Theos-Talk Archives (May 1996 Message tl00385)

Following is the original posting where the term "the
Gang of Four" arose. Note that it was a comment in
the subject. My only reference to "the four of you"
was with regard to your rejecting external authority.
Alexis was the only one to object to the statement,
saying that he was definitely anti-religious in any
regard.

Chuck picked up on the term as a useful toy to play
with, and Alexis has chosen to carry the term as a
badge of honor, something which I find hard to
understand.

-- Eldon

----

> Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 03:01:04 -0700
> Subject: The Gang of Four and "Religion"

Alexis:

[writing to Chuck]

>>There are some who think that the TS is going to be the
>>groundwork for a world religion. There are some people
>>who would like to see us go to hell, so maybe this does
>>qualify as a religious list. NAH!

>NAH! is right, and it's right cause you and Alan and JRC
>and Jerry Schueler and I won't let it!

I detect humor here, but some readers might miss the
irony and get mad at what they read.

I don't think that the Theosophical Society is suitable
to form a future world religion. But I do think that the
results of the theosophical movement, including the
dissemination of the theosophical doctrines, will help
germinate future western religions. These religions will
still have to arise of their own accord, with or without
our help.

You have trouble with the word "religion", but seem to
appreciate the religious, the sacredness of life, and
the grandeur and majesty of the inner life. Not having
those associations, I still find the word useful in talking
about the creative, self-becoming aspect of life that
seeks to bring forth more into the world and seeks out
of compassion to uplift and enlighten sentient beings.

Modern religions are poor containers for the life that
they hold. They have a short shelf-life before the
contents spoil. But *that life they hold* is precious,
in its early years. Some religions are good for perhaps
a few centuries before needing major reforms. Others
spoil more quickly. Such bottles and containers are
important for the majority of the human family, until
more and more people discover *inner springs* and not
need the bottles anymore...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that the four
of you are *anti-religious*, just anarchist in temperament.
That is, you don't want someone else to even have the
appearance of telling you what to do or think. And
fundamentalist religions exemplify the extreme of telling
people what to do and think. Therefore, we have the
aversion to religious groups. But it is not religion per
se, nor religions still backed by an inner light, that
you object to, but dead religions that spiritually entomb
and suffocate their followers.

-- Eldon