Week 6, Eckankar

Even though this article was intensely long to read (27 pages), Ifound it very interesting to read. I must say that I was a bitconfused in the beginning because I was not apprehending whatEckankar meant. Eckankar is a cult that "teaches each individualsSoul inhabiting a human body. Soul, being a spark of God, is on ajourney to finds its way home to God or the Sugmad" states theauthor. In order to get rid of bad vibes in an individual's lifetimeand be released from death and incarnation, Eckerist practice thedetachment their souls from bad. I was so surprised to read thatDavid Lane was being harassed in such a way that even led to thebreaking of his apartment and goods taken away from his home just tocover up the findings that he had researched about the plagiarismthat the late Paul Twitchell had committed. Lanediscovered "Twitchell plagiarized whole chapters from Radhasoamitexts, lied about biographical details, and commenced vast cover-upsconcerning the true origins of Eckankar's doctrines." Lane alsofound "400plagiarized paragraphs" in Twitchells work. But what Ifind more interesting is that someone who is a founder of a churchwould commit such a crime against someone who doesn't share thebeliefs that he may have, but also for speaking his mind. I thinkeveryone is entitled to speak and say as they please as long as noone is hurt. But it doesn't work that way. No wonder Lanestates "the people who scare me are John Roger's people, notEckankar's."I agree with lots of what David Lane is saying in his interview withDodie Bellamy. For example in page 19 out of 27, he is asked byBellamy if he doesn't feel like the Great White Hunter attacking theendangered rhinoceros. And he states "If you want to go and follow agroup in which the founder lies to you point blank at every turn, thesources of his information and his books, well fine. " In otherwords, I agree with him in the sense that in order to know thequalities of an organization, one must first know investigate,research, and get some sort of background and history behind theorganization. I agree with David Lane in many different areas thathe discussed in his interview. I also found him humorous anddetermine to find out the truth behind the plagiarism that was done.