Critique of Burning Man as locale for CS lecture & activity (by Tiare)

2012

WHAT? A CS Lecture at BURNING MAN? Ridiculous. What crazies are organizing this absurd idea? Yes, BMan is a superlative, fascinating, creative Art Festival. For 4 years I’ve attended to support our son’s large theme camp, flying in his banquet food and décor. I’ve experienced some outstanding healings there, but as a devoted, active lifelong CS, I’d never condone a CS Lecture or even brief stage presentation at BMan.

WHY? True, the basic philosophy requires brotherly kindness, strict conservation, self-reliant living, banning profiteering, respecting multi-culturalism, intellectual talks, focus on dancing and symbolism of destruction of the past year’s negative events to be free for fresh, positive experience.

However, the emphasis on total freedom of lifestyle, usage of alcohol and drug abuse, and immodesty by a significant number in a city of 60,000:- it all seemed to me licentious, inappropriate, and offensive for offering pure CS.

But then, WHY NOT Go For It? Was I being impressed with evil? I knew Mrs. Eddy wrote “Why should we stand aghast at nothingness?” (S&H563:5)

WHEN? As I learned of the extremely loving, well-organized, and spiritual purpose of the lecture organizing team, the motives began to shine as so pure, so filled with spiritual light and Christly compassion to “give a cup of cold water” in the hot desert of humanity escaping from unresolved problems, I began to reach out for how I could help, though not attending.

MBE does counsel us “Never breathe an immoral atmosphere unless in an attempt to purify it” (S&H 452:14-15).What about praying (Hymn 144) “In atmosphere of Love Divine, we live and move and breathe”? What right did I have to take offense? Again, our Leader advises in “Taking Offense” (MiscWr 223-224) that we CAN go forth into the wide world of diverse cultures, opinions, ceaseless interactions with dynamic spiritual patience, magnanimity, genial temper, and charity broad enough to cover the whole world’s evil (my paraphrasing).

WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS THIS, ANYWAY? Are there CS radicals or CS conservatives? MBE answers (“We soil our garments with conservatism, and afterwards we must wash them clean.” MWritg 452:20) We never need be timid, since everyone loves joyful surprises you find in practicing CS…Hymn 191 addresses this situation:

“My God, my Father, make me strong when tasks of life seem hard and long… Things deemed impossible I dare ~ Thine is the call, and Thine the care”

RESULT? Had a totally different perspective, so I found a way to support all CS activity with enthusiastic prayer-watching over the lecture & other times. As we know, the fruitage was excellent with healing and great joy!

2013

Deepest gratitude for excellent team-planning, organization, choice of lecturer, — specially the shared inspiration before — a superb unfoldment of relevant, fresh, humorous ideas.

~from Tiare (BMan name)
(Tahitian Gardenia)