Whew!!!
One heck of a response Sharon. No one can say you don't have your reasons.
Great post. Very much appreciated. I was not aware that Twitchell was so
intolerant of other religious paths.
I can't wait for the other shoe to fall. I wonder if an Eckist (hopefully someone without Nathan's venom) can take an apposing view and show through Eck writings how Eckankar is tolerant and generous with non-Eckists. I must admit I see little evidence in this NG of Eckankar's tolerance.
Thinking back, I was attracted to the works of Eck because of the simple message - i.e. soul travel, total consciousness, finding your way back home in this lifetime. Now I see other messages have taken its place - such as deny, misdirect, convert, and repress, all in the name of furthering a contemporary organization. How is that otherwise kind people get 'sucked' into supporting an organization that wishes to change the social order?
I suppose its a question of values. I suppose we lose sight of our goal and get sucked into the method. I suppose we buy into the big lie. And, I suppose if the big lie is repeated often enough in a newsgroup enough people will buy into it thus perpetuating the group. I suppose some people feel a greater allegiance to the group than to their inner self. I guess I just don't know. Still, as long as these groups are non-violent I suppose they have every right to pursue their goals as they wish. For the rest of us I suppose we need to remain ever vigilant.
Now I know this makes it sound like I am siding with the anti-Eckankar forces. I suppose in a way I am. I believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Therefore any person or organization that seeks to exercize control over others by pertuating falsehoods or by using misdirection ( a little truth and deception cleverly mixed together) should expect to be criticized and and can expect to engage its membership in a psychological war with outsiders. I sure wouldn't want to be part of any organization that felt a need to defend its precepts or its past. Above all else truth and liberty should be cherished by us all. Any organization that diminishes these qualities in us should be viewed with serious suspicion...
Finally, I would like to say that I am not necessarily condemning Eckankar, its teachings or its adherents. I think Eckists and non-Eckists alike should thoughtfully examine the written works of Eckankar and decide for themselves. I think that the writings should be freely discussed and debated. It would be nice if we could keep the mud slinging to a minimum. There is no need to demean anyone for their views. If you have looked at the facts and have decided that on balance that Eckankar has something to offer you - then GO FOR IT!. No need to put down others who decide otherwise. I suppose we can debate certain interpretations, but I hope we can agree on the facts. As to the anti-Eckankar forces, I think we owe them our grattitude for attempting to set the record straight. Lieing or cheating is not nice however, let's all try to minimize the exaggeration. I know it can be fun in a newsgroup to rattle the other guy's cage from time to time.
JT
---------------------------------------------------- "JT" Tell me about it! Had no idea where that one would go when I started!
>
> One heck of a response Sharon. No one can say you don't have your reasons.
Haven't you read the Shariyat? Or haven't you been in Eckankar long?
Or maybe....you're the kind of eckist I was. I heard what I wanted
to hear...and disregarded the rest.
You know....I could do the same thing with the "positive" eckstuff...the
stuff I believed in. But...the other things, the things I'd somehow
glossed over and ignored, well...they're important too.
I've posted before...I had funny feelings all through my eckanyears. In
fact, I'm sure I posted here last summer, when I was an eckist...I
believe I may have been talking to Lurk...that word "infiltrate" stuck.
But...I didn't remember where I'd read it.
Anyway...I spent quite awhile composing a long response to this in "write,"
as well as a short response to David H.'s post in this thread, which I just
posted from Deja...and the computer froze up when I was about to copy the
long response to this one. I ended up having to reboot. So I lost it.
Which is okay. It's nothing I haven't said before. As I was writing, I
kept thinking, good grief...I feel like a broken record.
I've been here a bit over a year, JT, and recently, more or less 99%
retired. I've been pretty busy...and I'd really like to work on my
websites. I've said just about everything already, you know....
But...you know, I liked my "whew" post!! I found it sort of neat how it
grew & where it went...often, well...what I post sort of, well...takes
on a life of its own. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to write it!
The one I just lost, well...it was just the same old, same old...except for
a brief "ramble" after I had a laughing half-hour chat with two Mormon
missionaries! Fun, actually...one of them, poor guy, was one of those
"true believer" types. I found him offensive, actually. The cute red-headed
guy was fun, though...he was laughing too. Actually covered his mouth a
few times, because, well...he could see clearly too. And yes!! They do
yardwork!! Anyway, the cute red-head agreed that God probably had a sense of humor
(just look at the duck-billed platypus, or puppies playing!)... the tb
was annoyed that I wasn't going along with the programmed salespitch he
wanted to stick to...he didn't find my remark that yes, I loved Jesus---
after all, he was a party animal, funny! That changing water into wine stuff,
you know...anyway, I think the red-head understood about God having no
limitations, and how could we put either ourselves or God into one little
book or one little box...
I'll betcha, though, if tb wasn't there, the redhead would have told me
more about Mormon underwear...he said yes, it was sacred and holy, but
he was laughing. TB just looked horrified...
Anyway...as they walked away, I noticed the redhead had *such* a cute
butt! Anyway, JT...you know, you seem like a nice person, but...well, I've
served my time here... Have a nice weekend, everyone!! Oh...any eckseminars scheduled here on
the East Coast? We could use some rain...lots of it!!
Hugs,
My Favorite Web Sites
Angelfire - Free Home Pages
My Favorite things about Angelfire.
Subject: Re: The Other Side of Eckankar, the Cult!
>From: Sharon
Date: 19 Jul 1999 00:23:52 GMT
> Whew!!!
Great post. Very much appreciated. I was not aware that Twitchell was so
> intolerant of other religious paths.
> I can't wait for the other shoe to fall. I wonder if an Eckist (hopefully
> someone without Nathan's venom) can take an apposing view and show through
> Eck writings how Eckankar is tolerant and generous with non-Eckists. I must
> admit I see little evidence in this NG of Eckankar's tolerance.
Sharon
http://members.delphi.com/sharon2000
"Happy Happy Joy Joy" -- Ren & Stimpy
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