
Tao before Te - natural revelation and virtue (chapter 51)
About this episode
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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