Response To Lou Tice & The Pacific Institute

Pertaining to Mr. Tice's apologetic, I can only say that either what he writes is not accurate or what he says is not accurate. He cannot have it both ways.

First, there is nothing wrong with positive thinking and planning for success. Those are standard aspects of any motivation program. Our children should be encouraged that they can dream and have vision for the future and that educators should not give up on them. Those are the only aspects of his program that Mr. Tice advocated Thursday at the Peoria Civic center. Why would anyone expect to hear anything other than the positive on the initial pass? He’s a salesman and a salesman’s job is to first get your attention, then sell while your emotion is high.

Mr. Tice's problems with his program are beyond mere positive confession. Contrary to his statements made to the PJSTAR and WEEK, Mr. Tice knows EXACTLY what is meant by "New Age"...the mere fact that he "heard it 15 years ago" (As he says in the same sentence) is the best indicator that he is fully aware of what I’ve mentioned. Mr. Tice counts on no one else knowing what "New Age" means. This is why Mr. Tice must convince anyone challenging his teachings of their "ignorance".

Secondly, "New Ageism" is an eclectic psudospirituality and is inappropriate in the classroom in a Public School setting. The reason I say psudospirituality is because the axis IS NOT based on spirituality, but on humanity. Spirituality is simply a means to the end of exalting and deifying humanity. In the Pacific Institutes case, The Mind and Mind Dynamics, are the pinnacle of existence and ultimate control of mankind. These concepts are repeated over and over in the material.

Third, Mr. Tice introduces his eclecticism by introducing the Buddhism in his materials, although, any philosopher could have been quoted the Pali Canon is directly quoted in his material. The quote from the Pali Canon is not accidental, it is intentional,

"All that is comes from the mind; it's based on the mind, it is fashioned by the mind"

Pali Canon 500-250 BC

This is Buddhism 101. Buddhism basically teaches that humanity at a certain conscious state is divine. The object is to gain affirmations that "The Mind" is the vehicle from where ALL reality and fiction flows. In this construct even God and God concepts come from the mind and are created by humanity. This is the humanist theme song as outlined by Paul Kurtz in the humanist Manifesto 2000. There is an ongoing debate in Christian circles as to how for to go with these teaching, but the point is clear, for Mr. Tice to say he doesn’t know what’s being said is deceitful to say the least.

Fourth, Mr. Tice is not just making educational statements within the context of the classroom, he's making theological statements which are not denied when he says, "Good theology and good psychology go together." In his worldview the mind dynamics run along side spiritual dynamics with a healthy mind giving way to healthily spirituality.

Even though he hasn't read the material as I have, a responder to the Peoria Journal Star’s blog gave one of the best comments concerning the issue. He said this,

"I think the concern here is that this program goes beyond visualization to the

belief that reality can be literally manipulated by how one thinks."

That statement is totally correct. This is the 21 Keys program and outlines the complete deception of Mr. Tice. The program states,

"This whole curriculum is designed to help you achieve what you want to achieve. You don’t

need more education, you need a vehicle to help you reach what it is you desire." Pg. 103

This is NOT limited to education, test scores, positive thoughts or anything of the sort. This is a overarching life statement. "Visualization" and "feeling the emotion" are only methods to help individuals achieve "what you want".

Now if you don’t know how mysticism works, you have no clue or the foggiest idea of what I’m talking about. But the whole concept of "achieving desires" and "subconscious reality" is an eastern metaphysical thought system and is unworthy of the Public School Educational realm.

Fifth, the program says this about using thought and visualization:

"Now remember we’ve spoken a little bit in the past about the Pygmalion principle. What you’re going to do is you’re going to Pygmalion your day. You’re going to sculpt your day, you’re going to create your day with your thought." Workbook Pg. AJ-5

One may say that the material is only referring to planning your day…NO. He is a "modern psychologist" as he claims who certainly knows the difference between "planning" and "CREATING" as his material specifies. His program is designed to imprint the subconscious and manipulate actions through the medium of visualization and affirmations that sway individuals away from current truth into new subconcious realities and suggestions.

IN PRINT, his program encourages elements of Eastern Mysticism and other humanistic dynamics NOT just visualization, in order to create "reality on the subconscious level."Pg. 65.

This is indoctrination to religious/ humanistic psychomanipulation. His program is complete with information on identifying "alpha-states" and other mind-altering techniques.

In his public speaking Mr. Tice does what salespeople do, sell their products.

Finally, Mr. Tice states the following:

"His ignorance is obvious about how the mind works and modern psychology,".

Although this is hardly the terminology that a top psychologist is trained to use, (and that is with intention) as a lay person I am personally and fully aware of the Gestalt psychology and psychotechnologyies that the 21 Keys program is based on. I am also fully aware of the flow of current information into the field of modern psychology. These studies are not new, however theories have been revised to fit a popular audience. Some theories are very helpful others leave much to be desired. In the end of the 21 Keys program "creative expression" is not the aim, subjection and ultimately control is.

No matter what happens, Peoria will not be able to say that it was not given the information necessary to be able to discern the truth of Mr. Tice’s program. I expect If a person approaches this program with their critical thinking capacities, they should be able to distinguish when the line is being crossed from mere positive motivations to mysticism and religion. All I can say is that my children will not be subject to the use of the 21 Keys.

Pastor Harvey Burnett