Quote
Upgrayed
Thanks for the lecture.
I am a former member, which is why I am here. Secondly, I am not here for one upmanship games, or who can write the cutest, smartest post.... I am here to expose the SGI and find further understanding regarding my time in the organization, which wasn't 30 years ago, but just yesterday, in terms of recent connection with the monster.
Atheism has been pushed on this thread. How do I know? Because I took up the mantle of defending the practice so that I could be a representation for those who may continue to hold belief in the practice while having suspicions and difficulties remaining in the SGI cult. Those individuals should be free to post their thoughts and experiences in a post-sgi world and be able to utilize this board as "former members" so that they can partake in the healthy role that this thread plays without being ridiculed or reduced for their beliefs.
I am an atheist, so it was hard to take a somewhat faith based stance, as a means to balance out the thread, so that it doesn't derail into anti-religion, which isn't the role that this website plays. I had to run a gauntlet course through sharing my "position" and fundamentally, there should be room here for people who may want to continue to practice after the SGI cult. As you have stated, it's for "former members". If you have doubts, I can cut and paste all of the relevant points that are recorded on this thread in prior posts and securely make my case.
On your second post, it's not appropriate for people to extol the purported beliefs of anything.....whether that be atheism, christianity, or the practice. Beyond, extolling, I do believe that there is room for people to share their post SGI-Cult experiences, whatever that may be... There's a fine line between sharing and shoving an agenda.
It's not inappropriate to talk about Nichiren Buddhism considering that the SGI cult has hijacked this practice for their own interests and gain. Again, "former members" or frankly anyone who was directly or indirectly affected should be able to come here and share with each other their efforts in overcoming the SGI monster and finding a way forward.
" If brainwashed cult members want to come back to this MB after they have started to extricate themselves, great, but I don't see it as my responsibility to avoid hurting their feelings."
Noted.
This thread has helped me immensely, especially through participating. While it may seem that I am just gunning after the SGI cult, it's actually my way to detoxify and help others in the process. None of this is a game, especially those who have recently just left the SGI cult or are even still inside it's walls. Real human beings have been and are presently being affected. Remember, the internet is just one step away from the 3 dimensional space in which we inhabit. I think it's sometimes easy to forget this basic fact.
Upgrayed, I am little disturbed by your post. We can disagree without being disagreeable. What's with the snarky "custest and smartest post" dig?
I still don't get why you say this MB has promoted atheism. Can you post even one message doing this? There is enormous religious territory between being a practicing SGI member and atheism. I am neither a practicing SGI member, Buddhist, or atheist. So what? There are many like you on the board who still chant, some independently, some with Nichiren Shu or Nichiren Shoshu, or Kempon Hokke, of even within the Universalist Unitarian church (Google Lisa Jones). Again, so what? Not a problem. We have the common ground in former involvement with the cult, involvement that was damaging on some level to each one of us. My non-belief in chanting is just as OK as your belief in it, for purposes of this board.