How to Deal with Hateful Christians
Or Any Other Religious Debate
A Beginner’s Guide to Taoism
Or Any Other Religious Debate
For anyone who has looked at my publication cover page of The Taoist Online, it should come as no surprise that Christianity and I have a rocky past. Two of my most read articles on Medium discuss how and why I quit Christianity about 10 years ago.
Being a Taoist in the north Texas isn’t easy because Texas bleeds churches. I remember driving down the street to high school and counting the churches I passed on the way. Three. The town my brother lives in currently is more crowded with them. Driving from his house to his church, you have to pass a second church even though his church is less than a mile away!
Since I published those articles nearly two months ago, I’ve received supportive comments on social media, and on Medium, from concerned Christian readers. For the most part, they are apologetic and wish my story was different or that I had been treated better. Trust me, so do I.
Kindness should always be greeted with kindness.
However, a number of Christian readers made accusations in my comments. Statements like “this was your fault,” and, “you didn’t admit to any wrongdoing which you clearly did,” appeared more than once. I also had one comment that asked me to let go of my “baggage.”
If you turn on American news now, all you’ll see is people who claim to be Christians taking away books, civil rights, medical support, and a host of other items because others follow a different standard of living.
So, as a Taoist, what am I to do? Am I supposed to be like a Vulcan in Star Trek and not feel emotions? Should we all become Zen masters and speak in riddles back to them and laugh? The answer might surprise you.
Tao Te Ching Chapter 56
Those who know do not speak.
Those who speak do not know.
Seal the openings.
Shut the doors.
Dull your sharpness.
Untie your knots.
Dim your light.
Become one with the dust.
This is called the profound union.
Those who obtain it
Can neither be seduced nor abandoned.
Those who obtain it
Can neither be favored nor neglected.
Those who obtain it
Can neither be honored nor humiliated.
Therefore, they are the most esteemed in the world
From the text above the seminal Taoist text, Tao Te Ching, Lao-tzu teaches interfering with a person's true nature is not in harmony with the Tao. We also learn that becoming our true selves is the key to a harmonious life. Everything and everyone on Earth have Tao flow through it and around it.
People must be allowed to find their own way through life and there’s no need to journey into other lands or fight any battles to find your true nature. This quality is repeated throughout Tao Te Ching specifically in chapter 47.
Without stepping out the door,
You can know the world.
Without looking through the window,
You can see Heaven’s Way.
The longer you travel, the less you know.
Since the ideal person in Taoism is in perfect tune with their nature, they don’t need to travel anywhere or speak to anyone.
This is in direct opposition to Jesus’ great commission in Matthew 28:19.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Christianity requires its followers to tell everyone and convince them that “no one comes to the Father (aka heaven) but through Me (Jesus) (John 14:6).
The Answer
If you’re still here and if you just scrolled to the end, then here is the answer you're looking for. How do you deal with Christians who are combative and mean?
You don’t.
Even though you have been trained your whole life to stand up for “what is right” is essential to your life.
They are on their own journey, and you can’t possibly know the outcome of their actions and voices as it reverberates through time. As we learned last week, Tao isn’t moral. It doesn’t judge who is right or wrong. It treats everyone justly and equally and so should we as members of our communities. When they are sick? Treat them. When they are sad, allow them to cry on your shoulder if they need one.
As mentioned above, Taoists strive for no ambitions and take no credit when rewards are given. We simply follow the way of water. Treat all people as you do any other person, including those who would do you harm.
