Democratic Primaries
In reply to the discussion: Gabbard has sent goons after people who question her cult involvement [View all]bluedye33139
(1,474 posts)The only piece he took from them was the belief that a bona fide guru can overcome karma for his followers. They blanket reject every belief of the international society for Krishna consciousness, and people raised in the cult have reported that they never read the Vedas or gitas or engaged in any Hindu holiday observance. They had Christmas trees, and they listened to Chris Butler's sermons on random topics.
I've never joined them because I do not like religious fundamentalism. Last year, for instance, I was reading one of Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada's books and loving it, and then I happened to read an interview with a ISKCON cleric decreeing that it was blasphemy to say that the lunar eclipse was a physical phenomenon caused by the shadow of the earth. Rather, we are required to believe that a demon has eaten the moon temporarily. Literally. And that kind of fundamentalism never makes me happy.
ISKCON has a mixed history. Lots of wonderful, wonderful spiritual seekers. Lots of authoritarian abuse.
Edit: also the doctrine that they cannot associate with people who are not members.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden