MEANDERING MYSTERY
Do I just imagine it to be true, or is it a known fact that the public interest and concern about cults and off-beat religious groups abounds in mysterious cycles?
We seem to go along for years without hearing about such oddball beliefs, and
the comes along a sudden flood of stories on the weird themes. And, each time it does so, it is accompanied by a list of newly declared devotees.
The current list is all feminine, too. That puzzles me, as does the fact that the list is appended to all stores about the phenomenon is always printed for us in the same sequence. Notice this year's list of personalities who have announced their intense new devotion to the observance of the rites and run-on reasoning of the oft and much-criticized “caballing”.
In addition to Madonna, who started the current list off early, others included are: Brittany Spears, Brittany Murphy, Denni Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Monica Lewinsky, Rosie O'Donnell, Rosanne Barr, Diane Ladd and Sandra Bernhard. I don't know the background of all of these ladies, but it appears they do have much in common.
Spelling in variety of ways, the cabala is, most likely, the granddaddy-of-'em-all as far as cults are concerned. It is associated with the earliest days of Jewish lore. Some features bears out they were lifted from Egyptian religious concepts and there are Greek terms in the make up of the organization itself. Anyone seeking change quickly sees great advantages . It can be part of just about any cultural background an individual professes. It can be seen as the religion of he ancient Druid at Stonehenge and other such sites; or, if you like, you can do rituals attributed to the ancient Mayan of Aztec cultures. The oriental concepts are there; the Nordic, and even the pseudo social isms we think of as being modern. One cabala fits all and you use only what suits you ,specific need. Madonna had pointed that out. You need accept only those parts and portions which allow you to feel more comfortable.
The “black magic” qualities found in some writings the Cabala collections have served as the base for a n number of novels and films. It has served well as the foundation on which satanic worship cults, and has, it seems, never been without active members. To me, the list which is currently being bandied about shows how much such thinking of this nature is gaining and it has real meaning for all of us. I do not know the status of those on the current list but I do know some of the ladies mentioned do not represent the best qualities of today's society. Their obvious need for religious certainties in their troubled lives stands as a challenge to us. If those, and other young ladies need religious certainties and we allow them to sip at the deceptive brews of cults we ,too, are off course.
Often followers of cults are careful to insist that their beliefs do not constitute a “religion.” It can be a temporary means which allows them to do what they wish in a social sense, but they do not view it in the same eternal outlook of a true faith. I don't see it as a thing which can be said to course be their fault alone. They, of course, make the choice but the fact that all the rest of us have so little faith in our own professed Faith suggests that the continued success of such false, mis leading concepts places some of the reasons for their being at our own doorsteps
A.L.M. November 13, 2004 [c618wds]
