[Platt to Ron] But, I think you are onto something comparing Christian doctrine to the MOQ.
[Arlo] Pirsig himself compares the Quality with The Tao, and there is an deliberate association between Pirsig's thesis and Zen Buddhism, one Pirsig articulates frequently (see both the MOQ Summary and Pirsig's interview with Tim Adams on Ant's site). But on the deepest level, an esoteric reading of most spiritual systems demonstrate their underlying similar foundations. They are culturally disparate, to be sure, and nationalistically manipulated throughout the ages, but when one targets "spirituality", and begins to seek that which lies beyond the culturally-specific metaphor of the myth, one finds a common wellspring of understanding. Whether one seeks to adopt the metaphor of the Christian Gnostics or the Zen Buddhists is hardly relevant... except for those who seek to raise on exoteric system above the other, and this usually aligns with nationalism, power and the subjugation of the flock. In other words, if your goal is to aggrandize Christianity, you are on an evil path. If you goal is to uncover the meanings buried in the esoteric language of Christianity towards demonstrating the universality and commonality of all mankind's myths (and hence all "man"), you are on the right path (as a Buddhist might say). I wish I had faith that you were on the latter path, but given your unrelenting idolatry of "Western Culture", and more specifically "American-Christian" culture, I fear its the former. Ron, be careful the flames you fan. The next song you may hear is "Onward Christian Soldiers"... moq_discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
