Theos-Talk Archives (June 1996 Message tt00010)

RT:
> You mentioned that your favorite article was the one from John
> Paul Polston, "Looking to the Future." . . What did you
> particularly enjoy about the article?

I thought it was very straightforward and insightful. I would
imagine the issue of "updating" the Victorian English of HPB's
day is a thorny one. While it would be make the writings easier
to read, one would have to careful not lose the original meaning.
A hard task there, but impossible?

JP Rolston mentions using modern media to communicate Theosphical
information. In a time in which the Internet is becoming as
valueable as the telephone (at least in my house), the
Theosophical organizations who lag or refuse to take advantage of
this or other means of electronic communication might find
themselves looking a lot like dinosaurs in the near future.

Next he mentions the insularity. IMHO, it seems the TS has built
themselves a nice intellectual ivory tower that probably puts off
many people and drives newcomers away. But I can also understand
the desire to huddle up as a group and be suspicious of
outsiders, especially when one's beliefs (or lack of them) has
been under attack by various religious groups and the press.
It's not an easy thing to take down the walls of protection when
even HPB and those around her were so bitterly attacked by the
media.

I also agree with Rolston that the TS would do well to establish
ties with other perennial traditions.

Basically, what is being said is that Theosophists need to open
up and start COMMUNICATING with the rest of the world.

Yes, I enjoyed the article very much, but that's probably because
I agreed with mostly everything Rolston said.

- Ann E. Bermingham