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Can a Person Practice Dianetics and Not be a Scientologist?

kinetic — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:54:08 -0800

Here's what I'm wondering. I recently discovered that an old respected friend is studying to become a Dianetics Auditor. My friend had a rough patch a few years ago and ended up feeling happier after undergoing Dianetcs Auditing. Good for her, I say. All I know of the church makes it seem like a nonsensical cult-like place that takes your money, but she's happy. She is clear that she is not a Scientologist; she does not attend their church/organization or donate in any way. She had the "therapy," and now is studying to become an Auditor. She has paid $3k for this course, and once she is finished she will be allowed to practice as a Dianetics Auditor.

And to be clear, I am not looking for exposes on the church...I'm really just trying to understand what Dianetics really is, how it works, if it can work without becoming a Scientologist. (Obviously, I wonder intellectually how my smart friend can believe in what seems in ridiculous pseudo-science-quackery and "being clear," but that's not my question. But yes, I do wonder how on Earth she thinks they "cured" her.)

She may be getting hustled, but that's not my question. I hope she won't be pressured into becoming a Scientologist because from what I've read of the church, it's nothing other than a really nutty cult.

She is 100% adamant that a person can believe in and practice Dianetics and have nothing to do with the church, but can't show me any resources that prove her point. Everything I read about Dianetics is very heavy on the Scientology beliefs that I find very difficult to believe.

Can the hivemind find some info?

Is it actually possible to become an Auditor and have nothing else to do with Scientology?

Icky karma germs in the ocean?

remlapm — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:27:31 -0800

Yesterday the body of a surfer was found naked and nibbled by sharks at my daily surf spot. While surfing today in the exact vicinity I couldn't shake the feeling parts of his body, both physically and meta-physically were still 'there'. Have one science and one karma question about this: This is in San Diego, tourmaline/pacific beach. The details are tragic. He was found nude nibbled by sharks and his board (with his wetsuit tied around it) found earlier. All signs point to suicide....or something.

I surf this spot regularly, almost daily, but today I couldn't shake the feeling I was paddling around in contaminated water.

So:

1- I have a pretty good grasp of water, tides and how dropping a cup of water gets eventually dispersed in the pacific ocean. What, realistically, we're my chances of encountering some of his remains?

2 - my daily surfing spot feels somewhat tainted. I don't really believe in mojo, but I don't feel right surfing where a man died. How do you come to enjoy a space where something terrible happened?

Count no man happy until he is dead

Countess Elena — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:56:17 -0800

When I was a beginning Greek student, I translated something, I believe in Plato, about the man who led the happiest life. What was this parable? I think that it went this way: one of Socrates' interlocutors asked him, who in your opinion was the happiest man who had ever lived? Socrates answered that it was a certain athlete, who had died at the age of twenty. He won the Olympic Games, and after the games he led a triumphal procession back to town. When his friends had carried him back home, he suffered a stroke, and fell dead on his parents' doorstep.

Possibly I am confusing this with a story that he told about two brothers who did something nice for their mother and then fell down dead. I think that I translated this around the same time.

Could you tell me which story I am thinking of? When I was eighteen, I thought it was horrible, but now I find myself giving it a lot of thought. I think that, like many Greek stories, it's a parable that appeals to middle-aged people who've always had a lot expected of them -- the idea of dying before you disappoint everyone you know.

Help me remember this quotation...

southern_sky — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:04:43 -0800

I'm trying to remember a quotation. It might be from an ancient philosopher or a saint. Someone says to him something like, "How do you know how to do the right thing?" And his response is, "I observe the people around me doing the wrong things, and I do the opposite." That's a very rough recollection, and not enough for Google to help. Does this ring a bell for anyone?

Reliably sourcing a quote about the church

DWRoelands — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:28:01 -0800

I have two quotes about the Christian church from very disparate sources and I am trying to ascertain if either of the sources in question actually ever said or wrote what is attributed to them. "The church is not a hotel for saints, it is a hospital for sinners." - generally attributed to Saint Augustine.

"The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints." - generally attributed to Abigail Van Buren.

It would seem reasonable to conclude that Ms. Van Buren was quoting Augustine but I am having a difficult time finding a reliable attribution of the quote to Augustine. Does this actually appear in his writings?

Or, is there a time-travel explanation that I'm overlooking?

Did Jesus travel to India?

mortaddams — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 10:12:47 -0800

I have heard a rumor that some people believe that Jesus traveled to India and learned Buddhist ideas. The theory is that perhaps this occurred during Jesus' early adulthood, before he started preaching during his 30s. But I am a bit skeptical. Do you know where this idea comes from? Do you think it is probable? Are there books or movies that I should watch about this theory? Any insight would be most appreciated.

How did women come to be regarded as inferior in society?

metacognition — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 18:12:14 -0800

Why/how did this idea actually start? So, upon studying the Hebrew Bible for class, I became curious. As we discussed the Ten Commandments and how women were considered "property", it made me wonder: when and how did this actually start? Even in Genesis, Eve was merely a piece of Adam. These days, religion (among other things) is sometimes used as an excuse to oppress women, but what about the time before religion – how did women come to be regarded as inferior in the first place?

(Disclaimers: I realize that at many points in history, just about everyone lived under poor conditions, regardless of sex. I also understand that not all societies were against having women in power.)

I am not looking for interpretations of the Bible... it is just my starting point for the question! I also realize that there may be no true answer to this question, so I'm wondering what others have studied or even references to good books on this topic.

Thank you!

Why did I lose my faith? How do I find something as equally helpful?

learninguntilidie — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:30:49 -0800

I was born in a very, very devout Christian family. Went to Christian schools and church. For a long time my faith was the most important thing to me and then as I started getting older (18) I began to doubt. This doubt only increased to the point that by the time I was 25 or 26 (I'm 33 now) I became"atheist". Now, I see that faith played a very important role in emotionally stabilizing me and giving me hope and I want something like that back. My question is why did I lose my faith (when all my family still holds it dear)? And how do I find something equally as helpful in my life? Thank you so much!

Seeking recommendations for films about Jewish art and architecture

mortaddams — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 09:22:43 -0800

I am looking for some great movies about the history of Jewish art and architecture. I am most curious to learn about ancient and medieval Judaica, but if you know of treatments of modern Jewish art and architecture that would be good to know about too. Any recommendations would be most appreciated.

Gospel music; white people

mermily — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 10:07:05 -0800

Working out how race factors in in this particular question I'm thinking about - details inside. I was walking by a church in my town about a week ago, and could see and hear through the window a really fantastic gospel service. It made me think, "I want to go to a church with amazing gospel music." This particular church was an all black congregation and I was reflecting that I'd feel uncomfortable inserting my white self into a black social space and that I'd feel somehow like an interloper. I went to an AME church once, which happened to be while I was volunteering with the Obama campaign and me and other volunteers were sent there by HQ to register voters are part of the effort to mobilize the black church community. Anyway, we were regarded with good humor and I'd say a mixture of amusement and skepticism. I get the feeling that I'd end up feeling a lot of (justified?) "So what is she doing here?" vibes if I went to a black church. Maybe this is a white privilege-y question in that I want to be involved in something that is regarded as a culturally black experience but I don't want to feel the discomfort of being a white outsider. Anyway I don't know.

I guess I am asking: What are your experiences as either a black person when white people come to your congregation (if your congregation is mostly black) and how do you feel about it? What are your experiences as a white person going to a black church? Do you know of any mixed race congregations with amazing music in the Chapel Hill or the triangle area?

Use of The City as a metaphor for the Internet/Web

0bvious — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 09:19:31 -0800

I am looking for examinations of the Internet and World Wide Web that use the structure and/or history of the city as a metaphor. I'm afraid I have no original example of this phenomenon to kick things off. I have this image in my head of 'the city' that always goes back to Plato and his Republic. Plato's city was a physical, social construction, as well as a philosophical metaphor, at one and the same time. It feels that many have talked about the Internet in similar, overlapping, terms.

(It need not be 'the city as metaphor', rather any social, physical space that humans build and live in will suffice. Also, metonymy rather than metaphor would be great.)

Writings that explore the political history of the city, it's technological expansion, that consider the city as a nexus for theories of human civilisation, of emergence perhaps, of structure, social and political control and, perhaps most importantly, of space vs place - all as a way to think about similar phenomena taking place online. The Internet as emerging network with similarities to the city; the World Wide Web considered as spatio-social metaphor?

etc. etc.

Any ideas?

No sex please...we're Catholic.

AlliKat75 — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:13:03 -0800

Do Catholic couples have sex when the woman in the relationship is pregnant? Let me break this question down...

Assuming said Catholic couple is heterosexual and abides by traditional dictums, here are my assumptions:

1.) Catholics believe the purpose of marriage is procreation.
2.) The purpose of sex in this marriage is for procreation only.
3.) Thus, once the woman is pregnant, having sex would not equal procreation.

Therefore, I revisit my question: do Catholic couples have sex when the woman in the relationship is pregnant?

A pleasing offering to the gods

chicago2penn — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:41:35 -0800

Long story short, I'd like to know how to burn an orange. Any suggestions? Ok. I don't think I'll actually do this, but I'm curious, and would like to know how. Here's the long, rambly, roundabout story:

I'll briefly be in Salinas this summer, and would like to pay my respects to John Steinbeck, the god of literature. Obviously, the proper tribute is a burnt offering. A little lost turtle crossing the road? A strawberry that doesn't taste like they used to? A thigh that has lost its clutch? Little bunnies and buxom blondes? After careful deliberation and about three margaritas, I figured an orange would be the right choice, because I cried the first time I read that chapter (and all the other ideas were either lame or inhumane. Unfortunately, I won't be there long enough to wait for it to rot, so I'll have to settle for its burning).

Oranges, I realized, are theoretically difficult to burn. I've never tried burning one, but they are usually pretty wet, and wet things in my experience don't burn easily. I'm perplexed, and my google-fu is failing me. So I'm turning to you, oh hivemind!

How can I burn an orange?

Philosophy of the Occult?

parkbench — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 04:00:55 -0800

I am looking for books investigating the occult as a phenomenon, its history, and its possibilities. Maybe that sounds simple, but I'm also picky. What I mean is that I'm looking for something that is not surgically analytical, but philosophical & open to moving outside of/beyond established Western "sociological" and pseudo-scientific ways of discussing these things, perhaps even rationalist frameworks altogether. A meditation, with history of course, on its meaning moreso than a journal article, let's say (thou that stuff can be helpful).

The closest I could possibly think of, which is a powerful read even with its flaws, would be George Bataille's Erotism. A kind of text I am not looking for but which definitely is a step in the right direction would be the Beyond Rationalism collection. Perhaps like a verison of Talal Asad's sweeping Genealogies of Religion, an ambitious but fiercely intelligent text...and political insofar as anything else would be delusional, but not artless, perhaps like Rancière or better yet, Barthes.

I am less interested in texts trying to "disprove" this or that aspect of occultism and moreso in those that let its inherent contradictions rise to the surface as they delve into the historical role of these practices and how they've served to craft different kinds of subjective experiences over the ages.

I feel like my dream text is out there, and if I close my eyes and wish it three times it'll appear...oh, say it's so!

Why can't I imagine frequencies outside of the range of my hearing?

Jon Mitchell — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:14:37 -0800

I can accurately imagine sounds of 440hz. I can imagine sounds of 880hz, 1760hz, and so on, and accurately identify octave intervals. Why can't I keep imagining sounds an octave up, until I am imagining beyond the limits of my hearing?

Is there a link between the length of time between crime and trial?

addelburgh — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:22:38 -0800

Is there a link between the length of time between the time a crime's committed and the time the suspect/perpetrator is condemned guilty or not guilty? I've just finished reading War and Peace by Tolstoy and a running theme, especially towards the end, tackles free-will and the way we see other peoples actions as being less arbitrary the further away in time they are from us.

The degree of our conception of freedom or inevitability depends in this respect on the greater or lesser lapse of time between the performance of the action and our judgement of it.

I was wondering if there was any sort of database showing the length of time between when a criminal act is committed and when the verdict is handed down? Or any specific cases that might seem to prove or disprove this? Or another author who speaks to this sort of thing?

Further reading on this subject is what I'm looking for, I guess.

What is the name of this logical fallacy?

ricochet biscuit — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:20:16 -0800

I am trying to recall the name of a logical fallacy and coming up blank. It is the process whereby someone imputes a later property to an earlier thing. For example, if someone were to say that Sony Pictures Entertainment Group released a film that swept all the major Oscar categories, because It Happened One Night was released by Columbia in 1934 and in 1989 Sony acquired Columbia Pictures. In 1934, Sony was still twelve years away from its founding in Tokyo, so it seems incorrect to say it released anything that year, much less an award-winning movie.

Meaning of this Muslim calligraphic motif

zadcat — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:08:24 -0800

I design a newsletter for a group with an interest in religious ecumenism, and have chosen a Muslim calligraphic motif to illustrate an article about a lecture on Islam – but I want to know what it means. I've chosen this calligraphic motif from this free font and just want to make sure it's relevant to the topic and not a hovercraft full of eels. Anyone?

Catholics singing in the street on Easter?

theraflu — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 12:04:38 -0800

I was awakened at 6:30 am by around hundred people - some in robes carrying large banners - and a band with loud drums, all proceeding down my street and singing something in a foreign language. What was it all about? I live near a Ukrainian Catholic church in the US. I don't know anything about Catholicism and I'm not too familiar with Christianity in general. Can anyone shed some light on what they were doing? I'm sure it was something related to Easter, but I'm unable to find anything online that might explain what they were doing (or why they were allowed to make such a racket and shuffle unescorted down a city street so early on a Sunday morning).

Meditation Center/ (Buddhist) in Chicago and Buddhist therapist

TRUELOTUS — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:28:29 -0800

I used to practice at a Buddhist Center in Columbus, Ohio (KTC, on Grubb St). I am trying to find a center in Chicago. I really love the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. I also enjoy podcast teacher Gil Fronsdal from the Insight Meditation Center in Cali, which is in the Vipassana tradition. I also enjoy Deer Park Dharma cast which is associated with Thich Nhat Hanh. I would like to find a center in Chicago to help me build a mediation practice, and obviously, mediate with others. To be able to listen to great dharma talks in person, not just on my ipod. And, to be a part of a community. It just doesn't feel the same listening on my ipod, you know? I do not have a car. I have gone to weird a$$ places in Asheville, NC, where random people start there own sangas and ask you for $, and I and not up for that. So, I thought it to be better to ask here than to do the google search. Please let me know if you have thoughts on where I can find a practice center. Also, I know that there is a school of Buddhist Psychology. Where might I find a Buddhist Therapist in Chicago?

I can't be Catholic any more.

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 07:01:15 -0800

Please give me advice on finding a new church. After much anguish I have finally hit the breaking point with the Catholic church. I'd like to find a new church, but my lifetime of Catholic training means that I don't know exactly how to go about it.

I feel like the default option is to become Episcopalian, but maybe I should cast a wider net then just thinking the Episcopal church is good because it's what Catholicism would be without all the misogyny? I think you can see from even my stupid stereotypes about Episcopalians that I'm a bit lost.

What I want is a Christian church that is not misogynistic, is life-affirming, welcomes queer people, promotes social justice, seeks to protect its children from sexual abuse, won't give my children a lifetime of guilt over masturbation, is financially transparent, and doesn't choose Nazis as leaders.

Where should I start with this? I would appreciate advice on how to learn about different Christian denominations, how to find a local church that's a good fit, and how to actually switch from Catholicism to something else.

This is anonymous because I'm not yet ready to talk about this with people in real life who know my metafilter name.

Buddhist meditation retreat in the eastern US/Canada?

melaleuca — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:12:31 -0800

I'm looking for a good meditation retreat center somewhere not too far from the midwest. I'm interested in vipassana meditation, although I wouldn't mind branching out. Mainly I want to find a place with good teachers. I'm in my 30's, and I've been practicing Buddhist meditation on and off for the last several years. I did my first meditation retreat in 2007 and loved it--I had a bliss-out that lasted several hours--and I've been hooked on meditation retreats ever since then.

My first few retreats were at Spirit Rock in California, and I would love to go back there again but it's a little too far for me since I live in the midwest. I'm looking for a place that I can get to with a single day's travel. I've tried Insight Meditation Society, which was also good, and I'd like to know what else is out there.

The things that I'm looking for most are: (1) lots of periods of communal silence, (2) nice natural scenery (hopefully with mild weather), and (3) good teachers who radiant joy and intelligence. (And, let's say, also a medium-to-high level of comfort. I'm not ready for the more austere Buddhist retreats...)

Item (3) is probably the most important. (BTW, I'm kind of analytically-minded, and I tend to like teachers who are the same.)

I've done vipassana retreats so far, and would like to do something similar but wouldn't mind branching out a little. Any recommendations would be much appreciated. Recommendations for specific retreats would also be good. (I'm aiming to go some time in the next 6 months.)

P.S.: No, this is not an ad for either Spirit Rock or IMS, and I don't have a financial interest in either. :)

Community/resources for the religious-but-not-churchy?

honey wheat — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:58:32 -0800

I’ve become a person of (some) faith in the past year, and my life has been better for it. But it feels lonely not to fit into either the secular or religious communities—I'm not far enough along the spectrum one way or the other. Is there any way I can meet other people in a similar place? (Sorry, a little long and snowflake-y.) Over the past year or so, I’ve made some profound positive changes in my life, including dealing with longtime depression, in part by getting back in touch with my religion/spirituality. (YMMV. IANAD. Or a priest.) I don’t quite identify with the popular label “spiritual-but-not-religious”—I actually do feel connected to a specific religion (Catholic/Christian), even if I don’t adhere to all of its tenets*.

My problem is that although I’m far enough along the spiritual/religious continuum to identify as a believer, I’m still not far enough toward the seriously-faithful end that I feel very comfortable going to mass/church. I’ve tried several, Catholic and otherwise, and although first I thought I just hadn’t found the right fit (this one’s too politically conservative, that one’s too liturgically liberal, etc.), now I’m starting to think there might not be a right church for me, or at least not where I currently live (not a very big city). Instead of unifying, it feels sort of alienating when I try it—so many strangers, and I worry that we aren't on the same wavelength and that they would judge me if they knew about my less-than-ironclad religious convictions.

So far I’ve rekindled my spirituality mostly through solitary pursuits—music, books, contemplation and prayer. But I’m starting to feel the need for some kind of, if not community, at least companionship or friendship in my spiritual life—people I can talk to about this stuff.

I did read this thread, but didn’t find it to be quite what I was looking for, since I’m not a Secular Humanist; I’m just a not-very-good believer. But I was struck by the last comment in the thread, in which somebody mentioned Alcoholics Anonymous. I’m really worried about this sounding naïve and tone-deaf, so I hope anyone who’s in AA will forgive me if I’m being an idiot, but recently after happening upon a few novels involving AA I found myself sort of wishing for that kind of community—one where people with different levels of faith in their Higher Power might talk openly with each other, and where there’s a practical, almost down-to-earth approach to faith and prayer. That’s the kind of spirituality I’m interested in. But not struggling with alcoholism (and I know I’m lucky to be able to say that and I truly don’t mean to trivialize it), I don’t know where I would meet people like that.

So my question is: if not at a church, is there anywhere I can meet people like me, who believe but are maybe only semi-practicing in their religion? Is there a place where I can talk to kind, smart, practical people about God ‘N’ Stuff without feeling ashamed for not being as religiously faithful as other people? Could there be a community for me out there? (For reference, closest major metro area is the Twin Cities, though it's a ways away.) Thank you so much for reading all this—I feel less alone already just by putting this out there.

*I know some people might say that Catholicism is a religion where you’re all in or you're all out. I guess all I can say is that Catholic spirituality feels the most real to me, and it’s not really something I can explain. The Church probably does not actually want me. It’s hard.

Explanations of your favorite deep and meaningful ideas

the brave tetra-pak — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:31:35 -0800

I still remember vividly the moment that I got the idea of entropy in information theory; I spent weeks seeing the world in those terms, and playing out the implications (as I understood them). Likewise Nietzschean "eternal recurrence" -- not just as a hypothesis about things repeating on a cosmic scale, but to see if the world and history can be taken as a choice, as something we can affirm. What are your favorite deep, rich, meaningful concepts to think with? (They don't need to be scientifically accurate, necessarily, or something you personally believe -- just things that offer the pleasure of understanding, for you.) Links to explanatory resources, or explanations in the comments welcome, or just names and starting points. A few others that fill this space for me: the habitus in sociology, Stewart Brand's "shearing layers," the "distribution of the sensible," Hofstadter's "strange loops" ...