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jprussellI asked a question on JMG's last Magic Monday and got a couple of great answers, but I thought I'd ask again here to see if I got any more hits:
What examples of successful spiritual organizations would you point to from someone who wants to understand what makes them tick?
Now, the model of the "Church" is pretty well-attested and understood, so I'm less immediately interested in that, unless you have some awesome sources that point out non-obvious things about why churches (or certain flavors thereof) work or not.
I've also changed my wording from "religious" to "spiritual," as JMG pointed out that initiatory orders, including the Masons, have often served a functionally similar role in folks' lives to active involvement in a religion, without being explicitly religious. Likewise with "_____ Anonymous" programs, which opens up an intriguing avenue of research.
If it helps, the context for my asking this is that I'm thinking about the role of religion in America today, and into the future. Most of all how it might help heal some of our wounds and/or mitigate some of the evils that seem likely to be coming down the pipe. There are, of course, downsides to organizations of a religious nature, but there are also some benefits, and I'd like to explore what's possible and what has worked in the past to get an idea of what the future might hold.
Any help or suggestions you have to offer, most of all of recommended reading, are very welcome!
What examples of successful spiritual organizations would you point to from someone who wants to understand what makes them tick?
Now, the model of the "Church" is pretty well-attested and understood, so I'm less immediately interested in that, unless you have some awesome sources that point out non-obvious things about why churches (or certain flavors thereof) work or not.
I've also changed my wording from "religious" to "spiritual," as JMG pointed out that initiatory orders, including the Masons, have often served a functionally similar role in folks' lives to active involvement in a religion, without being explicitly religious. Likewise with "_____ Anonymous" programs, which opens up an intriguing avenue of research.
If it helps, the context for my asking this is that I'm thinking about the role of religion in America today, and into the future. Most of all how it might help heal some of our wounds and/or mitigate some of the evils that seem likely to be coming down the pipe. There are, of course, downsides to organizations of a religious nature, but there are also some benefits, and I'd like to explore what's possible and what has worked in the past to get an idea of what the future might hold.
Any help or suggestions you have to offer, most of all of recommended reading, are very welcome!
