Theos-Talk Archives (December 1995 Message tl00495)

Murray
Well you call it theos-intro I called it theos-basic. I'm all for it. I
thought JRC could spear head it & maybe some of us others could have some
input. If we do it on Theosophy International I don't know how it'd get
onto the computer though. I suppose John Mead would ok our putting it on
theos-l since it's something that's desperately needed. Let me tell ya
Since Nathan Greer told me a year ago that to become certified my Onondaga
Study Center would have to do basic Theosophy I've been looking for
something suitable to present to my small group of newcomers that would be
interesting & not put them to sleep nor be way over their heads. There
isn't anything. I once invited a ULT member from Rochester down to visit
with us. She talked "Secret Doctrine" & talked down to them. They very
adamantly told me afterwards that this was the first time they'd felt they
were being proselytized & they didn't like it. I have a small group of
professional people so what I give them had better be good.
Liesel
--Member Theosophy International
Member Human Race

>I'm very much in favour of an attempt to express the key ideas of theosophy
>in ways that relate to newcomers' needs and experience. It's an idea that
>has come to many over the years but not found the person/people with time
>as well as requisite insight to do it.
>
>JRC although you have said that you do not want to be considered a
>teacher I reckon you have a real neat way with words. I'd really like to
>see you give it a go if only in a few of the subject areas.
>
>Idea: I think it would help any who try writing for this project to
>get into or remember a discussion with young people and then write
>to the needs that come out of it.
>
>I hate to suggest another theos-x list but what about a theos-intro?
>It's similar to the lo-brow idea that was floated a couple of months ago
>but would be more specifically intended for newcomers where they could
>ask the simplest of questions without feeling they were breaking into some
>convocation of scholars and cognoscenti. Where they would receive warm
>enthusiastic responses and feel listened-to. This would be a great thing
>in itself but would also give those who want to write introductory stuff
>a heap of ideas and slants on just what problems to answer and how to
>address them.
>
>Theos-intro would be supported by possibly anyone in the theos-l group
>who felt motivated by a desire to respond. This would be a sort of living
>home page and hypertext network. Perhaps some more thought is needed here
>on *whose* version of theosophy is to be presented but I think the best
>thing is just to respect the freedom of enquiriers to enquire as much
>as that of others to give their opinions. The delete key is a great
>leveler!
>
>The answers themselves along with the queries could be great compiled
>into a collection. Perhaps not everything but there could be somoe
>selections and editing. For that matter we have the archives of theos-l
>itself which could be scanned for introductory material. There may not
>be that much but there certainly has been some for example just recently
>Richard Ihles' response to Anne Bermingham on his levels/degrees concept
>which by the way I find highly expressive and relevant.
>
>So there's more than one idea.
>
>Murray Stentiford
>Member Theosophy International
>