26 replies to this topic

[glorybebe]

Quote

Scientology is a religion. Of that there is no doubt.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service says so, and in this country, that's pretty much the final word.....
....
But, after reading Lawrence Wright's searing new investigative book, Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief, my usual indifference has given way to concern.
On second thought, make that fright. And not just about L. Ron Hubbard's secretive army of adherents.
Because Wright's book demonstrates in granular detail what an organization with enough money and zealous acolytes can do once it has wrapped itself in a religious cloak: assault, conspire, burgle, forge, perjure, spy, bully and intimidate anyone who gets in its way.
Convince your flock that they are above earthly laws, and they go about their task with, well, religious ferocity....

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...cientology.html

I am surprised that this book was actually published!   Scientologists usually do get their way, legally or illegally.

[AquilaChrysaetos]

*sigh* ...Scientologists...

[Likely Guy]

A friend of mine in the late 70's had a father that was a 17th level Thetan, or something like that, and was abandoned by his father to the 'Church' in Florida. At about 15 years old his days consisted of, waking up in the morning, being reeducated, going out onto the street all day to solicit donations or to recruit new members. He'd be rewarded with privileges or better food if he could bring back either, or better yet, both. Then, 'Dinner' (based on how well he did that day), then reeducation, then sleep.

He did it for three years, ran away at 18 and then reconnected to his mother. He's happier now , but 'religiously' scarred. If you even mention the word 'religion' his blood boils.

[Beany]

I've always believed it's a cult, and I'd like to see them lose their religious exemption.

[glorybebe]

Beany, on 31 January 2013 - 04:11 AM, said:

I've always believed it's a cult, and I'd like to see them lose their religious exemption.

Me, too.

[AquilaChrysaetos]

Beany, on 31 January 2013 - 04:11 AM, said:

I've always believed it's a cult, and I'd like to see them lose their religious exemption.

It's basically now a religion though sense the 'cult leader' per say died and the church is now run by multiple leaders. Just look at Christianity, in the early days it was considered a cult due to following one man, now though it's just a religion.

[Zaphod222]

Scientology is as much a religion as all the "established" religions are. There really is no difference.
Fiction is fiction by any other name.

[Zaphod222]

Likely Guy, on 31 January 2013 - 03:41 AM, said:

He did it for three years, ran away at 18 and then reconnected to his mother. He's happier now , but 'religiously' scarred. If you even mention the word 'religion' his blood boils.

That is unfair to those religions which are harmless, and actually benevolent.
While they are all fiction, their content is very different. There is good fiction, and there is lousy fiction.

[psyche101]

Zaphod222, on 31 January 2013 - 06:03 AM, said:

Scientology is as much a religion as all the "established" religions are. There really is no difference.
Fiction is fiction by any other name.

One big difference is Scientology was penned by one man in order to fleece people. Religion is long standing tradition, and be it right or wrong, had a lot to do with our society today. It is not a religion at all the way I see it. The did blackmail their way into religious status after all.

[psyche101]

AquilaChrysaetos, on 31 January 2013 - 04:46 AM, said:

It's basically now a religion though sense the 'cult leader' per say died and the church is now run by multiple leaders. Just look at Christianity, in the early days it was considered a cult due to following one man, now though it's just a religion.

Does that not make trying to pull the same crap in modern times simply disgusting and abhorrent?

Lisa McPherson should have been the end of Scientology.

[AquilaChrysaetos]

psyche101, on 31 January 2013 - 06:21 AM, said:

Does that not make trying to pull the same crap in modern times simply disgusting and abhorrent?

Depends on what you define as 'crap.'

[Antilles]

AquilaChrysaetos, on 31 January 2013 - 06:31 AM, said:

Depends on what you define as 'crap.'

Scientology.

[Zaphod222]

psyche101, on 31 January 2013 - 06:16 AM, said:

One big difference is Scientology was penned by one man in order to fleece people.

And how is that different from plenty of other religions? Not at all, of course.
That argument does not hold water.

[Antilles]

Zaphod222, on 31 January 2013 - 07:40 AM, said:

And how is that different from plenty of other religions? Not at all, of course.
That argument does not hold water.

Neither does your post.

All mainstream religions are based on atonement of your own wrongs and helping other people.

Finding your Thetan level!!! and future wives for Tom Cruise are not the same deal.

[Seeker79]

There are some interesting stories from x scientologists out there. Very scary stuff.