Seeking the Light: Uncovering the Truth about the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness and Its Founder John-RogerResearcher and expert in nontraditional religions James R. Lewis explores the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA) from the inside out. His comprehensive study looks at MSIA under a microscope, examining the religious and spiritual heritage of MSIA, and presenting the truth about this so-called controversial movement. His conclusions are enlightening and informative, interesting not only in the context of MSIA, but in relation to our politics, our culture, and our response to alternative religious movements. |
Contents
Dozing into the Light | 6 |
Early History and Organization | 19 |
Movement Background and Some Religious Philosophical Traditions Preceding MSIA | 44 |
A Little Soul Travel Goes a Long Way | 64 |
Why People Join | 92 |
Living in the Light | 116 |
Pictorial History | 141 |
Demographic Profiles of Members and ExMembers | 159 |
ExMembers and the Cult Controversy | 187 |
A Look to the Future | 220 |
About the Author | 233 |
Additional Study and Resource Materials | 234 |
Common terms and phrases
active Age movement asked astral astral projection basic become Berlin Wall body brainwashing Christian Church Count Percent counterculture Cult Awareness Network cult stereotype described Discourse subscribers Doonesbury dream Eckankar energy everyday ex-members example experience feel forgiveness former members goal going growth Hinduism human individual initial involved in MSIA John Morton John-Roger John-Roger's karma kind koan learning Lifespring Light live look mass media meditation membership metaphor metaphysical minority religions Movement of Spiritual Movement participants MSIA members MSIA participants MSIA's teachings Mystical Traveler Consciousness negative nontraditional religions occult one's organization participants in MSIA pattern person physical plane questionnaire item religious group religious movements respondents riences role samsara Sant Mat Santa Barbara sciousness seminars sense significant social society Soul Transcendence spiritual exercises Spiritual Inner Awareness story Table tape teacher things tion traditional transformation understanding Unification Church Upanishadic