Although I have not studied the Bible throughout my life, I have looked at it critically in two of my classes now at Temple. I find the difference of thoughts when reading for worship or for study very interesting. Along with this, the Bible can be taken in many alternate ways other than the most common for each chapter. For the Daodejing, this promotes a specific way of knowing without actually searching for it. The Bible and Daodejing have similarities relating to the unit for the class, as well as differences in how they achieve this "way of knowing." One does not have to necessarily "believe" in these certain faiths, yet they can understand critically how each one is constructed.
The Bible is the most popular book in the world. It is the standard for Catholic/Christian faith and Genesis, also part of the Judaic faith. Genesis contains stories that are meant to exemplify what one is to do/not to do. This is a little different from Daodejing, because it uses stories, rather than direct text. The stories in Genesis can contain multiple meaning, and the reader can have their own opinions/thoughts on what it is trying to promote. One can see this in the first story of creation. There is an alternate story included right after the first story of creation. However, the stories are all there to support some kind of action/non action. This is a key opposite of Daodejing; the Daodejing promotes not doing anything to achieve a happy medium.
The Daodejing of Laozi, translated by Ivanhoe, is an interesting look into a totally different way of thinking and culture of another society. This was a new way of thought for me, and I believe is good to study/compare to cultures of today. It gives one a perspective of how ways of thinking has transformed throughout history. The key in Daodejing is doing nothing means everything. Without searching for happiness, one will achieve this by having a balanced life. The Dao is very adament on not striving for excess of anything. One will not achieve this balance if going on overboard on greed. This reminds me of the popular saying, "You can't always get what you want, but you get what you need." The Dao promotes having happiness with only what you need.
The Bible and Daodejing are very different texts and ways of knowing, however contain some similaraties in their purpose. The Bible uses stories to encourage the reader to follow the way of action in the text. The Dao also promotes a style of a way of knowing, yet it uses non-action to discover the Dao, or the happy medium of life. Both Genesis and Daodejing hope to help one achieve a positive way of knowing. They use action/non-action or non-pursuit of a happy middle ground in life. Through stories and/or suggestions, these to works are monumental in faiths and ways of knowing, and are why they should be included in the Mosaics curriculum.
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