06.18.10
Tikkun on New Atheists
Tikkun article, reprinted at Alternet: “We’re All Born Atheists”: A Religious Person Defends Non-Belief
First, were NOT all born atheists. What we are born with is a mystery, and probably more like amnesia of the ‘bardo state’.
This is a very puzzling article from a religious magazine. It almost seems like sucking up to the New Atheists: a warning that people are afraid of these subtle bullies.
That article makes the New Atheists (and atheists) out to be a persecuted minority, which is nonsense. It is true that social domination, quite less than total, from Christian culture and church is very considerable, but it is easy to exaggerate that. The reality is that in a concealed form atheism is an equal form of social domination, in the universities, in science, even in the study of evolution.
The article calls for tolerance of atheists. Since atheists already have free speech, what’s the beef? This is reverse intolerance in action from a group of people who have mastered a new kind of intolerance, hiding behind science.
The initiative of New Atheists is an ill-conceived religious cult that seeks to exploit its success in imposing scientism/darwinism on culture in an extension to atheism.
Note that this cult is so watered down, that even outstanding atheists are having a problem with.
The work of Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris, and Dennett is a form of knowthingism about the history of religion and its complexities. Its atheism is so confused that even Buddhists are not welcome in the cult.
The belief system is so limited as to make any discussion of a real humanism impossible.
So this Tikkun article is a puzzling, perhaps an expression of fear as it encounters the temporary success and peer pressure/intolerance of this disgusting cult spawned by Dawkins the pied piper with his does of sugar and oversimpification aimed at adolescent minds.
The puzzle is, what happened to the intelligence expected from science.
Be Scofield said,
July 7, 2010 at 11:11 am
My latest article:
“What Christopher Hitchens and the New Atheists Can Learn From Malcolm X”
http://www.tikkun.org/tikkundaily/2010/07/06/what-christopher-hitchens-and-the-new-atheists-can-learn-from-malcolm-x/
MBFM said,
July 7, 2010 at 4:46 pm
More perspectives on Tikkun
http://americanguru.net/news-and-reviews/integral-abuse-andrew-cohen-and-the-culture-of-integral-enlightenment/
(quote)UPDATE – Integral Abuse: Andrew Cohen and the Culture of Evolutionary Enlightenment
Review by William Yenner
In late April, I received an email from Be Scofield telling me about his new article “Integral Abuse: Andrew Cohen and the Culture of Evolutionary Enlightenment”, which he said was posted at Tikkun Daily, a blog at Tikkun Magazine which he writes for. Upon reading it, I felt his article to be a very comprehensive, insightful and disturbing piece revealing the depth of abuse and corruption within the Integral spiritual scene.
However within a couple of hours the post disappeared from Tikkun, with no explanation. (The article was saved, however, by blogger Goeff Falk on his blog here(unquote)
Geoff Falk’s preservation of the article
http://www.geoffreyfalk.com/documents/TikkunComplete.htm
(Mr Yenner continues:
(quote)The following day I heard again from Be Scofield, saying that Tikkun took it down due to stylistic and tone concerns, and not due to content or subject matter. He said that with the guidance of editor Dave Beldon at Tikkun, he will be preparing a new version which will be posted later on Tikkun Daily. The article is quite critical of not only Andrew Cohen but also of several other well known spiritual teachers, including Ken Wilber, Craig Hamilton, Marc Gafni, Terry Patten, Sally Kempton and Diane Musho Hamilton. I have since heard that it is highly unlikely that Tikkun will post any version of “Integral Abuse.” Given the fact that it was Tikkun that first posted this article, and Tikkun’s normally high journalistic standards, a fuller explanation is due from the magazine.
For any readers wishing to request a fuller explanation from Tikkun about this, here are contact details:
* rabbilerner@tikkun.org (Rabbi Michael Lerner, founder of the magazine)
* dave@tikkun.org (Dave Belden – Managing Editor)
* webmaster@tikkun.org (Web Site Comments and Questions)
* letters@tikkun.org (Letters to the Editor)
Mr. Scofield has now reposted his entire article on his own blog: God Bless the Whole World. Additionally the article has been posted on Integral World.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
UPDATE: Since originally posting the above commentary, I have received an email from Rabbi Lerner stating that he feels Be Scofield is wrong to publicly criticize Andrew Cohen for what Lerner believes to be private conduct. He calls this type of criticism “evil speech.”
Whether or not private conduct is a fair target for criticism or discussion, what is being discussed in the case of Andrew Cohen is not private conduct. The issue here is about how Cohen conducts himself in his very public role as a spiritual teacher, a role which he advertises himself in, a role where he travels and meets interested, and vulnerable, spiritual seekers all over the world. When some of those seekers become closely associated with Cohen, and find themselves subject to abuses as described in countless detail in three books and a former student blog, then the issue is of true public concern and Be Scofield has done a public service by bringing more people’s attention to it.
The fact that Rabbi Lerner, who is also a participant in various forums and publications of Cohen’s, objects to the public exposure of Cohen and bases it on a false use of the idea of right speech, is really further cause for concern. Why do so many of the spiritual luminaries and leaders seem to turn a blind eye to the predations of all too many of the spiritual teachers?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Here are some brief excerpts from “Integral Abuse” by Be Scofield -
As Frank Visser [founder of Integral World] says, “Integral confirms integral confirms integral.” I have heard people defend Marc Gafni by stating that Andrew Cohen and Ken Wilber support him. But it actually is a silly game they all play because they all defend and support each other. It goes something like this. Patten, Hamilton, Gafni and Wilber support Cohen. Cohen, Wilber, Hamilton and Patten support Gafni. Wilber, Gafni, Hamilton and Patten support Wilber. Wilber and Cohen support Patten and Hamilton. Wilber and Patten support Adi Da….etc. And they all appear on each others integral programs, websites, conferences, book chapters, magazines and platforms. Among the various offerings is Integral Life Practice, Integral Naked, Integral Institute, Integral Spiritual Center, Integral Enlightenment, EnlightenNext magazine…etc. And as Yenner notes above, they seem to employ the same tactic: surrounding themselves with other luminaries, celebrities, and public faces who agree with them and provide much needed support. If all of these amazing people support Cohen he must be ok, right? Now adays it seems all you have to do is add the word integral in front of something to boost its credibility. Add the word integral and you have a sexy and attractive product ready to be sold to eager spiritual seekers who are hungry for idealism and more purpose in life. The whole thing equates to a very large money making machine.
… Is it wrong to call out Cohen’s enablers? Is it wrong to expect them to break the silence on Cohen’s legacy of abuse, manipulation and cultish behaviors? In the face of the sadistic acts of Cohen isn’t it problematic when Wilber says “Cohen is here to tear you into a thousand pieces?” What about accountability? Responsibility? Ethics?
…In a post-Jonestown and present day Catholic Church scandal era we simply cannot afford their silence. I doubt any accountability will be had because this particular integral community is a family of “evolutionary thinkers,” who has discovered a revolutionary truth and will defend it to the end. They simply employ a form of group think that rationalizes, justifies and spins the truth to meet their agreed upon conclusions about each other. The ultimate irony is of course that these spiritual teachers are supposedly on the forefront of instructing us on how to confront the shadow. However, I won’t take their advice until they confront the very large shadow of Andrew Cohen. (unquote)
My hunch is that some of the folks who profess to be interested in evolutionary or integral spiriutality are actually, without being fully aware of it, more interested in maintaining a culture of impunity in which bullies can function, and even be celebrated as bullies, so long as they claim the title of guru or teacher of enlightenment.
A sincere seeker who unknowling ventures into an area claiming to be all about spirituality but in which the actual agenda is fostering culture of impunity soley for the benefit of powerholders, has ventured into a dangerous neighborhood and one in which the street signs are absent or misleading.
A friend living in London says there are some areas where residents have removed street signs and apartment numbers and in these neighborhoods the police cannot function–which is exactly the desired outcome. How can you call for help and get help if no street signs or numbers exist?
This isnt social justice, folks. Its a fog machine.
Darwiniana » Comment: the new atheists said,
July 8, 2010 at 12:52 pm
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Darwiniana » More on Tikkun and New Atheists said,
July 8, 2010 at 12:57 pm
[...] (more apt for The Gurdjieff Con, but welcome here too). We will repost/link at the Gurdjieff Con. MBFM comment link Be Scofield said, July 7, 2010 at 11:11 am · My latest [...]