Byrd posted an interesting piece on her blog. I redacted the name of the group she's referring to (just to demonstrate that it can be done) and I was struck by the bare matter-of-factness of it.
Stated as a list of characteristics -- rather than as a litany of accusations, as some sect warriors might prefer -- this is what you get:
1. The entire governance structure is built on the principle that can best be achieved by depriving individuals of meaningful choice.2. Members of this group have no voice or choice in who their leaders are.
3. Members of this group have no voice or choice as far as what they can read or discuss in a group. Their study materials are assigned on a national level every month.
4. Members of this group have no choice or voice as to whether they can pursue any program of higher learning or advancement within the group.
5. Members of this group have no choice or voice as to acquiring property for the members to use.
6. Members of this group have no choice or voice in how their donations are spent.
7. Leaders of the group react with alarm and disciplinary action when members exercise their choice to practice with members of other groups.
8. Members of the group have no choice or voice in anything, really.
Let's say for the sake of discussion that this describes a Christian denomination rather than a Buddhist one. Or let's say it describes a bowling team -- yes, let's take it totally out of the context of religion.
Wouldn't it be obvious to members and prospective members that the focus of such a group is NOT bowling? Rather, the purpose of the group is to exercise control over members and accrue the benefits of unquestioning member obedience -- benefits such as:
- No-strings-attached donations with no requirement for accountability or financial transparency...
- The freedom to build a multi-billion-dollar real estate portfolio without having to disclose to members just exactly what the group's assets are, and to dispose of these assets without consulting members...
- Political influence that comes from controlling a large, obedient membership...
- Significant tax breaks if this is a nonprofit bowling club...
- Plus, the devoted, powerless membership spends lots of money on official products and publications produced by the bowling club.
Perhaps the group's stated purpose is to celebrate, propagate and practice bowling. But to participate in the group, members forfeit their "choice and voice" in all bowling-related matters.
Maybe the reason why the club hasn't made much progress in the realm of bowling is because the club is not about bowling. It's about money, politics and control.
What do you think?
5 comments
Hiya Burl, and thanks for the plug. Thanks, also, for the reminder that it is possible to discuss issues without getting personal or naming names. My reason for posting the piece you linked to (and some others due to come out next week on the topics of Unity/Uniformity, as well as Leadership/Loyalty) is that I wish to communicate my thoughts to leaders of the FBC (Fictional Bowling Club) organization in another country. NB: In order to avoid any discomfort the citizens of this other country may have in being discussed by noncitizens of their country, I will not refer to this other country by its name. This will also help me to avoid the allegations of racism which have dogged my discussions of the cultural differences between this other country and the US. I will instead refer to this other country as if it were another planet - the planet Xenon. This reference is not intended in any way to belittle, ridicule or insult the people of Xenon, or of the good Earth-based nation in question. Rather, it is intended in a Spock-like, "live long and prosper" sort of intergallactically friendly kind of a way. Perhaps by avoiding the naming of names here at BJ, we can better concentrate on the issues, neh?OK, in my analogy, I spoke with an Earth leader of the FBC who had recently visited Xenon on a bowling training mission. The bowling leader conveyed to me a sense that the Xenites were baffled as to the lack of growth of the FBC. The Xenites feel that the FBC should be doing better in the US and may not understand why it isn't. My post was the first in as series of attempts to explain the issue from my POV. Here was my point: If choice and voice have never been important cultural values to the Xenites, but they are important to "us", this may account for the FBC's lack of growth. In other words, the Xenites themselves may be quite comfortable with a lack of choice and voice. They may even have come to believe that a lack of choice and voice is integral to the game of bowling. Since Xenon appoints FBC American Bowling instructors, and appoints them according to Xenite standards, the American Bowling Instructors have had to internalize the Xenite discomfort with issues of choice and voice. Their positions as bowling instructiors depend on seeing the game of bowling through Xenite eyes. As a result, these instructors have come to believe (perhaps like the Xenites) that the game of bowling can only be played "correctly" if choice and voice are removed from the equation. Since few Americans are willing to give up choice and voice in order to bowl, this is a possible explanation for why the FBC is not growing. Hope that makes sense.K-Plagh!Byrd
Funny, too. I understand what you're getting at -- a major cultural disconnect between Xenon and Earth. I think there's a lot of truth to that. I look forward to reading your forthcoming essays.
I just noticed that Google ads is serving up a banner ad for bowling shoes at the bottom of this diary page. LOL.
You're right about the bowling shoe ad.That's totally mystical, neh?
Byrd, I apologize in advance for straining the bowling metaphor. I see that you are coming from an honest, thoughtful position. I would like to offer an alternative view. I am not as generous and forgiving as you in my interpretation of events......Once upon a time there was a wealthy, litigious American bowling club with a war chest large enough to crush alleged enemies with papers from lawyers. The bowling club hired people to follow their alleged enemies and spy on them. The club denounced alleged enemies and assassinated their character. Only despicable people became enemies of the bowling club.Members of the club had an inkling about the dark, paranoid, controlling activities of their club. They had heard things. They had seen how some of their former fellow members had been treated.But leaders of the club lived in a distant land. They spoke a different language than most of the American members. Therefore, American members excused all dark activities and statements as simple cultural misunderstandings. Besides, these questionable activities were just one aspect of their bowling club. For the most part, club gatherings were pleasant, so long as one did not rock the boat. Members just wanted to bowl and teach others how to bowl.A few American bowlers banded together and decided to educate their foreign leaders about American cultural expectations. If the club were more American, more Americans would be attracted to the game of bowling. How wonderful it would be.The leaders were not amused. Those plucky bowlers were belittled and vilified. Their reform efforts went nowhere and many left the club, dispirited.Many bowlers witnessed the cold take-down of the reformers. Many bowlers nonetheless remained members of the bowling club.They are well aware that something isn't quite right about the bowling club. For whatever reason, they cannot bring themselves to walk away and bowl in a different context. Those who stay do not think about the thuggery they tacitly support through their continued membership. They just want to bowl, after all.