Don Firth - Yes, I think you're right that Dianetics does merit a serious look. It's really quite interesting. Hubbard was probably onto some real stuff there, but I'm not so sure about how the organization itself has evolved in the wake of that. It seems to attract some rather fanatical types of people, like the young woman you describe.

Where does religion leave off and philosophy begin, you ask? There is no clear dividing line. Any religion that is worthwhile and valuable IS a living and flexible philosophy, and a pretty comprehensive one. The whole of Jesus' teachings as presented in the New Testament, for example, were a radical new philosophy of life that he presented in a very conservative and rigid society. It delighted many of his followers, but it scared hell out of the established Jewish Church of the time, so they had him executed for what was, in their terms, heresy.

Now, if you look at all the Vedic accounts of what Krishna presumably taught, he was teaching a philosophy also, and a very deep one.

If you look at all the Buddhist accounts of what Buddha taught, he was teaching a philosophy.

So was Lao-Tse. Taoism is a philosophy, and it's a stunningly beautiful philosophy.

Philosophy encourages people to think, and think freely. This is the positive side of the spiritual search, and it is the epitome of rationality. It is, to my mind, the highest form of being rational and seeking truth. It goes beyond the mere material questions (which are pretty bloody obvious) and asks the nonmaterial questions which are the real crux of life.

Rote religion (ceremonials, rules and regulations) encourages people NOT to think, but simply to imitate and obey. That is the negative side of the spiritual search, and it is the key reason why free thinkers tend to oppose organized religion. They assume that ALL religion is of that rote type, designed to stifle free thought.

That's not so. When religion is in the form of an inspired philosophy encouraging free thought then it is not concerned with ceremonials, rules or reguations at all! It is concerned with philosophy, and philosophy is the pursuit of free men, not slaves to someone else's chosen obsessions.

That's why I say that I'm spiritual, not religious. I am a free man who investigates every form of spiritual philosophy, but is a prisoner of no set of religious rules, ceremonies, or regulations. I have no religious label. I decide for myself what my values are...and they may change some at any time, given new understandings and new experiences. A person who cannot change is one who is as one already dead.