Knowing it all.

I was thinking about knowing the other day.

Here in the west it's sometimes practically a crime not to know it all, in my job I'm expected to be a fount of all knowledge, though truthfully a lot of it comes from a database. I was looking at science, but also at the antagonism between science and religion after reading Richard Dawkins recent article in the times.

I have to say I find the Taoist method more comforting, simply truthfully admitting that we don't know and might never know can be a very liberating experience. Of course, the Taoist view as I see it is that the important question is, do we really need to know, from a practical viewpoint does it really add anything to be like a bull at a gate after knowledge for the sake of knowing it all?

I give much Kudos to the Buddha for simply remaining silent on many issues, he knew better than to appear all knowing. Too many religions are in the business of trying to provide all the answers, which is dishonest in my view.

It's OK not to know.