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Is anyone else following the fascinating series that Lee Remini is doing on Scientology on A&E. I find it incredulous that due to the 1st Amendment, so many human rights are allowed to be carried out by a "church".
Like most religions, it is nothing but a money making machine for those at the top, and it's 'ecclesiastical' promises can't hold water.
They did a 9 part series on Scientology, plus a followup with ex-scientologist Chris Shelton. The Chris Shelton podcast is a wonderful stand-alone episode if you don't have the time for the others.
They did a 9 part series on Scientology, plus a followup with ex-scientologist Chris Shelton. The Chris Shelton podcast is a wonderful stand-alone episode if you don't have the time for the others.
Scientology is one messed up religion.
Great podcast and well worth the listen for anyone who wants an inside peek at the cult of scientology.
I find it incredulous that due to the 1st Amendment, so many human rights are allowed to be carried out by a "church".
I'm guessing you mean "human rights abuses".
I think it's just a case of Scientology out-intimidating the IRS ... no small feat. The only public service in that, is that the IRS ought to fear something. Once they had the IRS cowed and their status as a religion re-recognized, it was relatively easy to bring the police and others to heel by simply pointing to their victory over the IRS -- a victory made all the more impressive in that it came despite founder Hubbard's overt personal tax evasion.
Scientology's ideology is so over the top, at least for an organization of that size, that I'm not sure it's fair to see it as the logical conclusion of, or extension to, run-of-the-mill religious ideation. I don't seriously think most religions are conceived from the ground up as a cynical mind control scheme, and they are generally seen as convenient fulcrums of control for governments, rather than rivals to government, almost a corporate city-state unto themselves.
Thankfully they have seen a few setbacks elsewhere in the world in recent years.
As for them being a cult, I agree, but some wags here have pointed out that "cult" is just a concise synonym for "religion that isn't widely popular enough yet". But I think this is too simplistic and dismissive. A cult is far more aggressive in demanding tokens of fealty and submission and total devotion than ordinary religion. I think it's a useful distinction. In most parishes for example one can be a nominal Catholic, go through the motions, don't make waves and you're good to go. Even an evangelical Protestant only has to attend services more regularly and give more money, but a Scientologist who goes beyond paying for the basic indoctrination confronts increasingly intrusive demands for total involvement and self-abrogation. It's like an unholy marriage of religion and being a groupie of a self-help guru.
Is anyone else following the fascinating series that Lee Remini is doing on Scientology on A&E. I find it incredulous that due to the 1st Amendment, so many human rights are allowed to be carried out by a "church".
Like most religions, it is nothing but a money making machine for those at the top, and it's 'ecclesiastical' promises can't hold water.
Thoughts?
Yeah, I'm watching it....I find it hard to believe that scientology has tax free status...It ain't no religion....Another thing that puzzles me is the fact that they often hold people against their will....I thought that was illegal....
I almost went to one of their introductory evening sessions 16 years ago (believe it was in early 2001) with a friend when I lived in the Bay Area and I worked at an office only about a mile away from one of their locations. Had browsed a Scientology book at the local library. Just out of curiosity. The friend wanted to eat at a new pizzeria that had opened, on the night we planned to attend and asked if we could go to Scientology another time. I said fine; no problem, no rush. Anyways, I thank him to this day for choosing pizza over Scientology that night! Lol. Sometimes things happen for a reason.
A few months later the owner of the business I worked at, moved the business (and his family) to a different state. I am now living about 75 miles south of there (moved after finding a new job in the summer of 2001) and neither my friend there or I have been tempted to check it out since then.
With all the controversies and difficulties various people have had leaving Scientology, I am grateful that we never went. I am very saddened that their leaders do not respect the right of people to choose their own religion as stated in our First Amendment. I saw one of the Leah Remini shows and was very shocked at their intolerance and hostility toward people leaving.
Last edited by chessgeek; 01-05-2017 at 03:12 AM..
Yeah, I'm watching it....I find it hard to believe that scientology has tax free status...It ain't no religion....Another thing that puzzles me is the fact that they often hold people against their will....I thought that was illegal....
Mike's done a superb job for years exposing Scientology's horrible cult practices. Leah has the ability, and is using that ability, to take it to a whole new level of exposure. Hopefully the IRS and law enforcement will take notice, and act.
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