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#21 (See file # 805)

Our religious and philosophic freedom

requires that we allow the same for others.

Religious and philosophic beliefs and practices vary widely and are often conflicting and confusing. It is, therefore, essential for those of us who function professionally in these areas to understand that our responsibility is (A) to act with integrity, and (B) to confine our interests and our activities to willing participants and believers. We need to understand that, although sorely neglected, freedom-of-thought and freedom-from-indiscriminate-interference-by-others are two of the basic, fundamental, spiritual principles of religion and philosophy.

We, at The Life Center, subscribe to that sacred philosophy of life which acknowledges that the source of our creation, no matter what we believe that source to be, has made each human being a sacred personality endowed with a specific temperament and with needs, hungers and dreams that are his/her destiny to pursue. We, therefore, acknowledge, honor and respect the essence and the uniqueness of every living being, including ourselves.

To force others to practice our religious philosophy goes counter to the very essence of our principles. Therefore, those of us at T.L.C. who are active at teaching and promoting the spirit and the practice of our religious philosophy intentionally remain inactive with regard to promoting or practicing the letter of the law.

If history teaches us anything, it teaches that there is often a significant difference between what we believe to be true and what is actually true. Universal truths are true in all places and at all times. However, in religion and philosophy, just like in science, we simply don't yet know all the rules. As a result most of us are basing our beliefs and our actions on partial and incomplete information. (Expand prior sentence) People are making decisions based upon what they believe to be true, even when their beliefs are based upon nothing more than childhood conditioning.

In the interest of personal freedom, religious and philosophic beliefs should be considered and debated in religious circles rather than in that portion of secular society which is active in promoting or practicing the letter of the law.

The question then becomes: "What is a religious/philosophic issue?" That question cannot be answered with absolute certainty. There are, however, several indicators. The attributes which would tend to indicate an issue to be a religious issue include the following: See file # 805)

(A) Issues wherein a consensus of opinion is clearly absent.

(B) Issues wherein government intervention to support one point of view would clearly violate, cause harm to, or create hardship for those people who held opposing views.

(D) Issues wherein different societies follow significantly different customs regarding the subject issue.

(E) Issues wherein at different times in the same society, significantly different customs and rules have been followed regarding the subject issue.

(F) Issues wherein the society's practices and customs vary depending upon one's physical location and/or social status within that society.

(G) Issues wherein the practices and customs vary depending upon a time factor. (i.e. time of day, day of the week, etc.)

(H) Issues wherein the practices of at least one side are the result of learning and conditioning and are not natural, instinctive, human behavior. (This is usually indicated by certain social groups practicing and supporting one side and opposing the other.)

(I) Issues wherein direct, third-party effects cannot be clearly demonstrated. (i.e. The resultant effect upon the social structure of following one practice as opposed to another cannot be clearly measured.)

(J) Issues wherein the side requesting government intervention on its behalf cannot clearly demonstrate that its beliefs and practices deserve the support of governmental law --- Advocating the use of government law is to advocate the use violence or threat of violence against persons or property in order to force people to do (or not do) things contrary to their own free will choices.

(K) Issues wherein the effects upon the social structure of using government violence or threat of violence against one side by the other can be clearly demonstrated as socially detrimental.

(L) Issues wherein people often tend to shift their loyalties to a different opinion on the same issue over time.

(M) Issues wherein limiting practice to one point of view causes those with a different point of view to simply continue their practices clandestinely.

(N) Issues wherein limiting practice to one point of view creates a black market and tends to promote the wealth and power of those without scruples.

(O) Issues wherein there are two or more conflicting interpretations as to what is the right way to practice and conduct oneself.

(P) Issues wherein the side advocating government violence or threat of violence cannot clearly demonstrate that its practices are superior to the side proposing that government mind its own business.

(Q) Issues wherein no justifiable reason can be argued as to why one side should be allowed to use government violence or threat of violence to prohibit the other side from privately practicing its beliefs.

(R) Issues within which the various aspects and values are not clearly definable and are open to widely divergent views and interpretations.

(S) Issues which are highly subjective and emotional.

(T) Issues wherein the side advocating government intervention will be made up primarily of religious "true-believers" who are active members of one or more of the area's common religious organizations.

(U) Issues wherein the side promoting that government mind its own business are primarily supporters of individual thinking, personal liberty, and freedom of choice with their spiritual practices very likely to involve the concept of a personal connection to " The Source of All That Is".

(V) Issues wherein the side advocating government intervention is made up primarily of non-thinking, mini-minded, micro politicians who refuse to consider the overall result of using government to force their ways onto others.

(W) Issues wherein the side promoting the concept of Personal-Freedom-of-Choice are primarily promoters of open, rational debate of the fundamental principles of the issue in question and are also willing to look at all of the ramifications of the various possible solutions.

(X) Issues wherein the side advocating government intervention will be made up primarily of people with the dominator-manipulator mentality that promotes totalitarian style governments.

(Y) Issues wherein the side promoting the concept of Personal-Freedom-of-Choice will be made up primarily of people with the cooperative-partnership mentality that promotes economic freedom, political liberty and personal sovereignty.

(Z) Issues that are rampant with hypocrisy. i.e. --- Where many of those in positions of authority preach against, or prohibit others, by law, from doing what they themselves do openly with impunity or clandestinely in self-centered secrecy. )

The above characteristics are but indicators. Issues that have several of the above characteristics are often subject to multiple interpretations and need to be given open minded analysis. We at T.L.C. acknowledge that as new information becomes available to us, we may need to re-evaluate our position.

In a truly free society (i.e. a cooperation / partnership social structure), the principle of religious freedom is as follows: The religious and philosophic freedom of every person (or group of people) requires that the same religious and philosophic freedom be allowed for all others.

In such a society, do I have the right to use government laws to force you to practice my religion? If not, then what gives others that right? Is it OK for one person to force his personal religious ways upon another? If not, then at what point does it become right for a group of people to do what is wrong for an individual to do? (Ad last 2 paragraphs to File #805)

Unfortunately, there are some who cannot see the forest through the trees. they are about as flexible as a rock. Through childhood conditioning, ignorance, fear or greed, they would force the rest of us to practice their religion. To the one-way people who scoff, close their minds and say "I know the truth," we can but quote the words of Galileo's inquisitors, "The earth is flat as any fool can plainly see."

#22

WE: "DO ONTO OTHERS AS THEY WOULD BE DONE ONTO."

Note the difference between the above statement and, "Do onto others as you would have them do onto you." Before doing something to or for someone else and before intentionally doing something in order to affect someone else, it is most fitting to ask: "Is this a mutually voluntary interaction welcomed by the other party, or merely an act of interference?"

At T.L.C., our assistance is constantly available, but only when requested.

#23

Violating another, or being

a party to the violating of another is a

gross offense against the dignity of all of humanity.

Each person's spirit, mind, body and physical possessions are their sacred property. Their rights therein are to be acknowledged, honored and respected. No honorable and noble person would violate himself or anyone else with either words or deeds, nor would he be a party to such a violation.

Those of us who are unable or unwilling to undertake the task of analyzing the three root assumptions of life[1]** in regard to treating others, might look at what the great men and women of history have said on the subject. (Rewrite prior sentence) Paraphrased and condensed into one sentence, their statement would read something like this: "Sorrow, grief and misery will surely fall onto he/she who knowingly and willingly attempts to gain at the expense of another!"

When others violate our value systems, we tend to throw judgments and condemnations at them. Before condemning another, we would be well advised to hear again these words: "Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone."[2]** And, then remember that revenge is best left to the natural workings of the universe.

How then do we act in response to those who would and do violate us? One response that does not make us violators of the violators is to prohibit the offenders from participating in our personal lives and/or our social structure. [3]**

#24

Freedom to pursue ones own

values through voluntary, cooperative,

PERSONAL interactions IS a "God" given right

(That is, providing one avoids gaining at the expense of another.)

A very eminent philosopher expressed this simple, but profound, fundamental truth: "Voluntary human interactions take place only when all parties to the transaction believe they will benefit thereby." In the absence of deception, when such a transaction is entered into by two knowledgeable and capable people, both parties gain. both parties are winners. Force, manipulation and coercion are absent and obsolete. The long term result of multitudes of such transactions is a higher standard of living for everyone.

The basic, historically-precedented, underlying premise relating to social interaction and property use is as follows: In the absence of deception and manipulation; when knowledgeable, capable people interact by mutual consent; utilizing their own spirit, mind, body or physical possessions; in a manner that is positive or neutral in its affect upon others, upon our environment and upon future generations; then: The person or group thereof whose property is being used determines the manner of its use.

The spiritual philosophy of The Life Center illustrates that "the-God-intended-way" to maximize love, understanding, freedom and abundance (the four basic premises of religion) is through free and voluntary human cooperation.

#25

Coordination and cooperation

produce results far in excess of individual efforts.

The following quotation is as true when doing physically creative work as it is when praying --- "When two or more are gathered in my name, I am there also."

As long as we always acknowledge, honor and respect our fellow humans and our environment, each of us can strive to work for whatever we consider to be in our own self interest. However, the universe provides much more abundance when we work with instead of against each other. Coordination, cooperation and mutual support are creators of wealth, abundance and liberty. When one realizes that being altruistic ( i.e. having selfless concern for the welfare of others ) is in one's own, long-term, best interest, the way becomes much easier.[4]**

#26

We practice responsible freedom and liberty.

With freedom of action comes the responsibility for the effect of one's actions. One can delegate authority but not responsibility --- i.e. I can give you authority as my agent, but I'm still responsible for what you do. Many hold beliefs designed to circumvent responsibility. For example, (1) Believing that they got away with something if they didn't get caught by someone else, (2) Justifying an evil act by saying it is for a good cause, (3) Pushing away responsibility by hiding behind man-made laws, or (4) Believing that "The-Source-of-All-That-Is" (i.e. "God") can be bought off with synthetic, ritualistic activity.

It seems inconceivable that anybody could possibly believe: (1) That the laws of the universe can be repealed by man-made laws or (2) That "God" can be bribed or (3) That responsibility can be diluted so that what is wrong for one person to do is somehow right for a group of people to do or cause to be done. Everything has its price! Nothing is free! In the long run, one cannot avoid responsibility through self-deception. [5]**

#27

We at "T.L.C" . are

encouraging creativity and individuality

through our management and supervision policy.

Item 1: A critical key to good management is delegating authority. (Responsibility cannot be delegated.) Our intent is to have our supervisory personnel see to it that the work gets done and not do all the work themselves.

Item 2: A series of policy guidelines is being established based upon The Life Center Philosophy. Management staff will make their own decisions using these flexible guidelines and recommendations. When in doubt as to how to handle a situation, one is advised to ask for assistance. (See The Life Center's participation policy for staff and volunteers.) [6]**

Item 3: Dissenting opinions are to be encouraged. Energy alignment is to be directed into our purposes, rather than on agreement about details.

Item 4: Those who feel unenthusiastic about a particular aspect of T.L.C. are to be encouraged to work in a phase of the organization where they do feel comfortable.

Item 5: The views expressed by individuals do not necessarily reflect the organization's overall views. Tolerance for dissenting opinions is to be encouraged. The Life Center is setting the example in its own staff. We are each looking at different trees but we all know we are in the same forest.

Item 6: Where diverse opinions flow, we agree to disagree.

Item 7: Use group energy to encourage creativity. For example, when a novel concept is being considered for conceptual inputs by a group, initially all diverse thoughts are to be encouraged and welcomed without judgment. From this diversity, patterns will evolve and directions can be formulated.

#28

Members of The Life Center share

a sense of belonging while maintaining

personal integrity and dignity as individuals.

By emphasizing our similarities, and by being tolerant and understanding of our differences, we at The Life Center have evolved with a sense of belonging while maintaining our individuality. We accept each other's uniqueness as a universal virtue rather than as a threat. We are definitely individuals in our own right, but share a sense of comradeship.

We each live our own lives as individuals. We have our own responsibilities to families, to friends and to other organizations, but as members of T.L.C., we are colleagues in a very special way, in a movement broader and wider than any of us. Our working together demonstrates how the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and illustrates the truth in the quotation: "When two or more are gathered in my name, I am there also."

#29

To know thyself is to know all else. [7]**

Self knowledge is the key to physical, mental and emotional health. Self knowledge is also the key to material wealth and to meaningful-fulfilling relationships. by knowing one's self — one's mechanical nature, one's animal nature — one's human nature, one's needs, one's desires, etc. — we can, by the law of correspondence[8]**, know our fellow man, our environment and our Creator. Self knowledge is the key to all else.

Knowledge of self, when rightly and properly transposed onto the external world, manifests itself as efficiency — i.e. the proper use of goods and services, caring and sharing with others, etc. This, in turn, creates a multifold increase in the attributes of abundance available for self and others.

#30

Coppied into 1808b Abundance

Abundance is a natural function of the universe.

Scarcity is an artificial human creation.

One has only to look at nature to see that abundance is a natural function of the universe. Billions of billions of stars fill the sky. Your physical body is made up of billions of cells. Billions of God's living organisms roam this Earth. Everything in nature is created in vast abundance. How many flowers are there? How many Fish? How many trees?

Is there any real shortage of goods and services to fulfill human needs and desires? R. Buckminster Fuller, a genius of twentieth century America, has scientifically proven that if we learn and practice Freedom, Justice and Efficiency ^ on a global scale, we can generate more than enough abundance to amply fulfill all of the needs of every human being on the entire planet. [9]** Unfortunately, most people are unaware of this phenomenon because they live in an artificially created contexts of scarcity.

Notice the things that are in short supply. The vast majority of our want, lack and need is the product of human creatiivity directed at creating limitation in the name of greed, control and profit.

A couple of examples: Is there any real scarcity of sexual partners? Of course not. Then why are the vast majority of us sexually unfulfilled? Because, in our human social structures, sex has been make into a tool by the manipulators in order to control others and make a profit. For those of you who live is a city such as Los Angeles, notice how often you can't find a place to park your car simply because the parking places are artifically limited so that someone can collect money from you.

Scarcity is a human creation. It simply being out of harmony with ourselves, our fellow humans, our environment and our Creator.

#31

Coppied into 1808b Abundance

Abundance consists of

far more than

The TLC Philosophy