Date: Wed, 04 Sep 1996 09:26:31 -0700
From: cwellen <cwellen-AT-pen.k12.va.us>
Subject: Re:  Mao's "God"


--------------------------------------

Comradely Greetings from Wei En Lin



On Wed, Sept 4, we read some comments concerning:

"Chairman Mao's quip about going "to meet Marx"
and that "our God" i.e. the "god" of the Marxists, is
the masses."

The quote I mentioned did not refer to Mao's
going "to meet Marx."  Mao, nearing death spoke
of going "to meet God."  The statement did appear
to be a quip, since Mao was speaking about
his own death and the legacy of his thought
in a consistently serious tone. Let us
be accurate.

Many times, as Mao grew older, he spoke
of his own death in traditional or
semi-traditional ways.  For instance,
he spoke of traveling to the Kun Lun
Mountains, or  the "Heaven," of the classics.

The quote about the God and the people
is being dealt with out of context, if
Mr. Godena thinks it was meant as a quip.
  

The statement was:


"The Chinese Communist Party must persevere
and work unceasingly, and we too, will touch God's
heart.  Our God is none other than the masses of the
Chinese People."

[This is from "The Foolish Old Man Who Removed
Mountains, one of the Three Texts, which Mao
most often urged people to read, from 1966
onwards.  Found in Mao's "Selected Works"
Vol. III, 321-322]


I pose these questions for who say Maoism
and belief in God are inconsistent.

If Maoism and the idea of God are
inconsistent, then why does Mao
urge people to read this text?

Why any mention of "God" whatever?

Are Leninists going to accuse Mao
of 'God-building' (a la Lunacharsky)?

Is it possible that Mao's notion
of God is so radically different
>from the Western notion that the 
same criticisms used against
traditionalist Christian
Theology are inappropriate?

Mr. Godena ignores the substance
of my post, and falls (perhaps
inadvertently) into the same
error which I describe.

He claims to understand the
spirit and substance of Mao's
Thought.  Yet in calling me
"Mr. En-Lin" he reveals a
very superficial knowledge
of Chinese culture.  Virtually
everyone on this list who
has contacted me, has 
called me Mr. Wei, revealing
that they know the surname comes
first in China.  

I do not fault Mr. Godena for his
error, but I do believe he
should know the rudiments of 
Chinese culture before he makes
pronouncements about the nature
of Mao's thought which have broad
implications for Chinese Philosophical
Tradition.

Mr. Godena says,

"If you cannot separate irony and metaphor 
>from philosofical fideism, you are
really in trouble . . ."

But he has ignored the fact that
Fideism and other forms of
Western "faith" are alien
to most of Chinese philosophy.

He ignores the fact that Chinese
philosophy has a significant
tradition which does not fall
in line with Cartesian dualism,
the separation between Body and
Spirit, the World and God.  

I suggest, most respectfully,
that people should study some
Chinese philosophy before they
generalize about Mao's notion of
God.  They should remember his
writings were addressed to a Chinese
audience, and that some familiarity
with the traditions of that audience
is advisable.  At least to the extent
of not imposing Western categories where
they do not apply.

I also respectfully suggest that
Mr. Godena reread my post and reply 
to the specifics, rather than avoiding
them.  Please advance the argument, 
do not elude it.

As to the accusation that I am trying
to "coddle to religion", my main point
is simple enough.

I am not arguing for religion.  I am
arguing that some religious believers
can contribute to revolutionary praxis;
and that some ideas, which are called religious
are consistent with revolutionary thought
and practice.

I am arguing that one should be open-
minded and not jump to conclusions, especially
when other cultures are concerned. 


Sincere Regards,

Wei En Lin


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