Do you have any resources which can help me to share with a friend who has embraced Taoism?
Forgive me for stating the obvious, but your best resource is the Bible, and more specifically Jesus. I would point my Taoist friend toward the scriptures and toward Jesus. I would just bet that he or she will claim to believe that Jesus, like Lao Tzu, was a wise teacher. You could perhaps use this to your advantage. I am enclosing an outline which is an argument from the life and cliams of Jesus that he is not a mere sage, but in fact the one and only way to find God. You could attempt to dig up some "dirt" on Lao Tzu, but I suggest you not do this. Very likely you will find that he was a relatively good man who was a sage and a wise teacher. You will not win your friend by besmirching Lao Tzu, but rather by lifting up Jesus Christ. I hope the outline below will help. A small note first on Lao Tzu. His religion is really at least as much a philosophy as a religion. It is essentially a self-focused philosophy and lifestyle. Lao Tzu taught enlightenment through escaping from the world to contemplate nature and self.
Ideas about Jesus: He is either
Sage or
Prophet
Liar
Crazy person
Messiah
Son of Man
God in the flesh
Legend/Myth
Man (ie. mere man)
An important religious leader (among many)
Q: Specific examples of people or groups of people who accept some of these?
Some of these do not contradict
Example: Liar and crazy
Sage, prophet, Messiah, God in the flesh.
Robert Price: Man and Myth (he was a real person, but his followers made him into a mythical miracle-working, dying-and-raising man/god)
These claims were made publicly, more often than not in front of hundreds of people, most likely made dozens of times, even if we only have one or two records of the claim.
1. I am the subject of the Old Testament! John 5:39 “These are the scriptures that testify
about me.” Imagine the audacity in the context.
2. John 6:35f I am the bread of life. (I am spiritual food which, when eaten, will result in eternal life v. 40 6:44 I will raise him up v 51 I am the living bread v 54 I will raise him up.
a. Note how Jesus backed up this claim John 6:1-15
3. Jn 8:49-59 and Jn 10:27-33 Jesus claimed to be God.
Jn 8:58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I
AM!” Here of course, Jesus is referring directly back to Exodus 3:14.
a. Note the response 8:59 At this they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid
himself, slipping away from the temple grounds
John 10:30 I and the Father are one.
a. Out of context, we could debate the implications, but look what happened.
10:31-32 Again, the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any of these,” Replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
4. A life without sin. John 8:46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?
a. Note their response. “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” Accusing him of being crazy or attacking his heritage. Not very rational!
5. I am the resurrection and the life. John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even if he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
a. Note how Jesus backed this up. Jn 11:38-44. Lazarus come out.
b. Note hundreds of witnesses. Note the response was either to believe in Jesus or to want to kill him. Jn 11:45-48.
6. I am the only way to God. No other way. John 14:6
Q: Other claims? (most will perhaps fall into a previous category)
7. Forgive sins. Mark 2:1-12 “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
a. He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone.
The point: anyone making these claims is either crazy, a liar or…..
Is there any evidence Jesus was crazy? Does anyone claim this?
Mark 3:22-30 His family: “He is out of his mind.”
Rabbis: “He is possessed by a demon.”
Jesus: This is totally illogical
Is there any evidence Jesus was a liar? What do liars do?
Two possibilities: Either Jesus made these claims or he did not. If he did not, then he is, at least in some sense a “myth.”
If he did, then he is who he claimed to be, unless we can prove he is a liar or a crazy person.
What did Buddha, Mohammed, etc. claim about themselves and what did their immediate followers claim about them?
Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) about 567-487 BC
Claimed to be a wise teacher. Did NOT claim to work miracles. Did NOT claim to be God. Did NOT claim to be a prophet, per se. Did not claim to be perfect.
Muhammed AD 570-632
Claimed to be a prophet. Claimed to receive revelation directly from an angel. Did NOT claim to be God. Did NOT claim to be able to work miracles. Did NOT claim to be perfect (but Muslims are a bit shaky on this)
Zoroaster (Zarathustra) Founder of Zoroastrianism. (about 1000 BC, but we do not know plus or minus a few centuries when or where he lived. Maybe in Eastern Iran, maybe in central Asia) We do not know when or how he died. In fact, he may very well be a completely legendary figure. Claims: a prophet and good teacher.
Moses (about 1460-1380 BC?) Claimed to be a prophet. Claimed to receive knowledge directly from God. Did claim to work miracles. Did NOT claim to be perfect. Did NOT claim to be God.
Lao Tzu Similar claims to those of the Buddha
Mary Baker Eddy, Ellen G. White, Joseph Smith, Baha’Ullah All claimed to be prophets and to provide inspired teaching. Did NOT claim to work miracles. Did NOT claim to be God. Joseph Smith did claim that parts of the OT were about him and he did make claims which gave him an almost messiah-like figure.
Bottom line, Jesus is the only figure in the entire history of mankind who has made such outrageous claims who has ever been taken seriously by more than a tiny lunatic fringe.
Jesus is very different. In fact, Jesus is completely unique.
The only figures Jesus is even slightly similar to is completely mythical “people.”
John Oakes
Ideas about Jesus: He is either
Sage or
Prophet
Liar
Crazy person
Messiah
Son of Man
God in the flesh
Legend/Myth
Man (ie. mere man)
An important religious leader (among many)
Q: Specific examples of people or groups of people who accept some of these?
Some of these do not contradict
Example: Liar and crazy
Sage, prophet, Messiah, God in the flesh.
Robert Price: Man and Myth (he was a real person, but his followers made him into a mythical miracle-working, dying-and-raising man/god)
These claims were made publicly, more often than not in front of hundreds of people, most likely made dozens of times, even if we only have one or two records of the claim.
1. I am the subject of the Old Testament! John 5:39 “These are the scriptures that testify
about me.” Imagine the audacity in the context.
2. John 6:35f I am the bread of life. (I am spiritual food which, when eaten, will result in eternal life v. 40 6:44 I will raise him up v 51 I am the living bread v 54 I will raise him up.
a. Note how Jesus backed up this claim John 6:1-15
3. Jn 8:49-59 and Jn 10:27-33 Jesus claimed to be God.
Jn 8:58 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I
AM!” Here of course, Jesus is referring directly back to Exodus 3:14.
a. Note the response 8:59 At this they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid
himself, slipping away from the temple grounds
John 10:30 I and the Father are one.
a. Out of context, we could debate the implications, but look what happened.
10:31-32 Again, the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any of these,” Replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
4. A life without sin. John 8:46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?
a. Note their response. “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” Accusing him of being crazy or attacking his heritage. Not very rational!
5. I am the resurrection and the life. John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even if he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”
a. Note how Jesus backed this up. Jn 11:38-44. Lazarus come out.
b. Note hundreds of witnesses. Note the response was either to believe in Jesus or to want to kill him. Jn 11:45-48.
6. I am the only way to God. No other way. John 14:6
Q: Other claims? (most will perhaps fall into a previous category)
7. Forgive sins. Mark 2:1-12 “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
a. He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone.
The point: anyone making these claims is either crazy, a liar or…..
Is there any evidence Jesus was crazy? Does anyone claim this?
Mark 3:22-30 His family: “He is out of his mind.”
Rabbis: “He is possessed by a demon.”
Jesus: This is totally illogical
Is there any evidence Jesus was a liar? What do liars do?
Two possibilities: Either Jesus made these claims or he did not. If he did not, then he is, at least in some sense a “myth.”
If he did, then he is who he claimed to be, unless we can prove he is a liar or a crazy person.
What did Buddha, Mohammed, etc. claim about themselves and what did their immediate followers claim about them?
Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) about 567-487 BC
Claimed to be a wise teacher. Did NOT claim to work miracles. Did NOT claim to be God. Did NOT claim to be a prophet, per se. Did not claim to be perfect.
Muhammed AD 570-632
Claimed to be a prophet. Claimed to receive revelation directly from an angel. Did NOT claim to be God. Did NOT claim to be able to work miracles. Did NOT claim to be perfect (but Muslims are a bit shaky on this)
Zoroaster (Zarathustra) Founder of Zoroastrianism. (about 1000 BC, but we do not know plus or minus a few centuries when or where he lived. Maybe in Eastern Iran, maybe in central Asia) We do not know when or how he died. In fact, he may very well be a completely legendary figure. Claims: a prophet and good teacher.
Moses (about 1460-1380 BC?) Claimed to be a prophet. Claimed to receive knowledge directly from God. Did claim to work miracles. Did NOT claim to be perfect. Did NOT claim to be God.
Lao Tzu Similar claims to those of the Buddha
Mary Baker Eddy, Ellen G. White, Joseph Smith, Baha’Ullah All claimed to be prophets and to provide inspired teaching. Did NOT claim to work miracles. Did NOT claim to be God. Joseph Smith did claim that parts of the OT were about him and he did make claims which gave him an almost messiah-like figure.
Bottom line, Jesus is the only figure in the entire history of mankind who has made such outrageous claims who has ever been taken seriously by more than a tiny lunatic fringe.
Jesus is very different. In fact, Jesus is completely unique.
The only figures Jesus is even slightly similar to is completely mythical “people.”
