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TaitenAndProud
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Shall we talk about the Inquisition now? That's WAY worse than anything the SG has ever done! But how is that relevant to what's going on right now? How are reports of bad stuff that happened before many of those reading the reports were even born going to help people get out right now? Two young women locally just received an award for rushing in to stop a Christian man from killing his two children - he was yelling that they were all "going to Jesus" and had already stabbed the boy. And so what if SG members are "coached" on how to do "shakubuku"? It's no different from how Evangelical Christians are coached on how to introduce their friends to jesus, you know. "Lead off with 'Friend, are you saved?' Follow up with 'Have you heard the Good News?'" That's what organized religions do. Except for Buddhism - Buddhism isn't known for that. But we aren't talking Buddhism here, are we?
WHY is there so much problem in acknowledging that there are decent, nice people who happen to be in thrall to the SGI's manipulative con? How does being a victim make them guilty? I don't understand.
I thought that same thing when I'd be looking up the organization online. "How was this all relevant to the current situation?" Especially since this was so far removed from my location and experience. It may not seem to be relevant at the time but glossing over of those details and that history like I did, wasn't a good thing.
I'm finding that even that kind of information can serve us as well. I will take the word of a true news source than a sensationalist tabloid, and I am sure I am not the only one who feels that way either. It would have been a lot easier to find had I not had to go through all the obviously extreme stories that were nothing like my current experience (at the time).
There is probably a reason those videos and news articles have not been taken down -- because they confuse the situation and people don't know where to look, so they give up and go along anyway because the picture being painted online is a vastly confusing one. Say if you were to look up for example, the issue of fluoridation of the water. If you look online you will be confronted by a confusing picture. Between the conspiracy theorists' view of the issue and medical doctors, people's own experiences, it can be a daunting task to find any truth. What is the truth? No one really knows, it's all theoretical right now just as is the climate change issue. Does that make me wrong for not wanting to look through all the garbage and just trust my dentist, whom I feel is the only expert I can trust currently on the subject? I would say no, it seems like that is completely up for interpretation. What works? I feel other people's experiences are helpful no matter how they differ, they still should all count.
I don't know why there is a feeling that all people who've been in the organization are completely screwed up permanently. I can see if they were in for over 20 years and did absolutely everything they were supposed to do, but I still wouldn't feel comfortable painting everyone the same way. I would rather take people on a case by case basis. It isn't hard to test someone who has either been in or is still in. All you have to do is slight "sensei" (say he's a crappy writer and TNHR sucks, for example) or the organization (they're a cult) and see what happens. If they go off on you like has been reported, you're probably not dealing with a sane individual and should probably stay away.
I am saying all of this because I don't like the idea of being slighted for having been part of the organization at one time even though I am no longer in. I also don't like to think of myself as beign victimized by the organization because I went along with what I did on my own, no one forced me to do anything. Yes there was abuse from some leaders, not at all helpful "guidance", but I am no victim. I did this to myself. Maybe that is what makes me feel I am different.
Your last post just now made me think of that is probably just another way to manipulate the female members to not have relations with the male members with an "or this could happen to you!" scare message. All in the name of harmony, which is understandable but they could at least be honest about it if this is the case. I think I hate that kind of manipulation the most. It's treating adults as children, as if they can't handle the truth and they need to be coddled. This adds more support for the argument that they keep you in an infantile state though.