we should arrive at Christian virtue by first observing God/Christ, rather than using Christian "values" and behaviors to arrive at proper theology.
The episode is divided into two main parts:
- "Natural revelation" - The Tao/God as origin and sustainer of all things
- Environmentalism among Christians
- The natural revelation of the Tao as a basis for understanding ultimate/primal virtue
- Three elements of virtue - all centered on "giving"
- What we produce / How we create
- What we provide / How we contribute
- What we preach / How we counsel
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Episode 35 looks at chapter 50, which talks about four kinds of people who relate to desire and their own mortality in very different ways. We'll discuss consumerism and desire with everything from razor-sharp critiques from a Taoist commentator, profound meditations by Christian mystics, a clever parable by Blaise Pascal, and even an analysis of the game dynamics of World of Warcraft.
I start the episode by considering the nature of desire and its relation to our own mortality - how it is often subconsciously motivated by the fact that we know we are all going to die. The rest of the content is divided into three sections:
- Students of life, students of death, and students of neither - reckless living, fearful living, and "zombie-ing our way through life"
- The moving horizon of desire and its psychological affects - from consumerism to World of Warcraft to human spirituality
- The wise person - the student of both life and death who is untouchable by the dangers and distractions of life
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Episode 34 looks at chapter 49, which is all about loving your enemies and staying faithful to the unfaithful. It has such strong resonances with the teachings of Jesus that it is impossible not to see a connection, but we're going to take it a lot deeper today.
I start the episode by contemplating just how difficult it is to really learn how to love your enemies. The rest of the content is divided into three sections:
- Empathy - indiscriminate, unconditional empathy is central to enemy love
- Seeing the antagonisms - becoming aware of cultural ideological conflicts and scapegoating
- The principle of attraction - a life in touch with the Tao or filled with Spirit of Christ doesn't need to evangelize "offensively" all the time; there is a vision of "attraction" in the Old Testament, the New Testament, and of course the Tao te Ching
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Episode 33 looks at chapters 47 and 48, which give two us two different but intimately connected themes: (1) internal wisdom and (2) deconstruction/unlearning.
I open by talking about so many different ways in which I've had to learn to deconstruct and unlearn when it comes to my own life, goals, and even personality. The rest of the content is divided into two main parts:
- Chapter 47 - The importance of internal wisdom and reflection in a world of overwhelming external input
- Chapter 48 - The neglected importance of deconstruction, or "unlearning", for learning and growing in wisdom
- Bad habits, first impressions, and personal narratives
- Cultural and theological narratives
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Hey everyone! I've got some good news and some bad news today. Which would you like first?
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The bad news - Due to some big changes in my life, the regular CRTTC show will now be switching to a biweekly production.
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The good news - For the weeks when there is no regular episode, I will be doing special extra episodes for my Patreon supporters. (http://www.patreon.com/crttc) For just $5/month, you'll get not only early access to the regular show, but special episodes diving deep into topics of life following Jesus with a Taoist outlook.
After the announcements, I take about 10 minutes to share some very personal thoughts about what is going on in life right now as I prep for huge life changes at the orphanage/school that I work at and how I am really struggling to find contentment in this time. I'll be honest: sharing this was a very last minute decision, so I hope it makes sense and you can benefit from it in some way, if only to know a little more about me.
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Episode 32 looks at chapter 46, which continues the theme of discontent from the last two weeks, this time placing it in the context of militarism and the nations of the world.
I start the episode by telling the story of how I first came to be disillusioned with politics and the hope for any real "change" in terms of the military policies of my country. The rest of the content is divided into two main parts:
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War horses or plow horses? Lao Tzu's metaphor for militarism and greed in a broken world.
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Discontentment and greed as foundations of brokenness
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What does it mean to "change the world"? Is that even a possibility? It's important to think carefully when we use language like this, because in one sense, the answer is a yes - and in the other, it is an emphatic no.
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Hi everyone! I'm taking a week off from the regular show since I've had an absolutely crazy few weeks and I'm trying to get ready to head back to Beirut next week. In the meantime, I figured I would offer a short story about an experience yesterday that drove me absolutely nuts and made me realize I need to do some serious self-examination.
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Episode 31 looks at chapters 44 and 45, which are all about contentment. Lao Tzu asks some cutting rhetorical questions to make us evaluate our priorities, then he lays out a new vision for true success.
I open by giving the headline version of my crazy story over the past year, which I've shared pieces of in the past, and how I've learned to maintain contentment in the midst of it. The rest of the content is divided into two main parts:
- Chapter 44 - Rhetorical questions: Fame or self, self or wealth, gain or loss - which ones are more important?
- Chapter 45 - True perfection seems imperfect: Lao Tzu's upside-down vision of success and prosperity
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Episode 30 looks at chapters 42 and 43, which give us some very practical insight into Lao Tzu's very unconventional theory of leadership. The truly noble leader adopts an attitude of extreme humility and willingness to lead by example more than words. The leader exhibits the characteristics of wu wei in a world full of frantic grasping for more and more power. I bring in a huge amount of Scripture to show just how similar Lao Tzu and Jesus's visions of leadership really are.
I open with a critique of rhetoric going on in American politics right now and how deeply it troubles me as someone working with children in a world where this type of behavior has been normalized. The rest of the content is divided into two main parts:
1. Chapter 42b - The leader who is willing to identify as "orphaned, widowed, and poor"
2. Chapter 43 - Wu wei in leadership
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And we're back! Episode 29 looks at the first few lines of chapter 42, which is a confusing paragraph about the creation of the universe and the yin-yang harmony. However, if we read carefully and creatively, I think we can find some powerful lessons in here.
In this episode, I start by considering just one of those practical lessons: the idea of finding balance or harmony between work and rest. The rest of the episode is divided into four parts:
- The Tao creates one; the one creates two - on unity in the world and the dangers of dualistic thinking
- The two creates three - the "third thing" as a reality of nature
- The third thing in practice - how this idea can practically affect our (1) emotional health, (2) faith/spiritual health, (3) intellectual health, and (4) ability to cultivate healthy, loving relationships
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This week I'm interviewing Christian Tao te Ching translator R. Joseph Owles. I love his translation and you probably do too since I use it very frequently on the show. In this interview, we talk about his method of translation, his journey with the Tao te Ching, his very unique Christian denomination (the "Old Catholic Church"), Hegelian and Taoist dialectics, and so much else. RJ was a great conversation partner, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
His book is called Everyone's Tao te Ching: The Tao te Ching for Those of Us Who Just Want to Find the Way. It's only $4.99 on Kindle (or free with Kindle Unlimited) and about $8 in print.
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Everyones-Tao-Te-Ching-Those-ebook/dp/B084M8VW9R
Print: https://www.amazon.com/Everyones-Tao-Te-Ching-Those/dp/B084GF58GZ
Stay tuned for more coming soon!
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As promised, things will be a bit different for a few weeks as I am currently home on leave from my work in Lebanon and I don't have the ability to put in the work needed to produce the quality of content we all expect!
This week, I'm sharing an interview of myself on the podcast The Reckless Pursuit. Although it's a bit weird to share an interview of yourself, I feel like this conversation gives a lot of background on the show and how the TTC has been an important part of my own personal story. We had some really great dialogue, and both Cody and Elaine added a lot to the conversation!
Cody and Elaine are evangelicals wrestling with their own journeys of deconstruction, and they have lots of fantastic conversations on their show. They also run:
Nomads - A safe community for Christians to ask unsafe questions
The Itinerant Podcast: Biblical history beyond the Bible
The Prodigal Daughter Podcast
Check out their stuff!
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This week I interviewed Christian TTC translator Marshall Davis, author of the The Tao of Christ. I can't recommend Davis's translation strongly enough, and I was so excited to have him on the show!
In the interview, we discuss his journey of discovering the TTC, his process and philosophy of translation, and a whole lot about living non-dualistic and inclusive Christianity. No matter where you stand, I'm sure that his views will challenge you to think critically.
Marshall's work:
Translation: The Tao of Christ
Blog Spiritual Reflections: marshalldavis.us
YouTube channel: christiannonduality.net
Podcast: TheTaoOfChrist.com
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I'm on leave in the US for six weeks, so for the next month or so, I'll be changing things up. Since I'm not able to put in the work to produce the quality of content we all want, I'll be doing some different episodes in the next few weeks.
I have scheduled two interviews with Christian Tao te Ching translators, so I look forward to sharing those. I also recently did an interview on the Reckless Pursuit podcast, and I am waiting to hear if I can share that here. (Of course, you can go check it out in the meantime!)
I'm also considering doing a listener Q&A episode. If you have any questions that would make for good discussion on the show, please click on the contact button at www.coreyfarr.com and let me know!
Lastly, I'm looking to expand my Patreon benefits, so I'm looking for listener feedback on what would be some compelling benefits to prompt you to make a $2-$15 monthly pledge.
Grace and peace everyone!
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Episode 28 changes things up a bit from my normal approach. Today, we'll look at chapter 40, an extremely short chapter that leaves a lot open to the imagination. We'll start with a discussion of chapter 40, the self-giving nature of the divine, and the way that death and resurrection are built into the fabric of the universe. Then, I will follow a thread of meaning that I discovered in the chapter and develop it through a Taoist poetry slam, using four of my own poems and a few others to take us on a journey through our own spirituality.
- A look at chapter 40, the self-giving nature of the divine, and death and resurrection
- First poem: David Jones' paraphrase of chapter 40
- The cyclical nature of life and more about the metaphor of the spiral/helix
- Second poem: Cycles
- Finding meaning in our past and our future
- Third poem: The first chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes
- Fourth poem: The eye of the storm
- The in-between spaces: disorientation and confusion
- Fifth poem: I live my life in a widening orbit
- Some real talk: wrestling with my own faith
- Sixth poem: The edge of my longing
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Episode 27 looks at chapter 39, where we are faced with a totally new topic: harmony with the environment and the devastating effects of disturbing that harmony. This episode focuses on the Christian Bible much more than any I have done before, in order to demonstrate that love and care for the environment is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, no matter how surprising this may be for some people.
In this episode, I start by lamenting the fact that much of recent church history has neglected or even rejected efforts to care for the environment.
The rest of the content follows this outline:
- Environmental awareness isn't just a practical matter - it's a spiritual one
- A litany of Scriptures showing God's care for the environment
- Developing "ecological virtue"
- Idealism and utopianism - is it responsible?
- A reading from Greta Thurnberg on the ecological crisis
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Episode 26 continues chapter 38 from last week, the first chapter of the book of Te. We will go through the three types of "low virtue" that Lao Tzu offers, and then I will tell some stories from my own life that illustrate each of these three (hence the title).
In this episode, I start with considering the idea that cultivating virtue may have parallels with learning a foreign language.
The rest of the content is divided into three parts:
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Etiquette/ritual - my "perfect Christian life" as a closet atheist
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Righteousness/justice - an embarrassing story where I tried to overthrow Bible class with a petition
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Benevolence - the time I chose to make the right choice in ministry, even when it was really hard
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Episode 25 looks at chapter 37 and the first part of chapter 38, which begins the second half of the Tao te Ching, called the Book of Te. We will revisit the theme of wu wei that we discussed before and look at it through the lens of effortless virtue, spontaneous goodness, or authentic spirituality.
In this episode, I start with describing just how insanely unpredictable my life has been for the last year and how an attitude of wu wei has helped me not just survive, but thrive.
The rest of the content is divided into three parts:
- Chapter 37 - The Tao is wu wei, and all things will be transformed in their own natural rhythms if we stay centered.
- Chapter 38 - High Te and low Te. The highest virtue does not hold on to virtue and acts without action.
- Living wu wei - Can living this way actually have any relevance for us living in the crazy world we see around us? Isn't it irresponsible?
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I think this is one of my favorite episodes so far! Episode 24 looks at the first eight lines of chapter 36, which provide a fascinating insight into what it looks like to not just see the world non-dualistically, but to actually live the nondualism of yin and yang.
In this episode, I start by sharing a story about how some of these principles have helped me in dealing with a very difficult boy from the orphanage I work at.
The rest of the content is divided into three parts, roughly based on four "lenses" various translators use to interpret the chapter:
- The ontological lens - the nondual world and the cyclical nature of history (and a bit about Black Lives Matter)
- The agency and allowing lenses - knowing when to allow and when to act in order to develop powerful and transforming relationships
- The inner disposition lens - deconstructing your faith and the spiral of growth
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Episode 23 looks at chapters 34-35 and 41, which rehearse some of our old paradoxical themes about the Tao but also bring in two key truths that, in classic non-dual fashion, seem to contradict each other at first. First, those who are touch with the Tao draw all people to themselves; but second, words about the Tao are bland, tasteless, and unappealing.
In this episode, I start by contemplatively commenting on some of the long list of paradoxes in chapter 41, bringing them directly into dialogue with Jesus.
The rest of the content goes through the primary points:
- Chapter 34 - Recapping the Tao as all-pervasive and self-giving
- Chapter 35a - The person in touch with Tao will draw all things to themselves
- Chapter 35b - The Tao is bland and tasteless
- Chapter 41 - Lao Tzu's version of the "Parable of the Sower"
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Episode 22 looks at chapter 33, which focuses on some fundamental principles of healthy spirituality: knowing yourself, finding contentment, and living life to the fullest.
In this episode, I consider the idea that your greatest strength can be your greatest weakness and how important it is to know yourself.
The rest of the content follows the four-part outline of the chapter:
- Knowing yourself
- Mastering yourself
- Wealth and contentment
- Finding life in the midst of death
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Episode 21 looks at chapters 30-31, which center around the themes of violence and war.
In this episode, I start with a very brief meditation on human justifications for violence before jumping right into the content, which is divided into three parts:
- Violence begets violence and rebounds back on itself
- Weapons are unnatural
- War is murder and should be mourned
(For those interested, I referenced René Girard and his Scapegoat Theory, which is well worth looking into for a deep analysis of the dynamics of violence and its purpose in human history and culture.)
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This episode finishes the journey started last week, in which I look at chapters 27-29 and 32. By tying together some overlapping themes, I will show the ways in which we lose our connection with the Tao and then come back around to find the road home to our true selves.
Because there is so much content, there is no intro or outro for this episode. Just wanted you to know that was intentional. :)
- Chapter 28 - The yin yang as a practical life philosophy (and not a religious symbol!)
- The "preferential option for the poor" in Christian and Taoist thought
- Returning to the "uncarved block," primal reality, original Eden, or the True Self
- The internal side
- The external side
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In this episode and the next, I look at chapters 27-29 and 32. By tying together some overlapping themes, I will show the ways in which we lose our connection with the Tao and then, next week, finding the road home to our true selves.
Because there is so much content, there is no intro or outro for this episode. Just wanted you to know that was intentional. :)
- The Tao as the "uncarved block" - primal reality or original Eden
- The problem of "naming" or carving the block
- Creating boundaries and limitations; the creation of the self
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Episode eighteen looks at chapters 25 and 26, which cover a huge range of profound topics, from cosmology to personal union with the Tao.
In this episode, I start by sharing a bit about how the simple practice of making my bed every morning has become a spiritual liturgy for me, reminding me every day of the character of a God who brings order from chaos. The rest of the content is divided into four parts:
- Lao Tzu's cosmology versus Ancient Near Eastern views on chaos
- The hierarchy of the universe
- Living in union with the Tao: beyond pessimism and optimism
- Three keys to hope: union, contentment, and meaning
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Episode seventeen looks at chapter 24, in which Lao Tzu goes off on those who overextend themselves and try too hard to shine. Arrogance, pride, and bragging seem like obvious vices, but it's always easier to identify them in others than it is to find them in ourselves.
In this episode, I start with a little reflection on one of many ways pride has manifested in my life. The rest of the content is divided into two parts:
- Standing on tiptoes and running too hard - don't overdo it, don't compare yourself to others, and trust yourself and your body
- Four warnings against arrogance and self-righteousness
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Episode sixteen looks at chapter 23, which takes us back to some foundational principles of healthy spirituality.
In this episode, I start with a meditation on the nature of accepting difficult situations that are out of our control - particularly the current situation with global quarantines. The rest of the content is divided into three parts:
- "Nature talks little" - the wisdom of holding your tongue
- Oneness with the Tao/God/Christ
- Simplicity, acceptance, and presence - the keys to healthy spirituality
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Episode fifteen looks at chapter 22, which is all about choosing to embrace your brokenness and emptiness in order to find real life. The parallels to the teachings of Jesus and the fundamental Christian principle of death/resurrection means that this episode is the most specifically theological and even "preachy" (hopefully in a good way!) that I've done.
In this episode, I start with sharing part of my story, running through a list of major crossroads in my life where I had to choose to die to myself, my desires, and my plans to pursue the voice of God calling. The rest of the content is divided into two parts:
- Chapter 22 part 1 - Finding wholeness and life through death to self and acceptance of brokenness and emptiness
- Chapter 22 part 2 - The importance of a life of total humility to have the most positive impact on the world around you
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The endless debate: Tao te Ching or Dao de Jing? Here's why both are wrong ... and both are right.
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Episode fourteen looks at chapter 21, which is an incredibly mysterious one that talks about the cosmic nature of the Tao. In fact, this whole episode is one of the most philosophical and abstract ones I've done to date.
In this episode, I start with some thoughts about how easy it is for us to forget that everything in the whole universe is spiritual and soaked in one way or another with the fingerprints of God. The rest of the content is divided into four parts:
- Chapter 21 part 1 - The Tao as both "elusive and intangible" as well as the source of all things. We cannot truly understand God, but we can understand God through creation at the same time we understand creation through God.
- Is God in the universe or out of it? - A reading from my journal
- Chapter 21 part 2 - Lao Tzu's big question: "How do I know all this? Because of this." What does that even mean? The fact is that there are certain ground-level questions - in science and in spirituality - that we can never really successfully answer. We can only deconstruct so far, and that's okay.
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Episode thirteen looks at chapter 20, where Lao Tzu gets intensely personal for the first time. He talks about the great challenge of choosing to break from his culture in so many ways in order to walk more in tune with Tao/the fundamental reality of the universe - or what we might call God's inherent design.
In this episode, I start with some thoughts on how divided our world is, particularly during this election season, and how it has become totally unacceptable to admit "I don't know" when it comes to serious issues. The rest of the content is divided into two parts:
- Chapter 20 part 1 - The "epistemological assault," what can we know and how can we know it? What is the difference between good and evil?
- Chapter 20 part 2 - Lao Tzu gets all emo and talks about how hard it is to be different from everyone else
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Episode twelve looks at chapters 18 and 19, which criticize the nature of top-down government and top-down morality. By pointing out the deficiency of ethical systems and moral codes, which fail to get to the heart of the issue, which is our inner disposition and connection with the divine.
In this episode, I start with a mini-rant from my 16 year old, radical self, and then consider how these chapters could have provided some much needed moderation and grounding. The rest of the content is divided into three parts:
- Chapter 18 part 1 - The defunct nature of all ethical and moral systems
- Chapter 18 part 2 - Two totally different ways of interpreting this chapter
- Chapter 19 - The personal side: get the inside right, and the outside will follow
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Episode eleven looks at chapters 17 and 57, which totally turn our ideas of good "leadership" upside down.
In this episode, I tell a story of a time I had to struggle with not getting a leadership position I really wanted and how I learned to deal with it. The rest of the content is divided into four parts:
- Chapter 17 part 1 - The best kind of leader is the "non-existent" one
- Chapter 17 part 2 - Trust: you get what you give
- Chapter 57 - Non-controlling leadership and government: Lao Tzu's Libertarian manifesto
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Episode ten looks at chapters 13 and 15, which completely dismantle our ideas of "success" and identity. It's a longer episode because there's just so much good stuff in here!
In this episode, I start with a mini-rant about the "American Dream" with a reading from chapter 13. The rest of the content is divided into four parts:
- Chapter 13 part 1 - "Success" is just as dangerous as failure
- Chapter 13 part 2 - The problem of the "self" (the False Self)
- Chapter 13 part 3 - Letting go of the False Self and finding the True Self
- Chapter 15 - The "ancient masters" and letting the mud settle to the bottom
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Episode nine looks at chapters 12 and 14, which talk about the dangers of the over-saturation with content and stimulation and, conversely, the opaque/mysterious nature of the divine.
In this episode, I start with a story about some time I spent in a private prayer retreat that, before I ever read the TTC, helped me discover some of the truths in it. The rest of the content is divided into three parts:
- Chapter 12 part 1 - "The five colors and five sounds," the diminishing returns of sensory pleasure
- Chapter 12 part 2 - Presence and community: the answers to the disturbing question of technology
- Chapter 14 - The indefinable Tao and the paradox of the divine (and Christ as the image of the invisible God)
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Episode eight looks at chapters 11 and 16, which talk about the empty spaces in life as the places where life, love, presence, patience, and peace can spring forth.
In this episode, I start with a story about how I found myself embarrassingly caught up in compulsive behavior as I was constantly checking user statistics for my blog and podcast. I then share a passage from chapter 16 of the TTC and how it helped bring me back to a place of stillness. The rest of the content is divided into three parts:
- Chapter 11 - The wheel, the clay pot, and the house: "Absence makes it all work"
- The "business of busyness"
- Chapter 16 - Mindfulness, stillness, and (maybe) how Jesus prayed
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Episode seven looks at chapters 9-10, two chapters that seriously challenge our narratives of success, productivity, and worth.
In this episode, I start by sharing a story about a friend of mine who nearly worked herself to death, and how I wish I had known about these chapters and been able to share them with her. The rest of the content is divided into three parts:
1. Chapter 9 part 1 - The paradox of how too much becomes nothing at all
2. Chapter 9 part 2 - A better way to live
3. Chapter 10 - Wu wei and childlike faith
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Episode six looks at chapters 6 and 78, both of which focus on the metaphor of water.
In this episode, I start by sharing a story of a ministry I joined with the wrong expectations, only to end up frustrated and disappointed, along with how I think this part of the TTC could have been a huge help during that time. The rest of the content is divided into three parts:
- Chapter 8 - The Tao is like water
- Chapter 78 part 1 - The weak overcomes the strong
- Chapter 78 part 2 - The paradox of the good leader as the one who takes the lowest place and serves all
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Episode five looks at chapters 5-7, which aren't directly related thematically, but I think they are helpful to look at together.
In this episode, I start by sharing a story about a time in ministry where I felt extremely unappreciated and even unliked, and how some words from the TTC would have really helped me out. The rest of the content is divided into three parts:
- Chapter 7 - On emptiness and letting go: the Tao is like this, so we should be too
2. Chapter 6 - Using feminine language to describe the Tao and God (as done in the Bible)
3. Chapter 5 - Where I strongly disagree with one way the TTC talks about emotional detachment/indifference
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Episode four looks at chapter 3, where we have the principles discussed in chapter 2 applied to the life of communities and society as a whole.
In this episode, I start by sharing a story about a very embarrassing moment in my past, along with some words from the TTC I wish I had heard back then. The rest of the content is divided into two parts:
- Rethinking what (and who) we value - the danger of focusing too much on "success" and earthly possessions
- The "wise person/Master" as both ideal leader and a model for living counter-culturally, challenging the systems of idolatry and scapegoating that fuel our society
I also share two poems I have written that directly relate to these themes. Thanks so much for listening! Don't forget to subscribe and share!
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It's always difficult to ask for help, but sometimes you gotta do it!
Here are three easy ways to help CRTTC get off the ground:
1. Write a short review on your podcast player (preferably Apple podcasts) - the single most important metric for launching a show, and the most difficult one to get people to do
2. Share on social media - the most obvious way to help
3. Check out our Patreon - become part of the community, and sign up soon to get two FREE "Founding Member" stickers for eternal fame and glory
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Episode three discusses two core concepts found in chapter two of the TTC - non-dualistic thinking and wu wei, or “actionless action.”
In this episode, I start by sharing about how chapter 2 of the TTC helped me get through a period of major frustration. The rest of the content is divided into three parts:
- An introduction to non-dualistic thinking in the Tao te Ching
- Defining dualistic thinking
- Wu wei - “actionless action”
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Episode two looks at two important chapters that lay a philosophical foundation for understanding what exactly we mean when we talk about the “Tao.”
In this episode, I start by sharing a story of how the TTC helped me during a period of spiritual crisis. The rest of the content is divided into three parts:
- The Tao - Without a name, without a beginning
- The Tao - Without desire
- The paradox of the Tao - the “empty source” of all things
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The Tao te Ching has radically transformed my spiritual life as a Jesus follower. This introductory episode lays a foundation for the entire series and by answering some important questions and defining some crucial terms.
In this episode, I start by sharing a personal story of how I first encountered the Tao te Ching. The rest of the content is divided into three parts:
- How could a Christian possibly read the TTC for spiritual formation?
- What is the Tao te Ching, and what does it talk about?
- How the Tao, the Te, and the Wise Person/Sage can be read as analogous to the Way, the Word, and the Christ.
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