Question: Which religion, Spiritual, scientology or personal grow
program should I belong?

Background:
Today I have any faith; I don?t stand for religion, spirituality or
scientology. I am not sure about the existence of god or believe in
some religion.  However, I am single immigrant, 30 years old, working
for a corporation in the Midwest, doesn?t belong to a political party
and I am not sure what life is? Which job I should do? Should I do a
MBA? Even which country I should live? So I have the impression
something is missing in my life.   I want to find out who I am and
where I want to go.

I am looking for information that can help me to personally grow.  Do
I have to join a religion or something spiritual or scientology?   In
order to make this kind of decision, I have to understand the
different options available?  What is god, religions, spirituality or
scientology?

I saw also some awareness programs (or cult or psycho-cult or
scientology) like Avatar?, Lifespring, Lifespring Spinoffs, Landmark
Forum (see listing here:
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/eldon.braun/awareness/).  Like the Avatar
program, it seem to be attractive but the Star's Edge system that
delivers them, is corrupt.

If I should one path, I want to make sure it can be trusted, has a good rating.

Some programs are designed to incite for recruiting more participants.
I don?t want to follow a program with high-pressure sales and
recruitment tactics.  I don?t want to spend thousand dollars for this
kind of things. Do we have a good rating of these programs?

I would like to find this information online if possible.  Or do we
have a good book for this.  I was wondering if there is a personal
test or quizzes (online?) which will determine which of meditation I
should follow: Religious, Spiritual, scientology or personal grow
program?

---

Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 15 May 2005 16:14 PDT

eric...

I'm a licensced AvatarŪ master, and a Google Answers Researcher.
Like the majority of masters, or even graduates of AvatarŪ, I
explored innumerable paths to self-awareness and self-improvement
prior to exploring the AvatarŪ course. And, like most masters and
graduates, I can tell you that I'm completely happy with the 
results of the course. 

Other approaches have some value, but few provide the lifelong
benefit of the elegant tools (processes) which this course imparts
to you, which are based on the experiential understanding you gain
during the course, of such basic components as awareness, attention,
will, the nature and effect of beliefs, and how to change the ones
that don't serve you - something only you can decide.

I would recommend taking Eldon Braun's declarations with a grain
of salt. Here is the official Stars Edge response on the topic:
http://www.avatarepc.com/html/epcspecialreport.html

You might enjoy reading through other questions in which I've
provided answers and comments which mention the course and
offer links to the considerable amount of free materials which
are available from the Stars Edge network, prior to dismissing
this extremely valuable resource. Here's a listing of them all:
http://answers.google.com/answers/search?q=sublime1-ga+avatar&qtype=all

If, after that, I can clarify any specifics about how this
course works, or how it can assist you in specific ways, do
let me know.

sublime1-ga

---

Clarification of Question by ericf1-ga on 15 May 2005 17:49 PDT

Ok Sumblime1, your argument on Eldon Braun's declarations is probably
valid but the program still seems to me overpriced.  Therefore, before
to go more in details with Avatar, I would like answers for all of my
basics questions.  At the end, this would maybe one option, but for
now this is too early in my analyzing process.  BTW, do you member in
the Quad Cites (Iowa-Illinois)?

---

Clarification of Question by ericf1-ga on 15 May 2005 17:50 PDT

BTW, do we have Avatar's members in the Quad Cites (Iowa-Illinois)?

---

Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 15 May 2005 19:53 PDT

eric...

With regard to your "basic questions":

"...I am not sure what life is? Which job I should do? Should I do
 a MBA? Even which country I should live? So I have the impression
 something is missing in my life. I want to find out who I am and
 where I want to go."

I wouldn't begin to presume to tell you answers to these questions.
These are things best resolved by a careful exploration of your
personal values, beliefs and goals. The AvatarŪ course provides
precisely such a journey of discovery and empowerment.

Blindly following advice based on the dictates of another's beliefs,
or the unexamined traditions with which we grew up, is one of the 
main things the course assists people in correcting.


As for AvatarŪ members in the Iowa-Illinois area, there are lots
of graduates, but their names and addresses aren't generally
available. We do have AvatarŪ masters in those states, who 
publish their contact information in the AvatarŪ Journal, and
they, in turn, often head up support groups available to both
graduates and the general public.

The AvatarŪ Journal lists 6 active masters in Illinois, and
1 in Iowa. You can obtain a free subscription here:
http://www.avatarepc.com/html/freejournal.html

There's also a larger list of masters in Illinois here:
http://www.avatarepc.com/html/uslist.html#illinois

...and a list of 2 masters in Iowa here:
http://www.avatarepc.com/html/uslist.html#iowa

sublime1-ga

Dear Eric, 

First of all, you've written that you're looking for a spiritual
system that "has a good rating". However, choosing a religion, unlike
choosing a computer operating system, has nothing to do with advices
from other people, or with "rating". The most popular denomination, in
numbers, is Catholicism. If we choose only according to what the
majority chooses, choose Catholicism. If it's good for them, surely
it'll be good for you - just like Windows system: those few weirdoes
with Linux might not agree (just like the fact that those who chosoe
to be Jewish might not agree with the majority choosing Catholicism),
but Windows was chosen by the majority.

So, I am not here to give you all the answers, and I advice you to be
weary of those offering to give you all the answers. I am trying to
help you to figure out what type of spiritual direction you should
take. There is also no fault in trying, and deciding that something is
not for you - as the great spiriualists always say, the way is what
matters, and you will learn a lot even along the way and even when
choosing what will seem later as the wrong path.

First of all, you have to think why you're looking for one of these
solutions: Is it because you feel lonely? Do you feel that material
life do not satisfy you? Is it because you're looking for a set of
rules that would help you conduct a better life? Are you looking for
personal improvement? Collective one (for the whole society, not only
for yourself)?

You must answer these questions truthfully, and to yourself. After
all, some people compose their own eclectic set of spiritual beliefs
and moral rules, and do not attach themselves to any organised form of
religion or philosophies of the type you've mentioned. other people
live quite happily without any God in their lives, and they do not
feel that they are "sinners" or that they are spiritually empty: they
fill themselves with arts, philosophy, enquiry into the unknown. So,
there are many paths, and first of all, you have to know the reasons
for choosing a path, before you choose one. It wouldn't hurt trying,
reading about different religions and trying to understand yourself in
the way.

Of course, you'll also have to develop some critical thinking
regarding this whole issue. As I mentioned before, be weary of those
offering answers to everything. However, you always have to keep in
mind, when going to a lectur or reading a book regarding one religion
or another, that the person preaching to you is conviced, and tries to
convice you. They might not mention some less appealing parts of their
faith (you've spoken of money, and indeed, not one religion, including
those like Scientology or the Unification Church, against which such
allegations have been made, would admit that the members invest hefty
fortunes and that they employ "high-pressure sales and recruitment
tactics.").

A good tool to begin with, would be Belief-O-Matic. Yes, the name is a
bit humourous, and it is of course not an exact tool. However,
Belief-O-Matic uses a series of questions to give you a direction of
the type of religions and spiritual groups that would fit you the
most:

BeliefNet: Select Smart - Belief-O-Matic
<http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html> 

BeliefNet, which is a helpful site in any case to learn more about
different faiths and religions, has also a message board, where people
could discuss their results and their possible meanings:

BeliefNet: Belief-O-Matic Quiz - Message Board
<http://beliefnet.com//boards/discussion_list.asp?boardID=15317> 

BeliefNet holds two similar quizzes, that would help you learn more
about yourself.

 What's Your Spiritual Type? 
<http://www.beliefnet.com/section/quiz/index.asp?sectionID=&surveyID=27> 

 Find Your Spiritual Path 
<http://www.beliefnet.com/section/quiz/index.asp?sectionID=&surveyID=101> 

Spiritual Path Quiz (Message Board)
<http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/discussion_list.asp?boardID=7998> 

This is one option. You have to keep in mind that these quizzes are
not accurate, and that a computer is not a substitute for listening to
what your inside voice has been telling you.

You next step in the challenge could be to consult people close to
you. Call religious organisations within reasonable distance and ask
if you could learn more. What do they think? In addition, you can
browse the spiritual book shelves of your local library and find out -
which religions and spiritual pathes inspire me more?

Here are several sites that discuss different religions and faiths,
from which you can learn more about those religions and others:

Religions of the World
<http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/> - Only main religions
and generally in a very simple language. Good as an introduction to
those religions.

World Religions Index
<http://wri.leaderu.com/> - Has tables comparing different aspects of
different religions, personal stories, explanations on each, etc.
Links section is a bit weak, though, because it leads to all kinds of
biased sites without explaning what they are and who stands behind
them.

Irving Hexham's Homepage
<http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~nurelweb/> - with articles on different religions. 

Alternative Religions - About.com
<http://altreligion.about.com/> - comperhensive site on alternative
religions. Also has a forum.

Major Scriptures, Religious Texts and Influential Books 
<http://www.adherents.com/adh_influbooks.html> - a list of the
influential books in various religious traditions. You can read them
and maybe read a little about them.

BeliefNet
<http://www.beliefnet.com/index.html?rnd=401> - yes, this site has
been mentioned before regarding the quizzes, but it is a very good
one, so I mention it again.

BBC : Your Guide to the Religions of the World
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/features/world_religions/index.shtml>
- the Six Main World Religions

Religious Tolerance
<http://www.religioustolerance.org/var_rel.htm> - good site, quite
objective, to learn about different religious traditions. This
particular page is their directory of "A-Z" religions, but there's
much more inside.

Rick Ross
<http://www.rickross.com/> - Rick Ross is an "Anti-Cult" activist, who
has even gotten into troubles in the past, partially because of it.
His site seems to be biased (despite his attemp to present it as
"objective". However, it serves in your case an important purpose: it
has all the dirt out on many smaller groups that might consider
joining. It is important to read the negative aspects and allegations,
and to think critically, and in that - this site helps.

University of Virginia - The Religious Movements Homepage 
<http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/profiles/listalpha.htm> -
information on smaller religious movements.

Specifically regarding Avatar, you could read at Wikipedia:
Harry Palmer 
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Palmer_%28Avatar%29> (I am sorry,
but none of the three sites discussing spritual and personal grow
groups actually discusses Avatar, so I gave this link).

Reading about these groups might not be enough. Personal growth is
something that should come from within. The books mentioned before,
those available in libraries, might give you more directions.

I hope this answers your question. Please contact me if you need any
further clarification on this answer before you rate it.

---

Request for Answer Clarification by ericf1-ga on 18 May 2005 21:09 PDT

Thank you for this answer politicalguru!

You provided a detailed result on the religion part; however, would
you also provide a thoroughly information on spiritual, scientology
aspects as well as personal programs?

---

Clarification of Answer by politicalguru-ga on 19 May 2005 10:25 PDT

Dear Eric, 

he links I've provided give information also on this type of self-help
groups and groups like Scientology. They are in fact categorised today
as "New Religious Movements".

However, here are several sites more relevant to self-growth: 

ABCs of Self Help 
<http://www.helpself.com/> - full of tests that could be helpful for you. 

Self-Growth.com 
<http://www.selfgrowth.com/> 

Option Method
<http://www.optionmethodnetwork.com/> - "The Option Method is a highly
effective way to help with depression, stress, anxiety, frustrations,
relationship and marriage problems, and improve mental health. By
asking carefully designed Option Method questions, anyone can discover
the beliefs and attitudes underlying their depression and unhappiness.
Exploring your responses to life's circumstances is one of the most
powerful and life-changing journeys you will ever take."

Personal Development.com
<http://www.personal-development.com/articles.htm> 

Faith Hamby, "Psychotherapy & Self-Help - Is Self-Help Really
Helpful?", Suite 101,  December 22, 2000
<http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/psychotherapy_self_help/55590> 

I hope these will help too. Find your peace!

I don't know what i am talking about but i see God(s) as
consciousness. Second, i keep moving from the neck up to the body to
experience a sense of wellness, balance and pleasure. Third, looking
at the planet earth from the moon everywhere IS LOCAL. Fourth, i find
it a blessing not to be invested in anything out there through there
are so many beautiful options. I do appreciate them for being there
but not necessarily will ask what they do. Not knowing, not having a
system helps me to explore with freshness my inner journey.
Also, it is lovely to be gentle to myself so i have massages and the
best one was given by a CTE (certified tantra educator).
I am also a foreigner doable american (south and north) and it is a
huge privelege to be able to experience different realities by just
switching languages inside my head.
If there is anything useful for you in what i wrote - good. If not,
well... i mention right from the start i don't know what i am talking
about.
I enjoyed talking to you.

My personal viewpoint on all this...

Everyone has the right to be at one with themselves...

If that does not feel right, then mabe its time to seek help....

My cheap 2 cents ;)

Steph53

Eric,
You don't need to pay anyone $50 to find out who you are (let alone
hundreds of dollars to some "spiritualality" course).  I would suggest
you simply start with a book you can pick up anywhere called "The
Purpose Driven Life".  You are valuable, have worth and have a
specific purpose.  Although you might feel as though you are wandering
without purpose or direction, and in a foreign land, there is a place
for you.  I challenge you to simply ask God, the God you are longing
for, the One who knows you and knows your needs, the One who is
waiting to answer you...ask Him to reveal Himself to you.  Boldly,
outloud with your voice, simply say "God, if you are real and you have
a purpose for my life, show me."  God will meet you right where you
are, and many of the questions you have will start to become clear. 
The first seven chapters of The Purpose Driven Life are available to
view online for free at www.purposedrivenlife.com/samplechapters You
are not alone.

You can read the book called "The Purpose Driven Life by Rick
Warren",it will give answer.God will touch your heart if you pray to
God in jesus name.Find church to attend and christian to discuss,You
will have a true life.

The fact that you are searching for "meaning" in your life is an
admirable realization.  Not a lot of people have the ability to stop
their rich, busy lifestyles and say: "Wait a minute?  Why am I here,
what's this all about?"

Your questions are numerous and exhaustive but don't be intimidated by
them.  I suggest you take them one by one and they will answer each
other.  e.g. if you determine that there is NO GOD, there won't be any
reason to find a religious affiliation.

A good book that is a must read for anyone unsure about the existence
of God is called "Hayy Ibn Yaqzan", written by Ibn Tufayl in the 12
century.  This is a short piece of fiction that tackles the subject of
God's existence from the perspective of an imaginary man devoid of
human communication (a man who wasn't TOLD about God) who grew up
alone on a deserted island.  Although Ibn Tufayl is a Muslim scholar,
the book does not touch upon any specific religions, only the
existence of God.

I wish you the best of luck and hope you can gradually fill in the
emptiness you feel.

remember when President Kennedy said " Ask not what the country can do
for you but what you can do for the country" or words close to that.
This same question can be asked about Almighty God. What can we do for
him. And on the basis that God inspired all the Bible, we should look
there for the answers.
How we began?..Genesis. Were Adam and Eve meant to live and die from
the very start or was it because they did something wrong [ Gen. 2;17
& 1Corinthians 15;22] Back then, were we closer to perfection than
today? [Gen. 5; 21-23] Is Jesus God? [John 19;11.. 17;3-5,Proverbs
8;22-30] Does God have a name apart from his title 'LORD'? [ Exodus
3;13-15 & 6;3]. Should we call priests 'Father'? The Bible says NO [
Matthew 23;9]. Who knows the date of Armageddon? [Matthew
24;36].Should women be priests? Again the Bible says NO [ 1Corinthians
14;34] Will we always experience death? [ 1Corinthians 15;26 &
Revelation 20;14 & 21;4]
Do people require help in understanding the scriptures? The example of
Phillip meeting the ethiopian eunuch at Acts 8; 29-39 shows that even
if they are eager to learn, it requires some teaching. Read and get
the Bible answers to all the above and then compare those answers with
those of the major religions and you will soon gravitate to the
religion doing all the right things.