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From: mangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Experiential Processes
Message-ID: <7817@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 9-Jul-84 21:51:39 EDT
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.7817
Posted: Mon Jul  9 21:51:39 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 12-Jul-84 03:44:43 EDT
References: <2975@tektronix.UUCP> <1159@nsc.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 21

<your terminal si getting very sleepy>

The issue with respect to EST and other such participatory therapy isn't
just a question of safety.  Many years ago there appeared a short column
in _Psychology Today_ warning people about certain aspects of TM (which
had just reached its peak of faddishness).  The author pointed out that
people were not considering the implications of participation in a rite
one aspect of which was pratice of Hinduism.  He pointed out that the act
of meditation, which was presumably the source of the beficial results,
could be totally divorced from the religious practices which TM entailed;
but it was not.

The same is true of EST or Christian Marriage Encouter, for that matter.
All of these therapies have a strong religious content and carry with them
essentially religious assumptions about the world.  I have severe problems
with the ESTian worldview, and I suggest that a Jew would be similarly
uncomfortable taking a retreat at a Dominican monistery.

My rule is: Approach with caution.

Charley Wingate         umcp-cs!mangoe