All Things Expounded

I’m going to be launching into some quotes/references  to Alan Watts’ autobiography called “In My Own Way”.  It certainly is not because I condone his worldview, in fact my worldview is quite different than his!

I’ve previously posted some references to the writings of Alan Watts, a now deceased scholar/lecturer famed for really being the one who more than anyone else spoke Eastern religious/philosophical principles successfully to a Western audience. One thing that really struck me in his “The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are” was how deeply he understood the way the “gaze” of the Christian God deeply disturbs people. He really provided a window into his perspective on the Christian view of God–which reflects how non-Christians view God in general.  You can read some excerpts and my reflections in an older blog post from my previous blog. Reading what Watts wrote really struck me deeply, just to see how deeply he understood the crux of the issue and yet walked away from it rejecting the Christian conception of God.

Watts was born in England, became an Anglican Bishop and eventually left that, and made it to California.  His alcoholism later in life probably shortened his life quite a bit.

Watts was a patient, thoughtful lecturer who gave his pupils a lot of respect and really clearly communicated what he believed. He was witty, engaging, and an appealing figurehead.  He was humorous, but not excessively. He was forceful, but not abrasive.  In many ways he was a sort of “Francis Schaeffer” for Eastern Religion. Generally appealing to the counterculture, very apt to listen and answer questions, understanding, willing to communicate in new ways that challenge the status quo, etc. In a number of different ways His religious/philosophical views were eclectic, but probably most closely identified with Zen Buddhism.

My main motive in reading this book and also posting quotes is to really understand Eastern Religion better on an apologetical level, and also help other Christians towards the same. Its very easy for us to misunderstand Eastern Religion, and I think Watts provides a good starting point for getting a better and more effective understanding.  Also, secondarily Watts is simply an engaging and entertaining writer. Some of the things he wrote are quite quoteable and worth thinking about.  Sometimes I will merely quote him. Other times I will quote him and pose questions or respond with thoughts or critiques. I trust that readers will both get a better picture of the thought patterns of an Eastern Religionist/Philosopher, and also perhaps in some minor ways be better equipped to engage these ideas apologetically from a Christian standpoint,