Theos-Talk Archives (May 2000 Message tt00098)

In a message dated 4/25/00 11:21:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
ramadoss@eden.com writes:

[In reference to reviews of The Inner Life of Krishnamurti that appeared on 
amazon.com & barnes&noble.com:]

<< >To Ramadoss,
 Thanks for sharing these "reviews" with everyone on these lists, in which 
 there is interest, for diverse reasons, in things having to do with K, the 
 perennial philosophy, and the TS.  I had read the two that appeared on 
 amazon.com, but not the one from B&N.  For whatever it's worth, I had quite 
a 
 belly laugh with the first two, when I first read them; ditto just now.  I 
 could not shake the impression that this was just one person, using somehow 
 two different e-mail addresses, and that this person may be a fundamentalist 
 Christian (FC).  
 
 You may be right.  >
 
 >As you know from a discussion that appeared in the act-I 
 list a while back, such groups have apparently tried to take over the TS, 
 very recently, thus becoming part of a VERY LONG history of not very 
 CHRISTIAN behavior on the part of FCs, since the 1870s. <<<
 
 > I disagree with your conclusions. 
 
> I know of no attempts by any groups taking over TS. 
 
> The only attempt was to improve TSA and and was spear headed by many long
 time devoted independent minded members of TS none of whom as far as I know
 has anything to do with FC in any shape or form. If you have any specific
 information to the contrary, all of us on this free "uncensored" list would
 like to learn. >>

Ramadoss,

I was referring to comments made by someone in the act-l list, a few months 
ago (perhaps as far back as last year).  The person spoke of a fundamentalist 
Christian (FC) organization (I forget the name now) that presumably had a 
"master plan" to spend a few million dollars to put the TS in America (such 
as we now know it) out of business.  The idea, according to that report, was 
to "buy" enough memberships to then to vote-in FCs to all the leading 
positions.  I no longer have the electronic record of these messages (I 
believe there was more than one message about this), but I'm pretty sure I 
printed copies of them.  If I find them, I'll be more than glad to share the 
information.  It would be better, though, if the person who posted that 
information would be kind enough to post it again.  So if you read this, 
please share the info with all of us.  Thanks.
So the bottom line is that my comment on this particular count is, at best, 
based on hearsay.  I mentioned it, though, because over the many years I've 
been involved in this work I've seen so much that is consonant with that sort 
of behavior on the part of FCs.
Your comments seem to suggest you think I'm saying that some group of FCs 
already within the TS may have been trying to do this.  But that is not what 
I said, or intended to say.  If there is any truth to the report I mention, 
it would refer to a totally outside organization attempting to engage in what 
we now call a "hostile takeover," with the intention of "downsizing" the TS 
to FC specs.  Aryel.
 
 >That failing, other approaches continue to be used.<
 
> Again this is an interesting info. Would you please share all the info you
 have will all of us here? <

Ramadoss,

Over the years, I have purchased about a dozen books put out by FCs, in which 
the message comes loud & clear:  The "New Age movement" is a tool of the 
devil, & it must be stamped out, at whatever cost.  It is corrupting the 
minds & hearts of our children, & degenerating all the values of society.  
And what organization is behind this grand scheme to destroy the wonderful 
world of FC?:  The Theosophical Society.
One thing I find fascinating about this type of literature is that it is just 
about the only place I know of, in which there is an accurate report about 
the TS being THE source for the whole New Age movement!  Go figure.  
"Scholars" who have written on this subject only rarely mention the TS.  When 
they do, they tend to put it down.  In any case, the TS is presented, at 
best, as being one of many "cultish" groups within the larger umbrella of the 
presumably totally flaky New Age.
In the reading I've done on this subject, FCs seem to be the only ones who 
uniformly tell their readers that the TS was THE source.  The Lord does work 
in mysterious ways!
Most of my books have been in quarantine for quite some time now, packed in 
boxes.  So unfortunately, I'm short on specific references, just now.  But I 
do keep with me one of my favorites in this genre of bizarre literature.  It 
is Texe Marrs, Ravaged by the New Age:  Satan's Plan to Destroy Our Kids.  
Chapter 3 is titled:  "Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Walt Disney, and the YWCA:  
The Shocking Growth of the New Age Conspiracy."  I'll share this pearl of 
wisdom from it, the first paragraph of this book:

**Satan has a Secret Plan to destroy our kids.  The Lord of Hell wants our 
children, and he's determined to have them.  Almost four decades ago, New Age 
leaders were given their marching orders by their hellish master.  "Go 
forth," they were commanded," and cast your rotten nets.  Now is the time to 
harvest the youth of America and the globe."**

Aryel
 
 
 >  I remember how at various times during the 1970s, there would be FCs
 near where the K talks were held in Ojai, trying to save our souls from
 that devil.<
 
 I am not surprised at what you saw in 1970. Another irony, many
 theosophical members do not know that one of the trustees who sued K for
 multi-million dollars was some time ago sitting on the Board of Directors
 of TSA and it was a revelation when I found out about it and many others
 were also surprised.

Ramadoss,

I too find that fascinating.  Guess the Lord not only works in mysterious 
ways, but also in sundry places -- & far between!  Aryel.
 
 
 >The "reviewer" from B&N, however, strikes me more as someone who knows very 
 little about either theosophy or K, but who for that very reason feels 
 qualified to discourse hysterically on the subject.  After all, WE all know 
 theosophy & K (not to mention the TS) are nothing but a lot of hogwash.  
 Well, don't WE?  WE don't need to go into all that tiring list of major 
 influences the theosophical movement had in the creation of the perennial 
 renaissance, which is in fact the backbone of all culture, throughout the 
 planet, do WE?  After all, OUR minds are made up:  Please, please, don't 
 bother US with so many facts; they give US a headache THIS big!
 If anyone reading this sees any value on specific comments made in these 
 "reviews," though, I would really like to hear them.  If so, I would very 
 strongly appreciate specific references, facts, and evidence.  Generalities 
 based on unsupported opinions tend not to interest me very much.  At best, 
 they can give me new & improved belly laughs.<
 
 Once a book gets published, there is going to be varied feedback from a
 variety of readers. So I am not surprised either.
 
 
 >Again, thanks for putting a big smile on my face this morning!
 Blessings,
 Aryel<
 
 PS: By the way, until you posted the msg on act-l, I did not know that you
 had published the book. Thanks for the msg and I am sure it gave publicity
 reaching to many interested in theosophy and K. >>

Ramadoss,

Thanks for all your comments.  I will try to find the FC info, & keep you 
posted, if I do find it.  As you read the book, I'll appreciate any specific 
comments, especially anything you find flawed, in any way.
All the best,
Aryel

P.S.  Incidentally, my wife Connie checks amazon.com about once a month, to 
see if anything new is happening in relation to the book.  There's now a new 
review recently posted, with a totally positive take on it.

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