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Healing with the Holy Spirograph


From AP:

A Christian group says a stress-reduction classes for students at a Raleigh elementary school promoted "New Age" beliefs and were school-sponsored religious activities that violated the First Amendment.

Called2Action said it received complaints from a mother whose children were asked to do breathing exercises, chant and use their "life forces" last month at Partnership Elementary School. The classes were conducted by Emily Gunter, founder of the Rites of Passage Youth Empowerment Foundation in Durham.

A Florida legal firm contacted by Called2Action issued a legal memorandum that said Gunter's "conscious breathing" activity is a New Age religious and spiritual activity associated with Hindu religious faiths. The memo adds that Gunter was engaging in a program of religious meditation that violated the First Amendment by making the school proselytize the children in New Age beliefs.

"If a person had taught to pray to Jesus Christ to reduce stress, that would have been stopped," Noble said.

Emily Gunter

Here is what they say at the Rites of Passage Youth Empowerment website:

The Rites of Passage Youth Empowerment Program is an intensive, focused and sustained preventive and/or intervention approach to empower youth with the knowledge, skills and abilities to transition successfully from adolescence into adulthood. Youth completing the 12 challenges of the program will be equipped with the tools necessary to effect positive change in their lives and communities. Through the Rites of Passage Program, youth learn through empowerment not fear. This program teaches, teamwork, leadership, values, responsibility and practical life skills.

OK, so far so good:

The Rites Programs used in America originated in Africa. This African Rites tradition is an academic system of teaching through scholastic and experiential exercises. The program is designed to facilitate, build and strengthen the following life skill competencies in our youth:

• Social
• Moral
• Emotional
• Physical
• Cognitive

The Rites Programs' youth initiates transition into adulthood through the passing on of knowledge and tradition by trained and certified Elders from the community. The Elders facilitate the youth through numerous challenges, experiential exercises and workshops. In the African tradition, the youth must ask for the RITE (right) or permission OF PASSAGE (passing on) to a higher level of human social and educational development. After the youth have demonstrated competency in their academic and personal development during the rites program, the Elders in the community grant permission to their RITE OF PASSAGE.

OK, now it's getting a bit weird. Who are these Elders?

Facilitated by: Elder Emily Diane Gunter, Founder and Chairperson, Rites of Passage Youth Empowerment Foundation

Co-Facilitator: Elder Vandorn Hinnant, Sacred Geometry Practitioner, Visual Artist, Poet, and Educational Consultant

Be willing to change. Surrender to the flow. Watch how mundane activities are transformed into Divine support. God loves us and we need to feel this love directly in our bodies. The retreat is a safe and loving place to help us feel our innocence, in the sweet caring setting of nature. Open to receive miracles. Come join the Mutual Admiration Society with fellow elders.

Agenda includes: Sacred Geometry, Spiritual Code of Ethics, Conflict Resolution, Balance, Spherical Holy Breath, Balance, Fire Ceremony and so much more. Retreat commences Friday evening 5:00 pm. Training proceeds through Retreat workshop ending 5:00 pm Sunday and culminating with the Final Ceremony.

Things to bring:
** Workshop Supplies: color markers, magazines to be cut up, glue sticks, scissors, large poster board, personal journal and photos of yourself and loved ones for the altar.
** Food for snacks; water, very little meat, "closer to the vine the better".
** Clothing: Comfortable clothing. For Final Ceremony, African attire, preferably white.
** Linens and Things: Favorite pillow, blanket, towels, toiletries, inflatable mattress, bedroll or sleeping bag.

Altars? Mutual Admiration Society? Sacred Geometry?

What's Sacred Geometry?

"Responses to my work vary from experiencing a greater sense of peace and well being, a feeling of one's spirits being uplifted, a sudden sense of joy, a greater sense of clarity and purpose in life, a keener sense of connectedness with a sacred dimension of life, to a recommitment to facing the daily challenges in life with courage and hope. A number of practitioners in the healing arts have consciously selected my works for their healing qualities."
- Vandorn Hinnant

Hey, I know that piece! I did it when I was 8 with my Spirograph.

Here's an online version of Spirograph. Play with it and see if you get connected more keenly, or whatever.

OK, bottom line -- this nonsense has no business in schools. The Pledge of Allegience is a powerful affirmation of citizenship. Yes, it mentions "under God", but that is consistent with the religious convictions of the Founding Fathers and their notion that there is an aspect to human rights that is divine, that is, cannot be abrogated by mere act of government.

But this stuff about New Age Afrocentric energy fields? Please. It's bad enough when a two-thousand year old religion which forms the philosophical basis for the nation is told it is unwelcome, but then to put someone's make-believe in its place?

But then this is make-believe with special magic powers for those who go through the course:

#1 Know the Value of Who You Are
#2 Know Where You are in Your Life
#3 Know Your Purpose in Life
#4 Know Your Genius-Talents
#5 Know How to Use Your Whole Mind
#6 Know How to Breathe to Get Your Genius
#7 Know How to Have a Balanced Life
#8 Know How to Access More By Speed Reading
#9 Know How to Organize Your Information
#11 How to Open More of Your Mind
#11 Know How to Recall What You Know
#12 Know How to Have a Healthy Brain
#13 Reinforce What you Know –Teach Others

Now there is something useful for kids to learn! Better than all that Christian Golden Rule no-sex-until-you're-married you're-responsible-to-answer-for-your-sins stuff!

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