Re: What's LOVE got to do with it?
Posted by:
Brynhild Tudor
()
Date: November 18, 2010 04:41AM
Hey Sunshine,
I think I was primed for these new age cults too. As someone who was never happy with life's offerings (hard work, unpleasant people despite what you can learn from them, gradual improvement), the promise of being able to have/do/be anything you've ever wanted, happily ever after, only hangint out with positive, like-minded people was a great message. Who wouldn't want that? But now I'm starting to see how mechanical, narcicistic, fake, and self-centered the whole new age movement is. I'm all for positive thinking and surrounding yourself with positive people, but when it's taken so far as to be artificially controlling and to use people for your own gain, that's where I draw the line.
The contradictions in the new age movement and love-universe are astounding. Example? They make formula for getting what you want sound easy, and then when it isn't, they blame you for thinking it was simple in the first place. Or they change definitions on you. But it's always your fault. I actually really hate that word "self-responsibility." Nobody held a gun to your head, it's true, but they don't have to. The psychological tactics they use to give up your time, energy, mind, heart and money are much more effective. I believe there *are* victims in this world, and am starting to see the value again in being a thinking, feeling human being who can feel concern and empathy for other people.
When someone gave me a Car. Sagan link I failed to understand, so I asked if it could be explained to me in an easy-to-understand way because others found it immensely helpful and I wanted to understand it too, the poster blew me off with harsh words that really hurt my feelings, and it was kinda like, "I'm not going to help you, do it yourself, oh well, deal with it" thing. That is when I realized the value of empathy. An empathetic person, in my view, would figure out where I was coming from and meet me at my level of understanding, and explain things in a way I could grasp until I could understand difficult concepts for myself. At least, that's what I would've done. Treat others how I'd wish to be treated.
But in this world, not many people follow the Golden Rule. Stuff happens that isn't fun, and you can't avoid negative people as much as Byrne would like to have you believe. Byrne seems to think it's a good think for someone to lack empathy, kindness and compassion, as long as they get what they want. Can you imagine how the world would be if people were that way? Actually, come to think of it, I can. This world is heading there...
A world where noone is concerned with anyone else or their feelings. And new agers who say they are have this thing about balance. But it's a balance of compassion and "it's your karma, you created it." That's not balance. That's getting you to partly believe what they do, while fulfilling the requirement of agreeing with you that the world needs to have compassion. The balance concept is twisted. That's what Byrne and so many new agers are so skilled at doing, I'm coming to find iut.
A really helpful thing for me was to read Lois Lowry's "The Giver." Have you ever read that book? I highly reccomend it!