what is Scientology? (church, quote, divorce, faith)

[nancy thereader]

There has been a lot in the news about Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise and this religion. Is it really a religion? Do they believe in God? Jesus Christ? Is it more like an Esalen kind of organization? What exactly is it?

[nana053]

Scientology is a cult that was made up by a science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard.

Jesus is recognized in Scientology as part of its religious heritage and one of many *good* teachers.

Core beliefs:
Scientology's Core Beliefs
World exclusive: scientology alien secret exposed - Today Tonight

non-scientologist faq on "Start a Religion"

Lloyd Arthur Eshbach was a science fiction writer and publisher between 1929 and 1957. His autobiography, says on pages 125 and 126 (about the events of 1948 and 1949):

I think of the time while in New York I took John W. Campbell, Marty Greenberg, and L. Ron Hubbard to lunch. Someone suggested a Swedish smorgasbord, and I had my first--and last--taste of kidney. Yuck! Afterward we wound up in my hotel room for related conversation.
The incident is stamped indelibly in my mind because of one statement that Ron Hubbard made. What led him to say what he did I can't recall--but in so many words Hubbard said:

"I'd like to start a religion. That's where the money is!"

Eshbach based his autobiography on detailed records and dated diary entries, and is therefore likely to be quite accurate on this point.

[AREQUIPA]

Nana summed it up. Hubbard began by writing Science fiction novels. he then turned them into a sort of mix of sci - fi - pseudo - science and psychology which he peddled as 'Dianetics'. I recall that there was some internal problems and he got eased out and so repackaged it as 'Scientology' and he then discredited what he called 'Black Dianetics', It died the death anyway as he seemed to to have the knack of cult -building.

He then attempted to deal with the problems and questions and have the whole thing about Thetan aliens in the head put on a scientific basis and that really did not work, so he turned it into a religion, where of course problems don't matter, because it is a Faith.

It was the first of the 'alarming' cults that I can remember with secrecy, coercion and exploitation that led to it being banned in a lot of countries and somehow going religious seems to have led to it getting from the 'Sea Orgs' back onto land where it has continued to mulct the faithful of their money. I have to say that they do seem to think that they are getting their money's - worth.

[Aleister Crowley]

The BBC documentary "Scientology And Me" (John Sweeney) is a very disturbing documentary. I feel sorry for Katie Holmes. I do not know why this group has been allowed so much influence in Hollywood. I was trained in psychology, they have no understanding of the human condition. The church spokesman Tommy Davis made a complete ass of himself and their cult in the documentary. They were actually stalking the BBC reporter in the documentary. I was reading TMZ & they showed two vehicles in New York supposedly tracking Katie Holmes. After just watching the BBC documentary, I think TMZ was spot on.

The second documentary (BBC Panorama) talks about how Scientology engages in psychological warfare to drive people crazy. The technique they use is called lamp lighting in psychology. They seem to use brainwashing & mind control to break peoples minds. They would not fair well against the best minds in psychology.

[nana053]

Originally Posted by Aleister Crowley

The BBC documentary "Scientology And Me" (John Sweeney) is a very disturbing documentary. I feel sorry for Katie Holmes. I do not know why this group has been allowed so much influence in Hollywood. I was trained in psychology, they have no understanding of the human condition. The church spokesman Tommy Davis made a complete ass of himself and their cult in the documentary. They were actually stalking the BBC reporter in the documentary. I was reading TMZ & they showed two vehicles in New York supposedly tracking Katie Holmes. After just watching the BBC documentary, I think TMZ was spot on.

The second documentary (BBC Panorama) talks about how Scientology engages in psychological warfare to drive people crazy. The technique they use is called lamp lighting in psychology. They seem to use brainwashing & mind control to break peoples minds. They would not fair well against the best minds in psychology.

but, but.... they teach and believe that psychology is evil...

[maineguy8888]

Scientologists are just wacked. Sorry to say, but it's true.

[Icy Tea]

Is it mostly just Hollywood folks that get drawn into it or does it appeal to thers? HW people would seem to be the most vulnerable but it beats drug use and overdosing I guess.

[Pammyd]

Originally Posted by nancy thereader

There has been a lot in the news about Katie Holmes & Tom Cruise and this religion. Is it really a religion? Do they believe in God? Jesus Christ? Is it more like an Esalen kind of organization? What exactly is it?

Hadn't really been following this whole mess with Tom and Katie but while waiting for my computer to boot, I read an article about this group called "Sea Organization" which is a boot camp for children of Scientologists. It is highly disciplined and the kids whose parents send them there don't see them for 6 months at a time. Katie became concerned for Suri as Tom was planning to send her there when she turned 6. She would be indoctrinated into the Scientology faith, work at this camp, wear a uniform and do other unheard of things for a child of her age. Tom did send two of his boys he had with Nicole Kidman there and they have since made a choice to live in California with their Dad. Nicole doesn't seem to want to fight to keep them with her saying "teenagers get to choose where they want to live". It appears that the entire reason for this divorce was Katie's concern that her daughter Suri would be made to go to this Sea Organization boot camp. I think, not sure, some of it is held on a ship and most on dry land. It sounded HORRIBLE. I don't know how much "God" is actually in this whole thing but to think that Tom Cruise has been so terribly brainwashed by this group is frightening.

[Na'vi]

Originally Posted by Icy Tea

Is it mostly just Hollywood folks that get drawn into it or does it appeal to thers? HW people would seem to be the most vulnerable but it beats drug use and overdosing I guess.

Not so sure about that.

[brightdoglover]

When I was 13 or so, I remember babysitting and reading a "Look" magazine or something like that. There was an article by a journalist who started the scientology process to write an article and reported, among other things, that it took him two years of therapy to get over. He described the crazy-making, brainwashing, money-grabbing, etc. I always remember that article.

Then when I was 16, I was in Grand Central Station, and someone was selling the Dianetics book. I was open-minded (to anything weird, anyway) so I bought the book and stupidly gave them my address "for more materials." Well, more materials arrived at my parents' house for TEN YEARS despite my pleas to cut it out. They had some kind of headquarters about 15 miles from the house and I felt their persistence was very very creepy when I remembered that article.

At 20, on the street in Boston, someone came up to me and was beaming, "Do you want to take a personality test?" and I said, "Oh, you're one of those scientolgists" and kept walking.

I've always been good at hearing public service messages and following them...