[MD] the apple of my eye

[Arlo Bensinger]

[Platt to Ron]
But, I think you are onto something comparing Christian doctrine to the MOQ.

[Arlo]
Pirsig himself compares the Quality with The Tao, and there is an 
deliberate association between Pirsig's thesis and Zen Buddhism, one 
Pirsig articulates frequently (see both the MOQ Summary and Pirsig's 
interview with Tim Adams on Ant's site).

But on the deepest level, an esoteric reading of most spiritual 
systems demonstrate their underlying similar foundations. They are 
culturally disparate, to be sure, and nationalistically manipulated 
throughout the ages, but when one targets "spirituality", and begins 
to seek that which lies beyond the culturally-specific metaphor of 
the myth, one finds a common wellspring of understanding. Whether one 
seeks to adopt the metaphor of the Christian Gnostics or the Zen 
Buddhists is hardly relevant... except for those who seek to raise on 
exoteric system above the other, and this usually aligns with 
nationalism, power and the subjugation of the flock.

In other words, if your goal is to aggrandize Christianity, you are 
on an evil path. If you goal is to uncover the meanings buried in the 
esoteric language of Christianity towards demonstrating the 
universality and commonality of all mankind's myths (and hence all 
"man"), you are on the right path (as a Buddhist might say). I wish I 
had faith that you were on the latter path, but given your 
unrelenting idolatry of "Western Culture", and more specifically 
"American-Christian" culture, I fear its the former. Ron, be careful 
the flames you fan. The next song you may hear is "Onward Christian 
Soldiers"...