--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, Peter <drpetersutphen@...> wrote: > > > > --- On Wed, 2/9/11, metoostill <metoostill@...> wrote: > > > From: metoostill <metoostill@...> > > Subject: [FairfieldLife] Cult apologists (was Re: Paul Haggis vs. the > > Church of Scientology) > > To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com > > Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 5:38 PM > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, > > "authfriend" <jstein@> wrote: > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, > > turquoiseb <no_reply@> wrote: > > > <snip> > > > > FYI, one technique to *identify* a cult apologist > > > > > > I learned from "Columbo" on TV. You just mention > > > > the term and see who replies angrily. > > > > > > > > Duh. The cult apologists who think you were > > talking > > > > about them personally. Works every time. > > > > > > That's because, in Barry's ethical system (I use the > > > term loosely), there's never a need to defend another > > > person who's being unfairly attacked. Therefore, > > > anyone who objects to a criticism *must* be guilty > > > of the misbehavior themselves. > > > > > > > I am addressing my post to none of you in particular > > because my attention span is too short to learn which FF > > Life regular is which in this very personal back and forth > > that seems to me to take up too much of the > > conversation. From FF life's mission statement: > > "Fairfield Life focuses on topics of interest to > > seekers...We often discuss the trials and tribulations of > > the TM Movement, which may not interest some..." etc etc. > > > > So, back to where this post started, something of interest > > to seekers, and relating to the main common denominator of > > the group (TM), yes the New Yorker article was all over TMO > > turf. As one of you mentions, very different, in that > > I have heard of no physical abuse, but then quite similar in > > for instance the fact that Scientology shares the conceit > > central to MMY's SCI and to Hinduism in general: > > > > church members believe that Scientology holds the key to > > salvation: "Only by going through Scientology will you reach > > spiritual immortality. You can go from life to life to life > > without being cognizant of what is going on. If you don't go > > through Scientology, you're condemned to dying over and over > > again in ignorance and darkness, never knowing your true > > nature as a spirit. Nobody who is a believer wants to lose > > that." Miscavige, Hawkins says, "holds the power of eternal > > life and death over you." > >
I see it differently. My understanding from all the years within the TMO was that TM was supposed to be the best way, but certainly not the only way to immortality, enlightenment etc. MMY said TM was the fastest way, but other ways could get you there eventually. Also, the TM ideas derived from a long tradition of HIndu and Vedic ideas. While the TMO liked to take credit for much of this, they also nevertheless were proud to talk about the ancient ideas on which TM products and services (astrology, Ayurveda) were based. I read the New Yorker article today- there are some similarities to TM'er experiences in Haggi's fine descriptions of what it is like to step away from and then look back at the group you once were enmeshed in. The other parallel with TM was the idea of removing stresses with a technique - in Scientology this is what they call auditing I think. But Scientology sounds like a harsher, crazier world than anything within TM. The shunning that they tell people to do towards people who drop out is way beyond the TMO actions. The article gives examples of people who are no longer allowed to have any contact with parents or children or grandchildren if they leave the fold!! L Ron seemed to have come up with some sort of model of how to get your emotional life together or improved. It might have some effect, or else just be generated by the individual desire to have found The Way, The Truth, at last. Despite their talk of spirituality in Scientology, I got a feeling from the article that it was really more centered on learning communication skills and getting rid of bad behavior patterns. TM is ultimately focused on Enlightenment - and one thing many have wished for is more focus on behavior. Glad I never got sucked into the Scientology nightmare. > > Read more > > http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright#ixzz1DUZEhRlx > > The slight difference between TM and Scientology is that one was started by a > very creative science fiction writer and the other by a BBB from a long > tradition of BBB masters. Now the TMO, that's a different story. Whenever > human groups form that cult dynamic to varying degrees can always arise. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > To subscribe, send a message to: > > fairfieldlife-subscr...@yahoogroups.com > > > > Or go to: > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ > > and click 'Join This Group!'Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > fairfieldlife-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com > > > > > > >
