Wednesday, December 15, 2004
ESALEN CONFERENCE
Ever wonder where social movements come from? What is the source of feminism, for example? We just assume someone thinks them up. Maybe not. There is an interesting statement in this report of a conference at Esalen:
Conferees then explored the connection between 19th century spiritualism and social activism. Many spiritualists were feminists and abolitionists at the avant-garde of social thinking (Braude, 1989). Victoria Woodhull, for example, was a medium in Boston who was a suffragette and the first woman candidate for vice-president. Robert Dale Owen, a British socialist, developed his whole socialist program for the country based upon transmission from the spirits. Messages today are more focused on inner guidance, while back then many of the messages were focused on social activism. Hundreds of liberal movements around the U.S. drew inspiration from mediumistic work.
What if liberalism is nothing more than channeled material? Who would the source be? I think we can be pretty sure it isn't God, considering the devastating effects it has on society. That doesn't leave many other choices. We would have to eliminate the angels because they would be interested in doing God's work, and His work is not to destruction. Then there are those fallen angels. Hmmm.
Thanks to a reader for providing the lead.
