[Vnbiz] Leadership -- Knowledge in Human Affairs (used to be "Nha Trang Bay")

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

Dear Brother Phong & CACC,

Let me point out the danger of "pigeon-holed" knowledge.  Today, in some
circles, there is this discouragement against anything that may be labeled
"religion."  So good knowledge from a teacher will not be learned freely, if
the teacher is labeled "religious."  On the other hand, stupid political
stuff will be promoted freely if it is labeled "religious freedom."

We need to look past the label to the substance of things.  If "religious"
is barred, then Victor Hugo should not be mentioned because the Cao Dao
people worship him, Confucianism should not be learned because it is a
religion in many circles.  Same thing with Taoism.  Also Pitagoras (sp?),
the mathematician, because there was an ancient religion that worshiped
him.  A member f a VCP told me that Communism is a religion, in the way it
indoctrinates people.  So let's not talk about Communism and anything good
in socialism.  And the way people khan vai to Ho Chi Minh and talk
constantly about his teaching is very "religious" to me.  We need to stay
away from talking about him too.

On the other hand, anything stupid around, from con artists cheating people
for money to opportunist trouble-making politicos who use religion as a
political cover should be highly respected because of "freedom of religion."

We need to look at the real substance, and ignore the label.  Learn the good
thing and bar the bad thing.  It is that simple.

Have a great day!

Hoanh

On 6/12/07, Hong-Phong_Pho at ita.doc.gov <Hong-Phong_Pho at ita.doc.gov> wrote:
>
> [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
>
>
>
>
> Dear anh Hoanh,
> Neither Jesus nor Buddha are governmental nor political leaders.  Nor do
> they claim to be.
> Jesus said his Kingdom is not of this world.
> We are still living in the age of nation states, with competing interests.
>  Follow religious teachings verbatim and a leader would be out of a country.
> That's just reality.  The best we have come up with so far is how to
> regulate competion with the rule of law, a decidedly unemotional area.  It's
> not ideal, but we haven't evolved to the ideal yet.
> Some very wise people came up with the separation of church and state idea
> because they learned that religion can manipulate and be manipulated to the
> detriment of human welfare.  Their experiment worked well so far, or atleast
> better than ideology that are more Utopian, such as Marxism.
> I am not against training of the human heart and respect your idea of
> doing so.
> I feel the need to point out where the application is not applicable given
> the existing human condition.
> Your writing is important to many people, hence the need to be extra
> careful and judicious.
> Cheers,  HPP
>
>
> --
> Tran Dinh Hoanh, LLB, JD
> Washington DC
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