Theos-Talk Archives (October 1995 Message tl00069)

Rich:
>>and he founded the Liberal Catholic Church to carry on those
>>very rituals and dogmas which HPB took such great pains to
>>criticize.

 Jerry:
> Others were involved in the LCC chapter too. Since it was
>supposed to be the vehicle for the new religion that Krishnamurti
>was to bring into the world, one wonders why it still exists.

I for one, am very glad it existed in 1971. Both my parents were emotionally
and physically abused as children. They brought what had been shown to them to
their parenting. I was an only child and by the time I got to college I was
pretty messed up.

In 71' I began reading Cayce books that I had borrowed from the public library.
At the college I was attending, someone from the local LCC put up a poster for
the church. It opened up a whole new world for me, one that I did not even know
existed. It saved my life. I was married in the church and still have friends
from that time.

Maybe if the LCC had not existed, I would not exist either. Perhaps I would
have turned to drugs, alcohol or who knows what. IMHO, every group that works
with a sincere heart, can do good in the world. Even if they do not happen to
agree with your personal opinions or philosophy.

Perhaps, Brenda, who "loves that Leadbeater", has found great personal
satisfaction in his works. We both have had good experiences with things you
are condemning and we may find it difficult to comprehend your negativity.

Personally speaking, I have a problem with Deepak Chopra. The guy makes me
squirrelly. I think he's just rehashing yogic stuff and making a bundle off of
it. But I know there are people who are benefiting.

While I'm on the subject, I've also been every satisfied with Olcott in Wheaton.
Nothing is perfect, but I have enjoyed the annual meetings, summer school,
lectures, study group, lodge and newsletter. I find Quest to be a bit too
intellectual for me, but that's me. Olcott is serving my needs just fine, thank
you.

I would like to pose some questions to Jerry and Rich: What is your ideal
theosophical organization? What ideas would it be founded on? How would it be
structured? Would it have a central headquarters? Branches? What would
membership be based on? Would it ban Leadbeater and Besant from being studied?
What works would it emphasize? What do think should happen to the ES? What
would you do to make HPB easier to understand? How would you make theosophy
more acceptable to the intelligentsia and those with "real power"?

Also, in what ways do you think theosophy would be different if Judge would have
succeeded HPB? And finally, what would you do if another group of theosophists,
who did not agree with your ideas, formed a rival organization?

-ann