Church

I've recently been reading up on this, and it seems very appealing. I have been trying to avoid religion my entire life because I don't agree with some of the values of it, but I like this one so far. Can I get some of your views?

http://www.scientology.org/
http://www.scientology.org/en_US/rel...ion/index.html

Sledge

What do you find appealing about it? All that I've ever heard about Scientology is negative, but I don't have the information to give you a solid opinion.

sipsake

The values of the Church of $cientology are worse than most mainstream religions. Before making any decisions, please do some research here:

http://www.xenu.net

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Church

Well, I was just going by hearsay from my friends, but I can see that what they heard was greatly skewed. Thanks for that link. I think I'll steer clear of that 'religion' now.

irseg

I knew a bunch of Scientologists. It's a fucking insane cult. They rope people in and make them pay out the ass for "auditing" (their version of psychotherapy) and other treatments. They use that to gather damaging information from people, which they disseminate if someone leaves the church or doesn't throw enough money at them. The Scientologists I knew were always going to Clearwater, FL (their main base) for "treatments" that cost thousands of dollars. I'd stay the hell away from that crap.

Tman144

The scientologists are definately a weird bunch. I live near Clearwater and its very strange to see groups of people wearing the exact same thing walking down the street. When I see that I think "cult." Its something you really don't want to get involved in

Church

Wow, I feel scared now. I'm not blaming any of you for making me feel this way, I just feel scared that I would even consider such a 'cult'. Wow, I've always been firmly against them and what they do to people. I'm ashamed now.

numist

They were at my college for a while this summer while I was taking remediary classes at CC.

The lady was telling me that they had all sorts of things to help better myself inside and make me a more whole person.

I said "I feel perfectly fine the way I am, thanks"
She said: "Surely, youd rather be in better shape? More self confidence? Better with people?"
I said: "Nope, I race my bike, as you see here (I had it with me), I know that I can do anything I put my mind to, and I have many friends and no real enemies."
She was amazed that I could actually be that way, and figured that everyone is insecure in some way (which is true, just nothing she offered to help me with).

Then she tried to give me a stress test, its supposed to measure muscle stress, I come out the bottom of the machine. Even still she spent the next half hour trying to peddle the latest book to me.

All they were doing was selling books and the religion - I finally pried myself away after losing an hour of my life.

I'm not going to judge the religion itself - thats for other people, but from what little I do know, it doesnt sound like anything I want a part of.

my 2 cents

Redlemon

I took a fascinating class in college on cults. I found the Unification Church (Moonies) and Krishnas to have pretty good belief systems, but the Scientologists just seemed WAY out there. What do you expect when you let a science fiction writer invent a religion based on a bet?

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lurkette

What were some of the values of Scientology that appealed to you? I agree with others who have said it's a cult-like organization to be approached with caution and extreme skepticism. But maybe if you tell us what you liked about what you read of it, we could point you in some more...er...mainstream directions?

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Redlemon

Good thinking... there's also the Belief-O-Matic quiz at BeliefNet, which asks you questions about your philosophy and tells you how well the religions rate against them.

ziadel

The reasonable man quite ordinarily overlooks the fact that people from 2.0 down have no traffic with reason and cannot be reasoned with as one would reason with a 3.0. There are only two answers for the handling of people from 2.0 down on the tone scale, neither one of which has anything to do with reasoning with them or listening to their justification of their acts. The first is to raise them on the tone scale by un-enturbulating some of their theta by any one of the three valid processes. The other is to dispose of them quietly and without sorrow.
** Hubbard




that pretty much sums it up for me. Scientology is really just another form of Nazi'ism....
When you consider who Hubbard was involved with (crowley for one, the other dude's name escapes me right now)
when you consider the shit that Scientologists themselves have done to scare off (or even permanently silence) people who publicly call scientology what it is (faschism) and exactly what Hubbard has done to people personally, its really not something anyone who is stable themselves can get involved in IMO...
I;ve had a few run-ins with them since they opened that Dianetics clinic a few blocks away, hasn't come to blows yet, but it really makes me nervous as hell that these people are allowed to just run around trying to convert people...


basically, I'll give you one peice of advice...

RUN. these people are not right at all and are simply being used by the higher ups to do evil.


edit: oh, and about racing bikes, ask Keith Code how much scientology helped him win that last series he raced in

bermuDa

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...threadid=14711

my posts in here explains what I think of scientology. Scroll down and there is a considerable sized one I wrote back in high school.

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nanofever

Xenu.net is a pretty good site, personally I would stay far, FAR away from Scientology.

numist

so given ziadel's argument, we at TFP 4.0 must be ahead of everyone else then, right?

Scientology is to be approached like you would a loaded gun thats pointing at you. There are a lot of high profile members, but they also donate a lot of money for their status.

Scientology may be one of the lesser known religious sects because of the myth, rumour, and lies that are propagated about it. If you grab some of the manuals that Hubbard wrote, the philosophy - like most religions - is not all that bad.

Then again... we may never know the truth unless we join. And then people would say we were brainwashed...
or terrorists...

XenuHubbard

Well, I've read the OT's and NOT's, and I'd stay away. Faaar away. By the way, according to Scientology I should be dead. If you have a look at the scriptures without clearance and proper step-by-step training, you die in pneumonia.

Follow Bermuda's link if you want a summary of Scientology beliefs.

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The above was written by a true prophet. Trust me.

"What doesn't kill you, makes you bitter and paranoid". - SB2000

mistered

Stay far, far away from these people. This is not the kind of religion you need, or anyone needs.

yellowgowild

I'm glad you decided to stay away from it, although, I'm sure your common sense would kick in at some point and make you leave.

Food Eater Lad

Why join a cult founded by a known lunatic and liar?

http://www.rickross.com/reference/sc...y/Scien32.html

riptide4070

I read the link about Scientology. It sounded as if it was a religion dedicated to man. Self worship is not the way to go in my opinion. What do you do when you feel your self is not reliable?

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"the greatest trick the devil ever pulled, was making the world believe he didn't exist" -Kevin Spacey 'The Usual Suspects'

Ustwo

Scientology is a science fiction writers scam. A bad science fiction writer I might add. I read the 'secret' writings back when they were sending their lawyers all over to get them removed from various websites, and I was laughing

Edit: Fun Quiz
1. Nontheist (100%)
2. Unitarian Universalism (93%)
3. Secular Humanism (91%)
4. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (84%)
5. Theravada Buddhism (81%)

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Food Eater Lad

Do you know were a person can read those secret writing and get a good laugh themselves?

burntmonkey

I've heard that the reason so many stars get into Scientology is that it provides them with major tax shelters.

Anyone else heard this too?

Food Eater Lad

Scientology activly recruites the famous and wealthy.

XenuHubbard

This is for PR-reasons.
The famous people serve as great PR, just watch John Travolta on Oprah... The stars get exclusive privileges, that a "normal" member of the church would never get. Being a famous spokesperson for the church means enjoying a good life.

For normal people, well, every penny counts. Mentally challenged who don't understand what they're signing (happened in Sweden), people addicted to drugs (They own Narconon, Juliette Lewis etc.) and they're good at covering their bases. The lawyer firm that represents CoS bought the Cult Awareness Network a couple of years back. In Russia, the church ran a purification center for children after Tjernobyl, which would heal them. The cure consisted of long hours in saunas, and different vitamins.

If you're not a star, they will milk you dry. If you're a star and promote them, you're a Judas goat. And should hang fram a meat rack.

__________________
The above was written by a true prophet. Trust me.

"What doesn't kill you, makes you bitter and paranoid". - SB2000

rainheart

Don't be a fool, Scientology is L. Ron Hubbards bid for control.

It's perverse from ground up, the philosophy is pseudo-intellectualism at it's best. It SOUNDS right but it IS wrong.

But, all that negative things aside, it is pure genius. (Or if it isn't, it's been pretty damn effective so far).

ganon

I studied scientology at length, and it really is a way to seperate someone from their money at an astronomical rate. It definitely falls into the "cult" column.

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Eldaire

I don't like it. It's bad and negative.

ARTelevision

I have some friends who follow this system.
Overall, it has been a good thing for them.

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empu

Dude, your theta is seriously enturbulated.

sipsake

HAAHAAAAAA! (snort)

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When life hands you a lemon, say "Oh yeah, I like lemons. What else you got?"

Henry Rollins

irateplatypus

i've got to give scientology the double thumbs down. i know the decision is yours to make, but i hope you've read about it from sources other than their official website.

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If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.

~ Winston Churchill

Frowning Budah

I know very little about the tenants of Scientology, but
L. Ron Hubbard's comments abt Religion before forming the church cause me great concerns about the Church's real mission.

TheKak

A look at Ron Hubbard's military service might let you know what kind of person he was.

http://www.lermanet.com/L_Ron_Hubbard/

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mac Daddy

I spent a lot of time around Scientologist. I worked for them. It does seem appealing. Then again Charles Manson and David Koresh were very appealing. They are a cult just without the murders. The people I worked for flipped out when they saw me taking an asprin (hangover). They wanted to send me to a detox, to clear my body of all impurities. This with meditation was the key to ending the pain. This is just one of many stories. On the other side. One of the most happy people I every met was a Scientologist, not just outer happy, but inner also. All I can say is that I think they are wackos. If it is good for you, you don't try and push it on me, don't hurt anyone then go for it. I think it is the wrong path but I am not you and you need to find your own answers.

JamesS

From what I've read about scientology, it seems like a pretty wierd scene.

I stay away from the religion, but I read and enjoyed Hubbard's Mission Earth series. Wonderful characters.

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pyraxis

I'd suggest anyone interested in scientology first read this story:

http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Library/Shelf/pignotti/

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Sho Nuff

I heard the entire concept was conceived over a few beers in a bet as to whether or not L Ron Hubbard could start his own religion.

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Dorp

Scientology is definitely a bad cult in my opinion. They lure members in who have a great void in their life and then take their money. The suicide rates for people who go through any scientology trainings are incredibly high. I wish I had the figures on me at the moment, but throwing your money at L. Ron Hubbard will bring nobody spiritual happiness.

Bobdoler

man wow, i just read that first person account of the woman....thats is some seriously chilling stuff

hard to believe people can be....tricked... into doing that, glad to see her get out of it though.

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