Theos-Talk Archives (December 1999 Message tl00044)

At 01:22 PM 12/03/1999 -0500, Maureen T Fitzgerald Quoted:
>
That barrier of
elaborate beliefs and doctrines has so efficiently shut out the
dreaded "outside world" that no fresh air from that world has succeeded in
penetrating its inner fastnesses, and the Society has breathed for fifty
years nothing but the atmosphere of its own thoughts and beliefs. At its
meetings it was always theosophists who told other theosophists about the
theosophical doctrines which they all knew already.

 This exclusion of the outside
world has been most manifest in the lodge life. It was in the snug and stuffy
intimacy of lodge life that theosophical orthodoxy could breed; there, in a
small circle of mediocre minds, all thinking and believing alike, a warm
brotherliness could arise, uniting all in the delightful certainty of
possessing
the esoteric truth while the outside world lived on in darkness.

MKR adds:

Based on my personal experience, I can confirm that when one is in the snug
unchallenging surrounding, it is *very* difficult to recognized this and
break out of the shell and think independently and question any and every
belief, however *sacred* it is considered by the majority.

The further reinforcing mechanism is the interlocking membership of other
organizations such as LCC, Co-Masonic, etc. where the hierarchical progress
could depend on one not making *waves* or question beliefs considered
*sacred*.

With the Internet as the medium of exchange and communication, the
independent investigation and thinking and questioning can proceed without
interference from anyone. This is where an unmoderated list like theos-l
plays a very important role.

Some newbees may be interested in this.

mkr