Thanks for the replies.
I'm still having a problem codifying my basic thought here, without coming across as a bigot or posting something in a non-PC manner. Ah well, here it goes...
Regarding the basic question posed here, at what point does some other spiritual journey simply become a replacement for Scn?
The closest analogy I've ever seen, on OCMB or elsewhere, is that Scn's auditing creates a type of addiction. The "rush" surrounding a win is quite powerful (I have experienced a couple of large ones), and I have surmised that most of us stayed in, whatever the cost, simply to continue to experience these wins, these FN "highs"2.
I liken it to a drug addiction. Not as powerful, for it doesn't have the physical "hook" that a drug does, but powerful nonetheless.
So, when we, meaning former Scns, continue along some "other path", is it akin to methadone for the heroin addict? Are we still struggling to find something, anything, that will give us this feeling again? Is it an addiction we aren't willing to shake, like a compulsive gambler wanting to bet on practically anything?
Or, is there really something to spirituality after all?
If it's the former, then that speaks badly of us.
If it's the latter, it also speaks badly for us, for we abandoned that which was bringing us heightened sprituality (regardless of the evil of the organization).
Smells like no-win.
Anyway, looking for more thoughts. As should be clearly evident, I haven't quite figured out what to do with the whole topic of spirituality.