RE: The Unfathomable

Webb, Steve (swebb@asce.org)
Thu, 4 Nov 1999 12:06:38 -0500

In at least one translation of the Tao Te Ching, Lau Tzu proudly proclaims, "I am like an idiot, my mind is so empty!" Cynthia's remarks made me see an analogy between this and saying that we're all sinners. If I proclaim, "I know it all!" ( = "I am without sin"), we inhibit learning (= improving ourselves morally).

-----Original Message-----
From: Cynthia [mailto:cyn386@flash.net]
Sent: Thursday, November 04, 1999 2:21 AM

> > I don't understand what is wrong about saying that we are all sinners??
>
> A little thing called a guilt trip perhaps?

This doesn't make any sense. Prideful people who expect themselves to be perfect are the ones plagued with guilt.

> And look at what has been
> accomplished by those who would push their version of expiatiion off on
the
> rest of us. We could start with earliest Babylon, work thru the Spanish
> Inquisition.....take a side trip thru Aztec Sacrifices......
>
> All in the name of telling us we are all sinners.....that's what's wrong..

This doesn't make any sense either.