Paganism is making a comeback in our century. I see the signs all over the place. There is growing interest in the rituals and beliefs of Ancient Rome and Greece, as well as in those of northern Paganism, whether it’s the Vikings or the Celtic tribes.
I must however reject any conflation between Paganism and Taoism, no matter how pure the intentions of those who defend such spiritual proximity. Why is my rejection so determined? It could prove beneficial for both philosophies in the short term, I guess, but in the long term, the differences can’t be reconciled.
For the purpose of this discussion, I am going to refer to the Ancient Greek variety of Paganism, not because it’s the largest in terms of current influence, but because I am familiar with its history and practices. In any case, my points also apply to the other varieties of Paganism.
For starters, Paganism is immensely more complex than the Tao Te Ching and any other Taoist variance. Lao-Tzu, Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu would have been perplexed by the large number of deities, semi-deities and magical signs perceived by Pagans.
The problem of complexity
The Ancient Greek venerated a dozen major divinities, but those were accompanied by a large number of second-tier gods and goddesses; each of them had his own story that intertwined the stories of other gods and goddesses; for the uninitiated, the level of complexity was mind-boggling.
If I wanted to know about my future, I would go to a temple devoted to Apollo. If I wanted to see my trade flourish, I would pray to Hermes, the god of commerce. However, for shipping my goods overseas, I would try to secure the good will of the god of the sea, Poseidon.
When it comes to wisdom, I would ask the goddess Athena for advice, but not in every area. For questions of romance, it’s better to obtain the support of Aphrodite, and for wine drinking and a joyful life, I would ask Dionysus. If I wanted to succeed at hunting, I should pray to Artemis, and for a happy family life.
The Ancient Greeks viewed Zeus as the most powerful god, but in practice, some other gods and goddesses did everything possible to circumvent his orders. When I look at the stories of the Gorgons, Pan, Eros, Persephone, Cerberus and Hades, I get a feeling of utter ethical and intellectual anarchy.
In contrast to the complexity of forces in Paganism, the practitioners of Taoism regard the Tao, that is, natural law, as simple, predictable, and indifferent to our personal preferences.
Taoists don’t expect Hermes to save an ailing business from bankruptcy, nor do they expect Poseidon to save their boat in a storm. Chuang-Tzu would have politely listened to the stories about Zeus’ infinite power, and then go to do his own thing.
The question of subjectivity
Chapter 5 of the Tao Te Ching formulates the principle that “the Tao has no preference.” If we make a mistake, we should not expect natural law to change the course of events, so that we are spared the trouble of repairing the damage that we have caused.
Thus, Taoists are committed to taking action themselves to run their business profitably, or if they go sailing, to steer away from storms. If the wind changes in their favour, they are happy to take advantage of it, but they will not waste a second saying a prayer to thank Poseidon, Zeus, or any other deity.
Paganism is not only more complex than the Tao Te Ching, but also more erratic. Deities can change their minds and make our lives more difficult. They can decide to help us in times of need, or push us into the precipice.
Even with the best intentions, it is not always easy to figure out what Apollo, Athena or Zeus want us to do. Their signs are cryptic, only perceivable by the initiated, and when it comes to interpreting them, each cook will come up with his own recipe.
In contrast, Taoists expect natural law to run its course in all situations, for better or for worse. Their principal goal is to align their actions with natural law, but the Tao Te Ching only gives us approximate prescriptions.
For instance, Chapter 64 of the Tao Te Ching provided solid advice for avoiding unnecessary trouble in life. It exhorts us to deal with problems as soon as they emerge. If we ignore them, they will grow and become daunting and unassailable.
At the same time, it advises us to adjust our speed to the Tao and avoid rushing, pushing, and exerting excessive pressure. It is all about harmony and smoothness, not about forced victory that cannot be sustained in the long term.
If we place a Pagan and a Taoist practitioner side by side, the differences in lifestyle and behaviour will grow with each passing day. In some circumstances, they will make the same decision, but for very different reasons.
Different paths
Occasionally, Taoists might be as hesitating as Pagans about the choice to make. It is hard to find the path of the Tao when we are subjected to extreme pressure, lacking information, and facing unfamiliar issues. Indeed, Taoists are not omniscient.
Even when confronted with deep uncertainty, Taoists do not expect to find any magical clue, pointing them to a solution to their problems. Instead, they will study the works of Lao-Tzu, Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu, looking for inspiration, intellectual enlightenment, and examples of similar situations.
As a philosophy, I regard Paganism as better than most due to its emphasis on a natural lifestyle. It drives its practitioners away from artificiality, phoniness and mendacity. It also makes them face the frailties of human nature, which are mirrored by their deities.
Would I rate Taoism as superior to Paganism? Only in one area, namely, speed. It takes substantial effort to learn about all deities and semi-deities, magical clues, how to interpret them, and how to practise them consistently. In contrast, it takes little effort, relatively, to learn the principles of the Tao Te Ching.
In a day or week, the difference will not show, but across a lifetime, it makes a difference how fast we make decisions, put them into practice, and correct mistakes. I would find it hard to make quick decisions if I need to figure out what Athena, Thor, Odin, or any other Pagan deity is trying to tell me.
While the average Taoist shows the willingness to let things take their course, come what may, Paganism may lead its least experienced practitioners to expect too much external help. In any case, I wish them well, especially when they give primacy to a natural lifestyle over the fashion of the day.
If you want to apply effective ideas in all sorts of situations, I recommend my book “Asymmetry: The shortcut to success when success seems impossible.”