Reply #27: I have Opus Dei family members and they're interesting (or not)

[SharonAnn]

I was raised Catholic and educated by Jesuits, though I left today's Church many years ago. I have a very strong dose of philosophy (and logic and use of reason) in my education background. Any spiritual guidance that told me to shut off my mind, do as I'm told, and not to think for myself would be immediately suspect.

That said, I have several family members who are Opus Dei (one is a numerary and lives in their "house") and what I've learned about how their lives are controlled but especially how their minds are controlled is frightening. Numeraries are not to read any material except what is given to them by their spiritual director. What is given is very little, much of it about the founder Fr. Escriva, and the material must be returned when it is completed.

My Jesuit mind could never tolerate that.

Side note: I was in Chile a few years ago and the family went to an Opus Dei University for a choral and orchestra concert (University of the Andes). It was a hoot! The campus was unbelievably luxurious, buildings like the corporate headquarters of large global corporations. And this included classrooms and dorm facilities! They had landscaping that rivaled Calloway Gardens or Disneyworld.

But, the choral group and orchestra were unbelievably bad. So bad that I almost laughed several times during the performance. However, the choral groups had truly awesome gowns. I can't imagine what they cost.

So, I did a little inquiry about the university. I was told that it's not academically very good, it's kind of a place for rich right-wingers to send their kids to be brainwashed. For a real education, students go Universidad Catolica which is one of the best in the world.

Also, Opus Dei gives their facilities very neutral sounding names (this is tru around the world I'm told) so that they're not too "religious" sounding.