YellowLioness Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 only not really. Just out of mild curiosity, are any of you LS-mongers into this particular faith? I've read some up on it, and really, it seems so...extrodinary...I don't mean that in a good way, necessarily. But, I'm interested to learn more about it...to see if it's really as awful as the media portrays it to be... (Yeah, so I haven't posted here in over a year...but this place is an addiction, a very deep seated one... ;-) ) Link to post Share on other sites
Tony T Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 Scientology is not a religion in the sense that they worship a deity. It's more like they worship money. Some high profile representatives of Scientology make true asses out of themselves while talking about its precepts while others like John Travolta seem quite honorable. The only "faith" they have is one in which they have tremendous faith that you will spend every last dime you have on their creative line of BS they offer. You won't find details of this online. They lure you into their offices where they "convince" you to part with your cash for services which on the surface sound like they may do you some good. For some, they probably do. If I had just spent my life savings on Scientology stuff, I think I would work hard to convince myself I had spent it well. L. Ron Hubbard came up with the idea...just like Freud thought up psychoanalysis. Scientology has been highly commercialized and is a very big business. They spent millions of dollars wearing down the Internal Revenue Service, which eventually threw in the towel and gave them tax exempt status as a "religion." They collect LOTS of money from troubled people who want to improve their lives. The structure seems attractive and people pour out the money. The higher you go with it, the more money you must shell out. It starts out with auditing. You go into a Scientology center and you meet your auditor. You hold some cans connected by wire to a meter. The auditor asks you questions about your life and when you talk about some uncomfortable feeling like an accident or operation the meter will show a reaction...much the same as a lie detector would show a deception. You pay so much a session as you would if you saw a licensed psychologist. These people are not licensed, though they practice therapy of sorts...but they call it religion...and authorities don't have the cojones or the money to go after them. Once the auditor has determined your issues, which in Scientology form engrams or "knots" in your brain, they try to talk them through and work them out so they no longer affect you subconsicously. Once you are totally free of all the engrams, you are declared "clear." Then you keep moving on up the line as far as your money will take you. Once they've cleaned you out financially, they either convince you to work for them...or they forget you. Meanwhile, they will call you, visit you....hound the pure hell out of you...to get you to keep with the program. They are unrelenting and almost abusive in their tactics. Oddly, EVERY Scientology center everywhere in the world has a room which is set up as an office with chair, typewriter, papers, bookshelves, etc. and a desk with the name L. Ron Hubbard on it. It's always empty and quiet. You can look in if you like. They keep it just in case Ronny comes back from the dead and wants to stop in and check on things....honest!!! They invest their money wisely. They have one of the most efficient real estate purchase departments in the country and they buy almost everthing they can that will make money for them. We are talking BILLIONS of dollars. The have no programs that I am aware of that take care of the sick, hungry or homeless. Those people don't contribute to their cause. Scientology is extremely secretive. They tell you ONLY what they want you to know. Their headquarters buildings, and there are a number of them, are high tech and built to withstand invasion. For example, windows are set up so that if there's anykind of intrusion, they turn dark so nobody can see in. (I know this because I personally know the guy who did some of the high tech installations at one of their centers, the one in Clearwater, Fla.) Scientology is an extremely complicated corporate structure and following them is a full time job. If you read "Dianetics" you'll go crazy trying to figure the BS out. Google Scientology and see what you can. Don't believe everything you read on either side. Frankly, I think there's some serious brainwashing that goes on around them but I don't know exactly who's responsible. I am very grateful that they don't send people out on Saturdays to go door to door to sell the crap. I do not mean to insult those who have freely chosen to follow Scientology. However, I am truly sorry that they fell into the trap during their time of deep trouble and need. Most are totally unaware that they did. Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted March 25, 2006 Share Posted March 25, 2006 However, I am truly sorry that they fell into the trap during their time of deep trouble and need. Most are totally unaware that they did. My thoughts exactly too. To me, it seems more of a cult - Excludes people from it and changes them into someone else. Just look at Tom Cruise and how NUTTY he is now, thanks to Scientology. His wife Katie Holmes has changed and rarely keeps intouch with her family because of this 'religion.' Look at the actor on South Park who QUIT because they poked fun at Scientology. It was OK that they poked fun at Jews, Islam, Christians, Jehovah Witness's, but it wasn't OK when they picked "his" religion? It is more like a CULT than a religion. Link to post Share on other sites
Author YellowLioness Posted March 29, 2006 Author Share Posted March 29, 2006 Yeah, so Tony...I DID check it out online. I even checked out Wikipedia (wikipedia is so freakin' awesome for so many reasons) and I found out some disturbing things, and what I found out reads like a REALLY BAD science fantasy novel. Ok, they believe in this galactic over lord named, "Xenu." And Xenu decides the galaxy is too over populated, so he takes a bunch of people? Thetans? and puts them on ships that look some type of fighter plane, and sends them to earth, (only it's not "earth" to them. They call it like Tangeeayykk or something equally stupid) and destroys them with a nuclear bomb...have I lost anyone yet? Ok, so their poor souls are left behind, like ghosts, and they are called "body thetans." Body thetans attach themselves to human beings in our current world and transmit all of these bad past life memories of being blown up into our psyche, And this is why people have bad days according to scientology... OH YEAH, and as for Xenu, they say he's trapped behind some forcefield powered by an "eternal battery" in a mountain somewhere, and that he's still alive today... I was like, "Is this for real?" I've asked around other places, and apparantly it is. I THOUGHT about calling one of our "local" offices for scientology, but my boyfriend was like, "Uh, doncha do it, baby. They'll suck you in somehow." I wanted to be like, "I'm not that gullible!" but heck, if Tom Cruise can fall prey to their mind games (and he sure is extremely fruity, however you want to interpret that) then anyone is suceptible. But...I found my information on Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org) if anyone is interested. Of course, if you do a google search, you'll see alot of disturbing anti scientology websites that debunk the whole thing. It's craziness. Link to post Share on other sites
Citizen Erased Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 Don't believe what the celebrities profess about their love for this crap. Because of the enormity of the cult, it provides security for celebs from the media, which is why it is so popular in Hollywood. It is a fad, and it will go away. Most people fnd it hard to believe in God, so I dont think that a fairy tale about aliens will convince them either. Link to post Share on other sites
Pyro Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 I don't know much about scientology except that it is crap. I heard on the news yesterday that both Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes follow it and I guess that scientology teaches you that you have to remain absolutely quiet when giving childbirth because any noise can affect the birthing process, at least that is how it was explained to me. Link to post Share on other sites
climbergirl Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 Don't believe what the celebrities profess about their love for this crap. Because of the enormity of the cult, it provides security for celebs from the media, which is why it is so popular in Hollywood. It is a fad, and it will go away. Most people fnd it hard to believe in God, so I dont think that a fairy tale about aliens will convince them either. I'm not so sure about that. I remember reading L. Ron Hubbards 'Dianetics', many, many years ago...........probably 15+ years ago-and in it's early cult stage. Even then, without knowing the financial hierarchy involved, something seemed very wrong with the reasoning. In fact, the book and the exercises involved gave me a migraine (seriously, and I never have those!). Fortunately, in conjunction to reading 'Dianetics', I was also reading Carlos Castenades books (The teaching of Don Juan etc.), which is the polar opposite to L.R.H's 'teachings'. But I don't think it's a fad. Scientology has seemed to caught speed in the last few years probably because of celebrity devotion. Link to post Share on other sites
Citizen Erased Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 I just dont see the longevity of the cult. It has already been taken to court numerous amounts of times, in regards to the death of some of it members, bribing government officials etc. It is so appealing to some because it is mysterious. Those members are not taught of the weird alien stories until they are trusted members (in other words because many would scoff at the idea of aliens coming to earth). They deny the existence of Jesus (who was in fact alive HISTORY TELL US SO!!! Read about the emperor Tiberius and it will come up!!!) and go on with the biggest load of crap I have ever heard, like Psychiatry and psychology is evil (or rational thinking perhaps?) The fact is they are only a religion through bribery and lies because otherwise they would have to pay millions of dollars in tax because of the huge sums of money which they get by fooling all of their members. L. Ron Hubbards was a very probably child sex offender and in my opinion (and I know others as well) belonged in the nuthouse. They have no written word from the 75 million years when their aliens descended to earth, just the words of someone who wrote some foolish words, which cannot be counted as literature, in the mid sixties (hmn... the time when alot of cults became popular) Link to post Share on other sites
climbergirl Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 I just dont see the longevity of the cult. It has already been taken to court numerous amounts of times, in regards to the death of some of it members, bribing government officials etc. It is so appealing to some because it is mysterious. Those members are not taught of the weird alien stories until they are trusted members (in other words because many would scoff at the idea of aliens coming to earth). They deny the existence of Jesus (who was in fact alive HISTORY TELL US SO!!! Read about the emperor Tiberius and it will come up!!!) and go on with the biggest load of crap I have ever heard, like Psychiatry and psychology is evil (or rational thinking perhaps?) The fact is they are only a religion through bribery and lies because otherwise they would have to pay millions of dollars in tax because of the huge sums of money which they get by fooling all of their members. L. Ron Hubbards was a very probably child sex offender and in my opinion (and I know others as well) belonged in the nuthouse. They have no written word from the 75 million years when their aliens descended to earth, just the words of someone who wrote some foolish words, which cannot be counted as literature, in the mid sixties (hmn... the time when alot of cults became popular) Admittedly, I haven't kept up on the intrinsical 'movement' of scientology-it's been a neither here nor there issue for me. But thanks for the info--I'm interested to do further inquiries in it if only to satisfy my curiousity. Thank you darlin_coco. But I still don't think it's a fad. Human nature is dictated much more by a 'follower' aspect than a 'leader'. More commercial exposure only obviously lures people in--those needing some meaning, thus following what they hear repeatedly. In addition, Food For Thought, an ex said to me a few days ago that it's ironic that although our country (US) believes in making and improving drugs to combat various illnesses, but, yet, doesn't believe in evolution. Hmmm..... Link to post Share on other sites
Citizen Erased Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Admittedly, I haven't kept up on the intrinsical 'movement' of scientology-it's been a neither here nor there issue for me. But thanks for the info--I'm interested to do further inquiries in it if only to satisfy my curiousity. Thank you darlin_coco. But I still don't think it's a fad. Human nature is dictated much more by a 'follower' aspect than a 'leader'. More commercial exposure only obviously lures people in--those needing some meaning, thus following what they hear repeatedly. In addition, Food For Thought, an ex said to me a few days ago that it's ironic that although our country (US) believes in making and improving drugs to combat various illnesses, but, yet, doesn't believe in evolution. Hmmm..... Always good to read up on the crazy people of today I actually meant in Hollywood it is more of a fad, rather than the usual mid-stream people who make up the 'religious group'. It is like Kabbala with celebs, if Madonna does it then it MUST be cool (huh NO). I totally agree with your ex about evolution. The thing is, many people are willing to accept either Religion or Evolution as being right or wrong, and I think that is why such groups as Scientologists come in because they are the middle ground so to speak. Link to post Share on other sites
Citizen Erased Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 I heard on the news yesterday that both Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes follow it Definetely just the reason for people to avoid it! The chick from Dawsons Creek and the idiot from Days of Thunder who goes around ruining perfectly good lounges with his antics... not the best advocates for a new religion. Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 It's f**k'n insane! There was a section today on my MSN Sympatico start up page so I had a little read. WTF, I nearly fell OUT of my chair. I don't think I can quote the stuff that I saw but it is nutty. And they also mentioned other religions. How they MUST abandon ALL other religions to be part of Scientology... Link to post Share on other sites
Citizen Erased Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 How they MUST abandon ALL other religions to be part of Scientology... And their money, homes etc etc. And their minds as well it would appear! Link to post Share on other sites
Author YellowLioness Posted March 30, 2006 Author Share Posted March 30, 2006 I felt the same way when I was doing my small bit of research. I think that people go to Scientology when all else fails for them. You know...everyone gets that way at one point in their lives...nothing makes sense, why are we here, maybe traditional religions don't answer their questions, they're lost, perhaps they feel isolated (even if they are married) and they're looking for a place to fit in, a place where they will always be at home. And, that's what it offers on the outside. That's how it preys on the weak, because Scientologists have all easy answers to everything. Oh, having a bad day? It's not because you have a guilty conscience about cheating on your wife, it's because of those pesky "body thetans." So, it alleviates all blame from the person seeking answers in their life. I mean...if you're going to start a cult, saying that a person is totally blameless and that their "sins" in life are due to forces outside their control would be a great way to start. Especially since most traditional religions are based on the principle that all men are sinners. Anyway, that's my two cents. I think Scientology is pretty scary. What I've read about it reminds me of that movie, "Bless the Child." Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 You all wanna laugh? I just got something in the junk mail today about Scientology...It says send back with your name, address, etc..and for a free personality test too! The laughing part is, I'm going to fill it out, and over the weekend (as April Fool's Day is coming) tell my husband I'm interested in joining - Or atleast going to see what it's all about because it could be something good for me...HEHEHE and then wait for his reaction! IS that mean? Link to post Share on other sites
Author YellowLioness Posted March 30, 2006 Author Share Posted March 30, 2006 Ok, so...if you DO really do this...you totally have to let us know how this turns out for you. Also...you may think I'm silly, but be careful with that stuff... Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Ofcourse I'll let you all know. Oh and trust me, I know myself and would not get involved or join. I'm not one for religion on a good day, so joining a cult is no different. (I'm not really going to send it in, if I did, they'd be pounding at my door!LOL!) Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 One could argue that all religions began as cults. I'm. juuuuuuust sayin! Link to post Share on other sites
a4a Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Ofcourse I'll let you all know. Oh and trust me, I know myself and would not get involved or join. I'm not one for religion on a good day, so joining a cult is no different. (I'm not really going to send it in, if I did, they'd be pounding at my door!LOL!) Well don't throw it out! Sign up a person that just pisses you off. Sign up an X, a snotty coworker, or a s***head relative Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 One could argue that all religions began as cults. I'm. juuuuuuust sayin! Hey, I thought it but didn't say it... Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Well don't throw it out! Sign up a person that just pisses you off. Sign up an X, a snotty coworker, or a s***head relative Nah, I couldn't do that...Though I could play a good prank on one of my neighbours. They got me GOOD last year so maybe it's time for payback. I'll talk to their 16 year old daughter and maybe get her to do the same thing I'm gonna to do my poor innocent hubby! Man, her folks will FLIP out. I'm so evil... Link to post Share on other sites
ImWithHer Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Each and every one of you is going to get sued. Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 Each and every one of you is going to get sued. I'm scared now... Link to post Share on other sites
blind_otter Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 You know what cult I have ALWAYS wanted to know more about? The Free Masons. I think they sacrifice virgins. That's why you can't seem to find very many nowadays. Link to post Share on other sites
whichwayisup Posted March 30, 2006 Share Posted March 30, 2006 You know what cult I have ALWAYS wanted to know more about? The Free Masons. I think they sacrifice virgins. That's why you can't seem to find very many nowadays. True! Never heard of 'em! Google is my friend today! Link to post Share on other sites
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