bakkagirl wrote:
"I hold the possibility that est/Landmark is a creation of the Esalen Institute. As such, it would partake of that organization's quest to create a religion that is not a religion. Est/Landmark seems to encompass many quasi-religious elements, but omits the moral and ethical constraints."
Possible reasons for this will be obvious to bakka and ajinajan, but will point out a couple of things anyway:
1). People have been required, by their employers, to attend some of Landmark's programs. If it were overtly religious, the employees could beg off for religious reasons, (at least in the U.S.).
2). If it were presented as a religion, many people who were loyal to their own religion would be less likely to attend. The idea that it's secular would probably feel less threatening.
"I hold the possibility that est/Landmark is a creation of the Esalen Institute. As such, it would partake of that organization's quest to create a religion that is not a religion. Est/Landmark seems to encompass many quasi-religious elements, but omits the moral and ethical constraints."
Possible reasons for this will be obvious to bakka and ajinajan, but will point out a couple of things anyway:
1). People have been required, by their employers, to attend some of Landmark's programs. If it were overtly religious, the employees could beg off for religious reasons, (at least in the U.S.).
2). If it were presented as a religion, many people who were loyal to their own religion would be less likely to attend. The idea that it's secular would probably feel less threatening.