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Critical thought is good.

That is our one central tenet, our single tautology, that which holds us together. Thinking about things, analyzing them from as many angles as possible, questioning them thoroughly, is good. From that, all else follows logically.

This may seem odd for a religious order. We have no particular adherence to any given diety, and our morals are explicable with logic. Ritual is exactly what you want it to be. Our priests are more akin to really good teachers than anything you've seen in a church. Well, really good teachers who won't hesitate to resort to drastic methods if it means you'll <I>think</I>.

We understand your confusion, and we expect you to take some time to get used to the concept. However, we also challenge you to present a case for an organization which has more potential to do good in the world - and is more necessary - than one devoted to helping all people learn.

I have swtated openly that my followers will not hesitate to resort to violence if necessary to accomplish their goals, and I stand by that statement. If a moment's pain encourages a lifetime's thought, well... the body heals. I still refer to my organization as humanitarian, because I honestly believe that you are helping someone ifr you inflict that moment's pain and encourage that lifetime's thought. This is hardly a new practice - Zen koans are filled with stories of abuse far worse than anything I have ever perpetrated. I continue to argue humanitarian causes because we only do it for the greater good.

In fact, being moral and ethical creatures <I>require</I> us to do all for the greater good. Thinking critically about the subject cannot present any valid argument for any single individual being more important or more entitled to comforts and privileges than any other, and so the good of any group of people is more important - and therefore better to work toward - than the good of any individual. Our priesthood is not an easy one - it requires a bit of tghe martyr, a touch of the Inquisitioner, and a huge dose of the teacher. However, those who recognize the calling know that there is much we can and must do, and to ignore this for their own pleasure would be to deny everything they know to be true.