The Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth

I remember a discussion with one of the most 'logical' people I knew at the time about the Hare Krishna sect. We both enjoyed dining out for lunch at their restaurant in the city, and I was always confused by their books and paintings of their blue faced 'god'. Who in their right mind would join this group and take on it's values? Obviously quite a lot of people. But I couldn't shake the feeling that it was wrong. Everything I knew about freedom, truth, and independence told me that finding salvation in this (or any) sort of religion can not be good. My friend forcefully tried to point out that for some people it's just what makes them happy. And who are we to argue with that? What is valued more, happiness or truth? I, of course, said truth, but my friend seemed to believe otherwise.

When the Hare Krishnas came up in conversation recently with another friend, she suggested I google their history of child abuse. There are news articles where the Krishnas openly state that in the 70s and 80s there was a lot of child abuse (emotional, physical, and sexual) in their boarding schools. I'm surprised because the sect seemed like such a "good" sect, with "good" values. But a sect is a sect is a sect. The stage is set for sexual abuse when a religion makes rules about celibacy, and emotional abuse when it sets rules about spiritual pureness.

I still hold to my view that anything but the actual Truth can only lead to bad things. Ignoring one truth only practices you in the ability to ignore other truths. And from there it's a downward spiral.