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From: radams@cerritos.edu
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Re: The dana tradition (Was Re: Spiritualty as an Odeal)
Message-ID: <1991Jun27.233912.5408@nas.nasa.gov>
Date: 27 Jun 91 23:39:12 GMT
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Organization: Cerritos College, Norwalk CA
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Approved: prabhu@amelia.nas.nasa.gov

mayne@sun16.scri.fsu.edu (Bill Mayne) writes:
>Since you asked... :-)

>Without contributing to the heat of this discussion, I would like to
>point out that there are in fact many spiritual teachers and organizations
>which charge no dues, relying on truly voluntary contributions to support
>all of their activities - and this is in "the real world". Few if any
>"struggling churches" actually resort to dues. You may say that it is
>easier for the dominant religion of a culture to function this way, but
>the phenomenon is also found among small struggling minorities.

>You are far too cynical, Mr. Wheeler. Those who have tried to maintain
>the tradition of freely sharing teaching, even without a large and
>affluent group of followers, have been able to succeed without charging
>$200 per month dues.

>Bill Mayne

I agree completely with the above though I don't see Mr. Wheeler as being
cynical, just mistaken.  Let me mention another non-profit organization that
does not charge any dues (much less monthly dues): Self-Realization Fellowship.
SRF depends on voluntary contributions and they do pass the plate around
at Sunday services in the various temples or centers just as any church 
would do.  Also there is a small fee to receive the SRF lessons which covers
the cost of printing and mailing costs (something like $30 or $40 for the 
entire series of lessons which are mailed to you over a period of 2 or more 
years depending on the pace the student wants to take). I don't like the idea 
of an organization turning its members upside down and shaking $200 or whatever
out of their pockets every month.  SRF has centers all over the world and
is a growing organization - never any pressuring or requiring its members
to contribute financially.




	Roger Adams

	radams@cerritos.edu               To those in whom love dwells,
	Cerritos College                  the whole world is one family.
	11110 Alondra Blvd                             A Hindu Proverb
        Norwalk, California 90650
	USA
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