Theos-Talk Archives (February 2002 Message tt00199)

--- In theos-talk@y..., Drpsionic@a... wrote:
> 
> There is a huge difference between the way theosophists act in real 
life and 
> the way they behave online. And if one is around them long enough 
one learns 
> to find a sort of gentle cynicism towards the founders, a kind of 
reverence 
> tempered with "well, the old girl sure got that one wrong," type of 
thing. 
> They are anything but fundamentalists.
> 

Chuck, we've met several times in Wheaton and I'd certainly agree 
with you about the attitude within the American Section. All the 
lodges I've visited and *almost* all the individuals I've met have 
been undogmatic, friendly, interested in alternative ways of looking 
at HPB, and so on. And while I think both John Algeo and Radha 
Burnier decided for reasons of their own (the authority of the ES and 
its claims to represent the Masters, perhaps) to make me a 
Theosophical nonperson in the wake of my SUNY books, I don't think 
either of them is a fundamentalist. Ditto for Daniel; he's been 
serving the fundie agenda and networking with fundie Theosophists but 
in his heart of hearts I don't think he really is one. From my 
considerable experience with the Pasadena TS, I'd say it's more 
conservative than Adyar generally, and that there are some 
fundamentalists, but not overtly so in any aggressive way (except for 
Pratt so far.) But my experience with ULT suggests that there is a 
substantial core of fundamentalists within it who are aggressive 
towards fellow Theosophists who are not of their persuasion. I've 
been involved in intraTheosophical events several times, in Maryland, 
VA, NY, and out West. The only people who have regularly been 
preachy and mean to their fellow Theosophists over doctrinal matters 
have been the ULT folks. I've seen roomsful of happy loose Adyar 
folks turned tense and uncomfortable by ULT antics at such joint 
events, in several states and over several years.

That's just a small sample, but I think you should restrict your 
description to the Adyar TS. 

Paul