I stipulated in my post that AMROC, and the order as a whole, does NOT specify a 'controlling intelligence' or promote obidience to anyone or anything....that makes it different from most religions. But the page you link to contains this, which DOES share some notions with religions:

"The Rosicrucian path incorporates both metaphysics and mysticism. Metaphysics is that which falls beyond the five physical senses; for example, intuition, visualisation, and healing techniques. Mysticism does not refer to anything mysterious. Mysticism is simply the process by which you may eventually experience direct, conscious union with the Absolute, Divine Mind, Universal Intelligence, or what some Rosicrucian students call the God of their Hearts. This is not done by adhering to specific tenets or beliefs, but by learning and applying natural laws which, over time, allow you to experience Divine or Cosmic Consciousness."

...to me, ANY set of ideas and theories which presuppose 'healing', the 'Absolute', 'Divine Mind' and 'Universal Intelligence'(and other things beyond the usual 5 senses), have similar requirements, in that they expect us to set aside certain notions of scientific proof and logic. They often ask us to "open ourselves" to experiences and energies that cannot be directly measured, so that we may acquire knowledge of powers and existance beyond the usual 3-dimensional world we live in. The very process of "opening ones self" creates a mindset that suggests one OUGHT to see something or be thought flawed or lacking in some way.

   I need experiences that do NOT require me to expect them in order to engage them....experiences that can be replicated and shared using the senses I use everyday.
   Our mind/brain is a very complex thing. It can be hypnotized; it can have vivid dreams; it can reflect on its own nature; it can 'remember' stuff than never happened, and with practice, it can partially regulate breathing and temperature...etc. All this has been demonstrated many times, and indicates to me that one has to be VERY careful of what one admits as objective, rather than subjective, experience. When I add to this the number of esoteric disciplines which, like metaphysical Towers of Babel, ask me (us) to believe layers and layers of often contradictory claims about the Ultimate, I shake my head in wonder. Perhaps the Red Queen can "...believe as many as six impossible things before breakfast.", but I just can't mansge it...


Told you I was a hard case! I consider being "open minded" as being willing to be SHOWN, not as willing to believe before being shown.