Theos-Talk Archives (March 1998 Message tt00293)

>In 1940, the federal courts indicted Edna Ballard and her son, Donald
Ballard,
>and many I AM leaders on 19 counts of fraud. This litigation and scandal,
>widely publicized at the time, caused massive defections.

True, but...:

It has to be mentioned that the jury was made to think that
the defendants did not believe their own teachings. This only could lead to
the conclusion by the jury that when the defendants sold books and
subscriptions it was for monetary gain and because of that they had to be
found guilty of fraud. This strikes at the heart of religious freedom. For
that reason the verdict was overturned by the Supreme Court.

>For further details, bring up:
>Gurus Up The Ladder
>http://www.users.fast.net/~szimhart/ladder.htm

This is an essay by a moderately disgruntled ex-member of the Keepers of the
Flame Fraternity. He is of course entitled to his opinions which are molded
now
by his rational-skeptical world view. Most facts will get a different
meaning from a theosophical view, and will be even more different if
seen from the perspective of those who believe in the Teachings of the Ascended
Masters.

Meanwhile I will not deny that he had no reasons to be disgruntled.
Prophet's CUT has admitted it made mistakes and that it
had fostered an environment where fear and control dominated with too many
do's and don'ts and cataclysmic expectations, though not without reason.

Most satellite groups in the USA and other countries were relatively free to
create their own
environment. My own experience in Holland and Albuquerque were of a very
positive nature. Both  groups had a fairly relaxed and social culture and
only in Holland I felt a few times some inordinate pressure from some
fanatic members, who were regarded a little odd anyway.

This 'organizational culture'  of fear and control is now being radically
challenged
by its new president Gilbert Cleirbaut, who now acts as a very welcome
catalyst to bring about a paradigm shift in the perception and behavior of
its members. Those who have accustomed to rigidity as a norm will have some
problems with these changes.

There are many parallels between what ACT tries to do within the TS and what
is going on in CUT. Apparently the time has come for the many ideas about
organizational change to be applied in spiritual organizations. Many
Protestant Churches have applied them with great success and are growing. We
owe it to the Masters to re-make our organizations into a place where the
modern day seeker will find a spiritual place, where he can be himself,
explore the mystical teachings of all religions and sects, have a voice in
its affairs, and, most importantly, find an atmosphere where friendship and
brotherhood can blossom. This implies that a Keeper of the Flame should feel
at home in the Theosophical Society (as I do, despite the many prejudices I
encounter about CUT) and a Theosophist should feel at home in the Keepers of
the Flame Fraternity or Church Universal and Triumphant (as I do, despite
the ignorance about theosophy, which is fading as many read Leadbeater's
"The Masters and the Path"]).

Govert