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:Rob, Carol Hurtado forwarded me your post to TML.....(ditto above)
:Rob, Carol Hurtado forwarded me your post to TML.....(ditto above)
'''Rob wrote: Wed, Nov 7, 2012 at 7:40 PM'''
'''Rob wrote: Wed, Nov 7, 2012 at 7:40 PM'''
One can only wonder what is being defended here, but time will reveal it all.
One can only wonder what is being defended here, but time will reveal it all.
'''Byron Belitsos wrote: Thursday, Nov 8, 2012 at 1:47 AM'''
Fred, Rob, and friends:
First, I am praying that you two, Fred and Rob, find a way around what sounds to me like a semantic misreading of each other (at least initially). Second, I found Fred's proposal at the end of the weekend's gathering very refreshing and actually very relieving after three days of impractical and imprudent considerations of a community design that is far beyond our means and intentions. Third, I would point out, Fred, that your restriction on "publicity" about UB/TM/MM affiliation seemed odd to me. I say this because you were proposing that Garden Project people actually live in very close proximity to the Truthseekers even while carrying out UB-related activities, education, worship, etc. Seems like this allowance would contravene your desire to allow the youths to seek for truth without specific adult influence. Is it really true that publicity is your only concern?
That said, I think there could be a reasonable "middle way" in this regard (which I realize may already be under consideration). Rather than being completely "mum" about it, why not actually present a wide range of "truth options" to these young people? That could include UB-related materials in a minor way, but only as just one among very many options in the history of religion and revelation. Ironically, that is specifically what Rob Davis provides at his site daynal.org in what he calls the "Primary Corpus" which covers revelatory/religious texts from pre-historic times to the present. Another but related tack might be to develop an explicitly interfaith approach in which everyone present on the land is encouraged to share specifically what their beliefs are in atmosphere of tolerance and inquiry and accompanied by a curriculum in world religions.
In fact I could envision a time when the Truthseeker's curriculum would include not only training in organic farming but also training in "organic truthseeking" in a very broad liberal arts/humanities curriculum. These young minds will want and will need more to do during their six months on the land than learn to farm sustainably and then spend evenings texting people back home on their iPhones. Aside from their work in agriculture, they may need or want training in other skills related to trutheeking such as writing, journalism, researching, debating, public speaking, conflict resolution, peacemaking, and interreligious dialogue. There are many of us interested and qualified to engage in such teaching and mentoring.
There might also be a curriculum in sustainability in the most general sense, inclusive of cosmology and the evolutionary sciences, and disciplines such as environmental sustainability and management, social sustainability (Monjoronson's agenda about which I am soon to publish a book), and such things as "eco-spirituality." I recognize that it would take a good long time to set up such a school, but the point remains that we as community are rich in knowledge in science and religion and I am sure we could quickly get something under way that is much more relevant to young people than narrow "Urantia book" education.
Finally, I will add my unsolicited 2 cents about the policy of not sharing mature adult religious beliefs with young adults: Since all those on the Truthseekers board of directors actually are prominent UB or even TM leaders, I wonder just how you are able to avoid broaching this information to curious young minds. I hadn't thought to ask before how that is carried out. Do you actually omit all mention of the UB to these young folks?
Warm regards,
Byron
'''Fred Harris wrote: Thursday, Nov 8, 2012 at 8:24 AM'''
Thanks, Byron, for your response. I have to admit that I was a bit hot under the collar when I read Rob’s post, as my response probably indicated. Having now cooled off a bit, I think that your comments are important and I would like to address them quickly.
Everything we do is influenced by what we believe and all of our experiences. We can’t really offer any program to youth that isn’t steeped in our own personal history. But what Truthseekers is attempting to do is create an environment where the participants will be encouraged to be open to truth, from whatever source. The best way to teach them is through our actions and not our words (“Preach unceasingly, use words only when necessary”). Actions are the most effective conveyors of ideas. Living the Word, so to speak.
That being said, I don’t think that an Urmia type experience would be bad for the kids, where we bring in people representing differing spiritual perspectives to talk to them. But much like the brothers that ran the Urmia camp, I would prefer that we keep our opinions to ourselves.
An advanced school is certainly a good goal (“organic truthseeking” is a great phrase), but first we need to offer an attractive first step and I think that is organic farming. But I could be wrong. In any event, a school or religion doesn’t seem to me to be much of a draw to most young adults.
Finally, we have attempted to keep UB references out of our discussions with the Truthseekers, not always successfully. Listen, this is a difficult pattern to design and implement and we are always open to ideas to make it better. Thanks for the suggestions. I will think about them as we go forward.
Such a life on such a planet!
Hold high the mission! It shall not fail!!
Lighten Life, Fred
