Sunday September 6 & bi-weekly * 11am * $5-10 suggested * REGISTER
For centuries, religion has centered on going with the flow. Accepting suffering. Trusting the universe. But what if the universe is something you can hack? What if the human mind isn’t a mystery, but a machine, AND you can access a manual to it? We’re looking at spiritual engineering.
L. Ron Hubbard claimed he found the code. The 'Eight Dynamics' of survival. A formula for human connection called the A-R-C Triangle. It promises total clarity. It promises 'total freedom.' But what happens when the architecture of your mind is owned by a modern, hyper-structured corporation? For this installment of the religious exploration book club we’re diving into the blueprint of Scientology. And then, what happens when the system turns on you? Through Lawrence Wright’s The Apostate, we’ll see a filmmaker's pretty desperate attempt to escape the echo chamber. Where's the line between a psychological life-hack and a means of absolute control?
Join this session of our book club to dive into some learnings and discussion about Scientology. We're discussing from a learning perspective, not a conversion perspective.
Readings below:
The Apostate, Lawrence Wright
Lesson 1, 2 and 3 readings, Scientology: The Fundamentals of Thought
Note: The way to access these readings is through signing up for an online course (free), if you are not comfortable with that, email crichardson1399@gmail.com, and I will see if I can screenshot + share the reading.
Optional: Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (Streaming on Max)
See the full book club syllabus here (subject to changes): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wQw8VfMlRUr_OrUnrXNnBH9givIiWXW6TboPfTt_Df8/edit?tab=t.0
How do different traditions across history and geography think about how we should live our lives?
Join this community for a casual, biweekly discussion group dedicated to exploring the practical philosophies and lived wisdom of the world’s major spiritual traditions. Over the first 12 weeks, we’ll look at foundational ideas from Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Taoism, Stoicism, Shinto, Yoruba, Animism, Christianity, Islam, and some modern faiths.
The full set of readings will comprise short, accessible excerpts of major texts. Because each of these traditions is vast and could inspire a lifelong study, our goal isn’t a dense deep dive. Instead, we want to look at the unique ways each tradition guides day-to-day living, ethical choices, and personal reflection.
This is less of a learning seminar and more of a conversational space. There are no right or wrong answers, and you don’t need any background in religious studies to participate. Come as you are, ready to chat about the ideas that jump out at you, what resonates with your own perspective, and how these philosophies might map onto our lives.
