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77 of 84 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most important book you'll ever read, August 11, 2001
This review is from: Sanctuary : The Path to Consciousness (Hardcover)
I read this book after many years of participating in the healing work offered by Stephen Lewis. I have been participating in the AIM Program of his and Slawson's church, EMC2, since it began. This book finally revealed the nature of the healing work I had been participating in. Before it came out I had no idea what Steve was doing except that I knew it worked for me. The book is full of disclosures (not "disclaimers" - disclosure has to do with bringing the truth to light which is what happens here; disclaimer has to do with avoiding responsibility) that let people know that the work done by EMC2 is not some kind of official substitute for medicine. Some have implied that these disclosures are an indication of something questionable going on, rather than being what they are: A true expression of how this work is viewed or not viewed by so-called scientific authorities. Based on many years of knowing Steve, I know him to be an ethical and intelligent person who believe passionately in the work he does, which he thinks may be the most important thing happening on the planet right now. As a long-time participant, I happen to agree with him. And I think the fact that Sanctuary and EMC2 try to be eminently clear about the fact that this work is absolutely outside the mainstream and is based on spiritual healing principles is admirable. As is often the case, attackers of light work such as this have their own agendas. For instance, one attacker reveals in another book review that he is an MD, but conveniently fails to mention that in his review of Sanctuary. Oddly, that reviewer simultaneously trumpets the fact that the book is fiction (and implies that the techniques are also fictional) then suggests that the fiction may have side effects. When we consider that the authors present the work as the technology of prayer in healing, it is not surprising that a reviewer with a secular bias has such a strong negative opinion. Some people have complained that EMC2 is a non-profit organization that manages to avoid taxation. The truth is that EMC2 is a for-profit company which pays taxes. Lewis and Slawson have been forthright with me and others that the reason it is not a non-profit is because they do not solicit or accept donations, they only offer a spiritual service for a fee, and they did not feel it was ethical to take advantage of special dispensations in the law which they feel were designed to help organizations which are supported by donations. On the other hand, EMC2 believes that if their work is valued, people will pay for it. In addition, since the church began, the cost of participating in this energy work has dropped substantially. Others have talked about how EMC2 uses independent facilitators to work with people in their geographical areas who are interested in participating in the energetic/spiritual work. These people have claimed that there is some kind of multi-level marketing plan being used by EMC2. Frankly, I know a number of people who want to become independent facilitators for them, but EMC2 doesn't allow many people to do this work. An MLM tries to recruit as many salespeople as possible. EMC2 doesn't seem to be trying to recruit anybody. Some have claimed that the client base of EMC2 is mostly the wealthy. This is not true. The people I have met over the years who are participating in this are people with a spiritual orientation towards healing and who come from all walks of life. As for complaints that the testimonials are vague and subjective, I believe that the well-known people who shared their belief in this work are brave individuals who are willing to stand up for what they believe in, even when those beliefs aren't supported by mainstream orthodoxy. But as all thinking people know, what is orthodox today may be discredited tomorrow and the lunatic fringe today may be tomorrow's mainstream. Remember that Galileo was jailed for claiming that the earth was round. So, in short (hah - I guess I haven't been too short - sorry!) I'd say to anybody READ THIS BOOK if you have an open mind. The information in it isn't for everybody, but the authors don't claim it is for everybody. They try to make sure that you know theirs is an alternative view, offered in spiritual terms. If that sounds interesting to you, and you believe that healing and spirituality are inseparable, then check it out!
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130 of 148 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
The answers are inside you, January 19, 2004
I read this book a few years ago and I recently saw that Stephen Lewis is still trying to gather a flock. I've been working on myself for many years. I try to balance my left brain (business degree) with my right brain (by meditating). I believe in a few things that Lewis says specifically that everything is energy but I don't believe that he has your best interest at heart. I went to a Lewis gathering in Denver that was run by one of his facilitators. She had been on the AIM program for about one year. During her talk she hardly ever smiled and she curiously had a cold/cough. Of course, she explained that her cold must be due to the detoxifying of her body through the AIM program. So after her talk she shows a video of Stephen Lewis being interviewed by infomercial guru Kevin Trudeau. Trudeau is a convicted felon and also was formerly involved with a MLM company called Nutrition for Life. Unfortunately, my one and only time with a MLM company was with the same Nutrition for LIfe. The company was publicly held and after the news of Trudeau was announced (felony) the stock plummeted and was eventually delisted. So I'm watching the video and thinking that somehow someway this Trudeau is involved with Lewis' company (or church). Once my sarcastic laughter subsides I concentrate on Lewis. He very rarely looks Trudeau in the eye and never smiles. Maybe there's no smiling allowed in this "church"! I would think that being disease free would make you smile all the time?! So after the video I asked the facilitator if this AIM program was a MLM setup. She wasn't expecting that question and noticeably became flustered. She never really answered the question and quickly called on someone else. Before I went to the seminar I listened to about a 2 hour long taped radio show with Lewis taking calls. He said something to the effect that early on his clients were rich people because they could afford to pay him. What's his agenda, to help people or just take their money? I put something on a message board about Lewis and a lady from CA responded and said that she was an energy worker. She had volunteered to help at one of his seminars. She said that she thought his energy was "dreadful", he was rude, and that she didn't even like being in the same room with him. She had already signed up for the AIM program and ended it after 6 months with no positive results. Lewis has setup an almost foolproof way to bilk people out of their money. He has numerous disclaimers and it's setup as a "church". Instead of just serving the rich he's made it available to the masses. The yearly cost of $1000 is a stretch enough to keep the riff-raff out but yet attainable enough for the spiritually gullible. The program also locks people in because if you leave the program you'll probably become "sick". "What if" he can do what he says? It would be priceless! Or better yet why not be a saint and offer it to people for free? If he has the frequencies to heal than any other frequency will harm. So he could go from Dr. Love to Dr. Evil. What happens if you leave the program, could he harm you? As we grow older we start caring more about our health and less about our money. There is one fact, we're all going to die. Our egos might not believe it but it's true. In my opinion, Lewis is basically a faith healer. He dazzles you with technology (with no proven results) and you have faith that you'll be healed by it. Where does healing come from? It comes from inside you, not from ANYTHING outside of you. Have faith in yourself. Do you want to feel better? Then eat better and exercise. Do you think you can send your photo to Lewis and still eat a box of Oreos a day and be healthy? Common sense is free! There is one thing that will be interesting. What will Lewis die from? I can almost guarantee it'll be reported as an "accident" and not a disease. This is big business folks, the business entity must live on. There is one frequency Lewis has pinpointed and that is the frequency of MONEY!
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40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Everything is energy, of course." p.197, paperback, January 2, 2003
This review is from: Sanctuary : The Path to Consciousness (Hardcover)
This is a fascinating book. Lewis and Slawson have weaved together an intricate web of ideas that refuse to be circumscribed by the traditional medical paradigm. Max, the protaganist in the novel, sees the world as we know it as "an unnecessary limitation" (p.41). Abandoning a highly successful medical practice, he begins a life-long exploration of the metaphysical implications of subtle energy techniques. Throughout the book Max reminds his "followers" that he can cure nothing; "I only direct your energy," he says (p.41). A philisophical discussion of the practical implications of these ideas unfolds throughout the novel as Max and a handful of helpers work together to help those who ask for help. The essence of this philosophy is presented on p.85: "Spirit is energy...and energy is spirit....Thus all illness is spiritual, which is to say that all illness is energetic in nature. 'Dis-ease' is due to an individual's misalignment with the power of the spiritual energy....By realigning the individual to be in harmony with the spiritual force, the life-force, the subtle energetic matrix that makes up the entire universe--that individual's physical, emotional, and even spiritual ailments will disappear." To gain the deepest insights one might need at this time, one should not approach this book in an analytical fashion. Neither should a person rush out to spend hard earned money. Rather, one might explore the possibility that the symbolism in this book may lead the inner self to find its own answers. And depending on the person's own inner development, perhaps that wisdom may lead one to become involved in the "therapy" of Lewis and Slawson. Of course, techniques do matter. The energetic imbalances in the various characters did not correct themselves. Outside intervention was necessary. This book is worth the money. Whether the techniques work might depend in some fashion on the same principles that govern the efficacy of certain medications prescribed by medical doctors. Each person's attitudes and beliefs and the particular cycle of wellness v. illness he is in surely combine to effect the outcome of any treatment.
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