Letter to the Editor

Books and Culture, Feb 2003

Sent 26 Feb 2003 in response to Jan/Feb 2003 issue, not published

The Tao Made Flesh

Dear Books and Culture editor,

Thanks for the interesting Jan/Feb 2003 issue. I was especially intrigued by David Marshall's "The Tao Made Flesh." Many libertarians have noted early support for human liberty and limited government in Taoism. My contention is that God is the author of liberty and its development in the West is primarily due to our Judeo-Christian heritage. Rather than seeing Taoist inklings as a competing source of inspiration, the article encourages us to (following Augustine) see it as Providence sketching a rough draft of redemption within a pagan culture. Fascinating!

Steven P. Sawyer