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Protest the Scientology Cult/Criminal Racket!
Scientology is a parasitic and dangerous criminal racket and cult. Anyone who dares to look critically at Scientology should expect retaliation, including violence. We want to hold Scientology accountable for its crimes. This cult should NOT have tax-exempt "religion" status, or any kind of privileged status. Help us to knock this extremely wealthy corporation off its pedestal.
Despite what you may have heard, Scientology is not a religion. It is a vicious, multi-national criminal racket and cult that uses hypnosis and grueling interrogations to turn otherwise normal people into mindless but aggressive drones. Anyone who dares to look critically at Scientology should expect retaliation. According to the cult's "Fair Game" policy, a Scientologist can "Lie, Steal, Cheat, Destroy them utterly, with absolutely no consequences." This is in keeping with another core policy, to "always attack, never defend." The tragic thing is that "Fair Gaming" has been used to horrific effect on thousands of people in the past few decades -- journalists, relatives of cult members, ex-members, anyone who has ever made a move that Scientology perceived as threatening. The many stories of these Fair Game incidents, often continuing for years on end, are frightening and bizarre but unfortunately they are all too true.
Is this a religion? Does Scientology deserve its full "religion" tax exemption from the IRS (obtained through extortion), along with special financial perks not given to Atheists, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Mormons, Muslims or Wiccans? Does Scientology get a free pass from scrutiny because they are a "religion," and it would be a "hate crime" to ask too many questions? That's what they would say.
We don't think so. JOIN tens of thousands of people from around the world who are working right now to make Scientology accountable for its crimes. JOIN US for our third worldwide protest, on Saturday 10 May from 11 am-5 pm, in cities all over the world. WE NEED FOR YOU TO BE THERE. For more information, please check out "You Found the Card" or the planning forums at Enturbulation.
SCIENTOLOGY FOUNDER L.RON HUBBARD ON CRITICS:
"Fair game. May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued, or lied to or destroyed."
By the way, we ARE making a big impact on Scientology! Through our actions in the past three months, we have learned of the following (leaked from an insider):
* An over 50% drop in Scientology's gross income
* An over 50% drop in those "on course" or being "processed" by the cult
* Staff, including very senior executives, leaving Scientology in record numbers such that Scientology's "Gold Base" at Gilman Hot Springs is now down from about 1,200 staffers to about 400 staffers, of whom some forty senior executives are under guard in the "SP Hall" or "hole" (internal prison camp)
* Major unhandled PR "flaps" worldwide, some of which are poised to escalate significantly (e.g. Norway MP's daughter committed suicide 3 hours after Scientology "Personality Test" which said she was a total idiot)
* The posting of the entire Scientology 'Bridge to Total Freedom' on Wikileaks (AND Encyclopedia Dramatica!).
Also:
* Scientology schools were shut down in Israel and Denmark for not meeting the State's curriculum and student performance requirements
* Scientology facilities were raided and shut down by the Government in Belgium
* Scientology closed its doors in Düsseldorf, Germany and in several locations in the U.S.
* Scientology encountered even more problems in Russia
* Germany, France and Belgium continued working on a plan to ban Church of Scientology International (and OSA) as a foreign headquartered terrorist group (in California, USA)
More reasons that Scientology must and will be taken down:
* Breaking family through its doctrine of "disconnection"
* Doctrine of "destroying utterly" what it perceives as opposition to Scientology, through its "dead agent", and "fair game" policies
* Long track record of false imprisonment against its own members
* Fanatical, irrational, (and outright creepy) anti-psychiatry doctrine
* Doctrine of hard sell with no regards to the financial well-being of people
* Doctrine of infiltration to gain leverage to spread its own worldview, and to shield against accountability
* Condoning lying to protect and further Scientology goals
* Attack on free speech, in order to keep people uninformed
* A worthless "Personality test" deceptively used for recruitment purpose
* Practicing medicine without a license, while deceptively describing itself as a science that can cure disease, physical illnesses
* Forcing its members to go through mental and physical duress through the "Rehabilitation Project Force" in order to coerce them to comply to Scientology doctrine
* "Suppressive Person" doctrine promoting hate and intolerance
* Abusive treatment of children
* Its track record of using blackmail to prevent its own members from leaving, speaking out
* Track record of destroying evidences to escape full accountability
* etc.
THE MORE YOU LEARN ABOUT SCIENTOLOGY, THE MORE AMAZED AND HORRIFIED AND OUTRAGED YOU BECOME
For more information:
http://www.enturbulation.org
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701 MONTGOMERY STREET
SAN FRANCISCO
just across from the TransAmerica Pyramid
For more information:
http://www.youfoundthecard.com
http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/article485937.ece
Here ya go Lilly. Anyone reading your post might get the idea that you have just a tad but of resistance to Scientology. Here's the latest growth figures in Clearwater. Last month the Church announce the purchase of nine major buildings around the globe. I guess people aren't listening to your BS.
Oh and by the way, the protests last months were much smaller than the month before. I give it say, oh, maybe two more months until some other party comes along. Hate doesn't stay around very long. See ya.
Here ya go Lilly. Anyone reading your post might get the idea that you have just a tad but of resistance to Scientology. Here's the latest growth figures in Clearwater. Last month the Church announce the purchase of nine major buildings around the globe. I guess people aren't listening to your BS.
Oh and by the way, the protests last months were much smaller than the month before. I give it say, oh, maybe two more months until some other party comes along. Hate doesn't stay around very long. See ya.
Notice how the scientologist that replies to this article has only one defense: "You're a liar and a bigot". That's it. That's all they ever say in their own defense, no matter how much evidence is piled up against their church.
You can't have a rational discussion with them because
1) Scientology only allows a select few of their cult to speak publicly, these are the members of their gestapo-like OSA.
2) Secondly these OSA members are not interested in discussion, only in silencing all criticism, and use all kinds of transparent tactics to do so, such as calling everyone a liar, changing the subject, and ad hominem attacks.
3) OSA drones like most people born into scientology or joining in as a child, have no education and so are incapable of forming a coherent thought. All they do is refer to their "Handbook of attacking critics" whenever they post anything publicly, as they lack any wit or imagination of their own.
You can't have a rational discussion with them because
1) Scientology only allows a select few of their cult to speak publicly, these are the members of their gestapo-like OSA.
2) Secondly these OSA members are not interested in discussion, only in silencing all criticism, and use all kinds of transparent tactics to do so, such as calling everyone a liar, changing the subject, and ad hominem attacks.
3) OSA drones like most people born into scientology or joining in as a child, have no education and so are incapable of forming a coherent thought. All they do is refer to their "Handbook of attacking critics" whenever they post anything publicly, as they lack any wit or imagination of their own.
Let's see... for the last three months there have been protesters outside of Scientology's SF org (as well as tens of thousands outside of their orgs in over 100 cities around the globe).
No... we are not going anywhere. We're going to be right out front, like clockwork, protesting the abuses of this cult month after month after month. In between protests, we're going to be countering your recruitment activities anywhere you show up. We're going to do our absolute best to educate the public and prevent your organization from taking advantage of people in need.
For decades, the cult of Scientology has managed to get away with these abuses because they could control the flow of information. That's come to a screeching halt with the dawn of the Internet. We're going to expose every last abuse of your organization, no matter how long it takes.
If you doubt our conviction, I dare you to show up at the SF org on May 10th and peek out the windows. That's not going to happen though, is it? Every time protesters have shown up in front of the SF org, they've closed up shop.
If you'd like to learn more about why we're protesting, visit:
http://forums.enturbulation.org
and
http://xenu.net
No... we are not going anywhere. We're going to be right out front, like clockwork, protesting the abuses of this cult month after month after month. In between protests, we're going to be countering your recruitment activities anywhere you show up. We're going to do our absolute best to educate the public and prevent your organization from taking advantage of people in need.
For decades, the cult of Scientology has managed to get away with these abuses because they could control the flow of information. That's come to a screeching halt with the dawn of the Internet. We're going to expose every last abuse of your organization, no matter how long it takes.
If you doubt our conviction, I dare you to show up at the SF org on May 10th and peek out the windows. That's not going to happen though, is it? Every time protesters have shown up in front of the SF org, they've closed up shop.
If you'd like to learn more about why we're protesting, visit:
http://forums.enturbulation.org
and
http://xenu.net
If you don't think Scientology's SF org shuts down to keep it's members from seeing criticism about its activities, here's a suggestion:
On May 10th, cruise by 701 Montgomery Street for yourself. You see plenty of protesters... and the org itself in lockdown mode. I encourage you to stop on by and go into the org and see precisely how many Scientologists are in there during "normal business hours" (they're open until 10PM under normal circumstances).
I kinda hope the folks in the SF org read this and decide to try to pack the building on the 10th to disprove what I've said. For the last three months, they've done everything they could to prevent their members from being exposed to the protests taking place on their doorstep.
Either way, the truth wins. Stop by, chat with both the protesters and Scientologists (if any dare show up) and decide for yourself which side has merit.
On May 10th, cruise by 701 Montgomery Street for yourself. You see plenty of protesters... and the org itself in lockdown mode. I encourage you to stop on by and go into the org and see precisely how many Scientologists are in there during "normal business hours" (they're open until 10PM under normal circumstances).
I kinda hope the folks in the SF org read this and decide to try to pack the building on the 10th to disprove what I've said. For the last three months, they've done everything they could to prevent their members from being exposed to the protests taking place on their doorstep.
Either way, the truth wins. Stop by, chat with both the protesters and Scientologists (if any dare show up) and decide for yourself which side has merit.
Scientologists like to tout themselves as, "the most ethical people on the planet."
Personally, I don't think that knowingly exposing their adherents to one of the most carcinogenic substances on the planet qualifies as "ethical" behavior.
They've known, since 1987, that their ship (the Freewinds) is contaminated with blue asbestos.
Read the affidavit of Lawrence Woolcraft here:
http://www.lermanet.com/scientology/LawrenceWoodcraftAsbestos.htm
Now read the reports that dock workers (and Scientologists who have been onboard the ship) have been exposed to blue asbestos... resulting in the ship being sealed by Dutch authorities in Curacao at:
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?n=1&neID=200805023600.3_33bc000d60868fe7
Officials in Curacao have sealed and cordoned off the Freewinds, Scientology's flag ship, after dock workers found dangerous levels of blue asbestos during routine repairs.
Curacao Dry dock Company (CDM) workers discovered the blue asbestos during routine repair and renovation work while the ship was in dry dock in Otrobanda, Curacao. After an extraordinary meeting, alarmed Government officials ordered the ship sealed off and decided to inform the public of their actions in order to avoid rumour and panic among dock workers.
Reportedly, the 40 year old ship is extensively contaminated with blue asbestos, the most dangerous form of the carcinogenic mineral. Studies have shown that there are no safe levels of exposure to asbestos and a single microscopic particle could remain lodged in the lungs for years and in the right conditions, cause lung cancer. Decontamination, if it is even possible, is likely to cost tens of millions of dollars and would result in the ship being in dry dock for many months.
Alarm was raised amongst Government officials after it was revealed that the captain of the Freewinds took no action to alert the crew after CDM workers accidentally released the asbestos dust into the ventilation system. Despite being informed of the accident, and the danger, the captain chose to keep the incident secret.
Members of the public have noted with concern that the Church of Scientology appears to have been aware of the asbestos problem for 21 years and has chosen not to address it, despite being informed of the health risks. In a 2001 affidavit Freewinds' architect Lawrence Woodcraft states that after the purchase of the Freewinds in 1987 he went aboard to supervise the renovation and refitting of the old cruise liner. During the renovations blue asbestos was discovered in the engine room and then throughout the ship. He immediately informed senior Scientology management of the discovery and of its health risk to passengers and the ships Scientologist refit workers. Scientology chose to take no action, stating that since L Ron Hubbard, Scientology's founder, had never said that asbestos was dangerous there was no risk.
Woodcraft reported that as the renovations fell behind schedule an independent non-Scientologist company was brought in to assist, but left in fear for the safety of the refurbishment crew after a few weeks. Renovations continued regardless, this time with dozens of contracted Scientologists protected only by dust masks.
Since 1987 thousands of passengers have travelled on the Freewinds, both for Scientology's advanced courses as well as for conferences and other events. Many, if not all passengers and crew may have been exposed to asbestos dust churned up by the movement of the ship and standard maintenance work. Medical advice for dealing with asbestos recommends ongoing monitoring for lung cancer is required for anyone who believes they may have been exposed to the carcinogen.
Woodcraft affidavit: http://www.lermanet.com/scientology/LawrenceWoodcraftAsbestos.htm Asbestos and Mesothelioma, effect on health: http://www.mesotheliomaresource.com/asbestos-mesothelioma-6.php
----
Yeah, that sounds like ethical behavior to me. It's crap like this that has tens of thousands of people protesting every single month.
Personally, I don't think that knowingly exposing their adherents to one of the most carcinogenic substances on the planet qualifies as "ethical" behavior.
They've known, since 1987, that their ship (the Freewinds) is contaminated with blue asbestos.
Read the affidavit of Lawrence Woolcraft here:
http://www.lermanet.com/scientology/LawrenceWoodcraftAsbestos.htm
Now read the reports that dock workers (and Scientologists who have been onboard the ship) have been exposed to blue asbestos... resulting in the ship being sealed by Dutch authorities in Curacao at:
http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?n=1&neID=200805023600.3_33bc000d60868fe7
Officials in Curacao have sealed and cordoned off the Freewinds, Scientology's flag ship, after dock workers found dangerous levels of blue asbestos during routine repairs.
Curacao Dry dock Company (CDM) workers discovered the blue asbestos during routine repair and renovation work while the ship was in dry dock in Otrobanda, Curacao. After an extraordinary meeting, alarmed Government officials ordered the ship sealed off and decided to inform the public of their actions in order to avoid rumour and panic among dock workers.
Reportedly, the 40 year old ship is extensively contaminated with blue asbestos, the most dangerous form of the carcinogenic mineral. Studies have shown that there are no safe levels of exposure to asbestos and a single microscopic particle could remain lodged in the lungs for years and in the right conditions, cause lung cancer. Decontamination, if it is even possible, is likely to cost tens of millions of dollars and would result in the ship being in dry dock for many months.
Alarm was raised amongst Government officials after it was revealed that the captain of the Freewinds took no action to alert the crew after CDM workers accidentally released the asbestos dust into the ventilation system. Despite being informed of the accident, and the danger, the captain chose to keep the incident secret.
Members of the public have noted with concern that the Church of Scientology appears to have been aware of the asbestos problem for 21 years and has chosen not to address it, despite being informed of the health risks. In a 2001 affidavit Freewinds' architect Lawrence Woodcraft states that after the purchase of the Freewinds in 1987 he went aboard to supervise the renovation and refitting of the old cruise liner. During the renovations blue asbestos was discovered in the engine room and then throughout the ship. He immediately informed senior Scientology management of the discovery and of its health risk to passengers and the ships Scientologist refit workers. Scientology chose to take no action, stating that since L Ron Hubbard, Scientology's founder, had never said that asbestos was dangerous there was no risk.
Woodcraft reported that as the renovations fell behind schedule an independent non-Scientologist company was brought in to assist, but left in fear for the safety of the refurbishment crew after a few weeks. Renovations continued regardless, this time with dozens of contracted Scientologists protected only by dust masks.
Since 1987 thousands of passengers have travelled on the Freewinds, both for Scientology's advanced courses as well as for conferences and other events. Many, if not all passengers and crew may have been exposed to asbestos dust churned up by the movement of the ship and standard maintenance work. Medical advice for dealing with asbestos recommends ongoing monitoring for lung cancer is required for anyone who believes they may have been exposed to the carcinogen.
Woodcraft affidavit: http://www.lermanet.com/scientology/LawrenceWoodcraftAsbestos.htm Asbestos and Mesothelioma, effect on health: http://www.mesotheliomaresource.com/asbestos-mesothelioma-6.php
----
Yeah, that sounds like ethical behavior to me. It's crap like this that has tens of thousands of people protesting every single month.
The Scientologist "smarc" who responded to this is one of several whom the cult has assigned to patrol the message boards of all Scientology-related news articles. Very sad. The reality is that these people's worlds will be shattered when their tiny tyrant leader David Miscavige is arrested on RICO, child abuse and other charges, and the elaborate charade of Scientology as a "religion" is finally over. L. Ron Hubbard made it clear from the beginning that the "religion" idea was "only for tax purposes. Check out Arnie Lerma's amazing site: http://www.lermanet.com and see the documentation for yourself.
It is really true that the more you learn about Scientology, the more horrified you become. Scientologists always say that they are misunderstood and misrepresented. They say that one should only read their materials, which they claim are objective. Of course, that is simply laughable.
There is abundant, even overflowing evidence of Scientology's criminal acts over the past 50 years (Hubbard's wife and several other top Scientologists even went to federal prison for several years in the late 70s, for infiltrating and burglarizing the IRS). Just 3 years later, the IRS granted them "religion" status. Why? It's a secret. It's a fucking secret that cannot be revealed. Disgusting. And they use that "religion" status to play the poor little persecuted victim, oh dear, the bigots are so mean.
Scientology needs to be stopped. I'm going to be there on May 10, and I'm bringing several friends.
HUBBARD ON GAYS AND LESBIANS
"The sexual pervert (and by this term Dianetics, to be brief, includes any and all forms of deviation in dynamic two such as homosexuality, lesbianism, sexual sadism, etc., and all down the catalog of Ellis and Krafft-Ebing) is actually quite ill physically... he is very far from culpable for his condition, but he is also far from normal and extremely dangerous to society."
- L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.
HUBBARD ON PSYCHIATRY
"A psychiatrist today has the power to (1) take a fancy to a woman (2) lead her to take wild treatment as a joke (3) drug and shock her to temporary insanity (4) incarnate her (5) use her sexually (6) sterilise her to prevent conception (7) kill her by a brain operation to prevent disclosure. And all with no fear of reprisal. Yet it is rape and murder. We want at least one bad mark on every psychiatrist in England, a murder, an assault, or a rape or more than one. This is Project Psychiatry. We will remove them."
- L . Ron Hubbard: Sec ED, Office of LRH, Confidential, "Project Psychiatry", 22 Feb 1966
HUBBARD ON JESUS CHRIST
"For instance, the historic Jesus was not nearly the sainted figure he has been made out to be. In addition to being a lover of young boys and men, he was given to uncontrollable bursts of temper and hatred that belied the general message of love, understanding and other typical Marcab PR. You have only to look at the history his teachings inspired to see where it all inevitably leads."
- L. Ron Hubbard, HCO Bulletin of 5 May 1980
SOME JUDICIAL OPINIONS ON SCIENTOLOGY
"Scientology is evil; its techniques are evil; its practice is a serious threat to the community, medically, morally, and socially; and its adherents are sadly deluded and often mentally ill... (Scientology is) the world's largest organization of unqualified persons engaged in the practice of dangerous techniques which masquerade as mental therapy."
- Justice Anderson, Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia
"The government is satisfied that Scientology is socially harmful. It alienates members of families from each other and attributes squalid and disgraceful motives to all who oppose it; its authoritarian principles and practice are a potential menace to the personality and well being of those so deluded as to become followers; above all, its methods can be a serious danger to the health of those who submit to them... There is no power under existing law to prohibit the practice of Scientology; but the government has concluded that it is so objectionable that it would be right to take all steps within its power to curb its growth."
- Kenneth Robinson, British Minister of Health
"The crime committed by these defendants is of a breadth and scope previously unheard of. No building, office, desk, or file was safe from their snooping and prying. No individual or organization was free from their despicable conspiratorial minds. The tools of their trade were miniature transmitters, lock picks, secret codes, forged credentials and any other device they found necessary to carry out their conspiratorial schemes."
- US Federal prosecutor's memorandum to the judge urging stiff jail sentences for 9 top leaders of Scientology who had pleaded guilty to criminal charges
"Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious...It is corrupt sinister and dangerous. It is corrupt because it is based on lies and deceit and has its real objective money and power for Mr. Hubbard... It is sinister because it indulges in infamous practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestionly and to those who criticize it or oppose it. It is dangerous because it is out to capture people and to indoctrinate and brainwash them so they become the unquestioning captives and tools of the cult, withdrawn from ordinary thought, living, and relationships with others."
- Justice Latey, ruling in the High Court of London
"[The court record is] replete with evidence [that Scientology] is nothing in reality but a vast enterprise to extract the maximum amount of money from its adepts by pseudo scientific theories... and to exercise a kind of blackmail against persons who do not wish to continue with their sect.... The organization clearly is schizophrenic and paranoid, and this bizarre combination seems to be a reflection of its founder, L.Ron Hubbard."
- Judge Breckenridge, Los Angeles Superior Court
"In addition to violating and abusing its own members' civil rights, the organization over the years with its 'fair game' doctrine has harassed and abused those persons not in the church whom it perceives as enemies."
- Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Paul Breckenridge, June 1984, in the Gerry Armstrong case
"In January 1980, fearing a raid by law enforcement agencies, Hubbard's representatives ordered the shredding of all documents showing that Hubbard controlled Scientology organizations, finances, personnel, or the property at Gilman Hot Springs. In a two week period, approximately one million pages were shredded pursuant to this order."
- California appellate court, 2nd. district, 3rd. division, July 29, 1991, B025920 & B038975, Super. Ct. No. C 420153
"When a person is subjected to coercive persuasion [as in Scientology] without his knowledge or consent ...[he may] develop serious and sometimes irreversible physical and psychiatric disorders, up to and including schizophrenia, self-mutilation, and suicide."
- California Supreme Court, United States v. Lee [455 U.S. 252,257,258 (1982)]
"Substantial evidence supports the conclusion Scientology leaders made the deliberate decision to ruin Wollersheim economically and possible psychologically....We do not mean to suggest Scientology's retributive program... represented a full scale modern day 'inquisition.' Nevertheless there are some parallels in purpose and effect. 'Fair game,' like the 'inquisition,' targeted heretics. "Other testimony established Scientology is a hierarchal organization which exhibits near paranoid attitudes toward certain institutions and individuals -- in particular the government, mental health professions, disaffected members, and others who criticize the organization or its leadership... During trial, Wollersheim's experts testified Scientology's 'auditing' and 'disconnect' practices constituted 'brainwashing' and 'thought reform' akin to what the Chinese and North Koreans practiced on American prisoners of war... "Using its position as religious leader, the church and its agents coerced Wollersheim into continuing auditing even though his sanity was repeatedly threatened by this practice... Thus there is adequate proof the religious practice in this instance caused real harm to the individual and the appellant's outrageous conduct caused that harm... Church practices conducted in a coercive environment are not qualified to be voluntary religious practices entitled to first amendment religious freedom guarantees... "We hold that the state has a compelling interest in allowing its citizens to recover for serious emotional injuries they suffer through religious practices they are coerced into accepting. Such conduct is too outrageous to be protected under the constitution and too unworthy to be privileged under the law of torts."
- California appellate court, 2nd district, 7th division, Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology of California, Civ. No. B023193 Cal. Super. (1986)
It is really true that the more you learn about Scientology, the more horrified you become. Scientologists always say that they are misunderstood and misrepresented. They say that one should only read their materials, which they claim are objective. Of course, that is simply laughable.
There is abundant, even overflowing evidence of Scientology's criminal acts over the past 50 years (Hubbard's wife and several other top Scientologists even went to federal prison for several years in the late 70s, for infiltrating and burglarizing the IRS). Just 3 years later, the IRS granted them "religion" status. Why? It's a secret. It's a fucking secret that cannot be revealed. Disgusting. And they use that "religion" status to play the poor little persecuted victim, oh dear, the bigots are so mean.
Scientology needs to be stopped. I'm going to be there on May 10, and I'm bringing several friends.
HUBBARD ON GAYS AND LESBIANS
"The sexual pervert (and by this term Dianetics, to be brief, includes any and all forms of deviation in dynamic two such as homosexuality, lesbianism, sexual sadism, etc., and all down the catalog of Ellis and Krafft-Ebing) is actually quite ill physically... he is very far from culpable for his condition, but he is also far from normal and extremely dangerous to society."
- L. Ron Hubbard, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.
HUBBARD ON PSYCHIATRY
"A psychiatrist today has the power to (1) take a fancy to a woman (2) lead her to take wild treatment as a joke (3) drug and shock her to temporary insanity (4) incarnate her (5) use her sexually (6) sterilise her to prevent conception (7) kill her by a brain operation to prevent disclosure. And all with no fear of reprisal. Yet it is rape and murder. We want at least one bad mark on every psychiatrist in England, a murder, an assault, or a rape or more than one. This is Project Psychiatry. We will remove them."
- L . Ron Hubbard: Sec ED, Office of LRH, Confidential, "Project Psychiatry", 22 Feb 1966
HUBBARD ON JESUS CHRIST
"For instance, the historic Jesus was not nearly the sainted figure he has been made out to be. In addition to being a lover of young boys and men, he was given to uncontrollable bursts of temper and hatred that belied the general message of love, understanding and other typical Marcab PR. You have only to look at the history his teachings inspired to see where it all inevitably leads."
- L. Ron Hubbard, HCO Bulletin of 5 May 1980
SOME JUDICIAL OPINIONS ON SCIENTOLOGY
"Scientology is evil; its techniques are evil; its practice is a serious threat to the community, medically, morally, and socially; and its adherents are sadly deluded and often mentally ill... (Scientology is) the world's largest organization of unqualified persons engaged in the practice of dangerous techniques which masquerade as mental therapy."
- Justice Anderson, Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia
"The government is satisfied that Scientology is socially harmful. It alienates members of families from each other and attributes squalid and disgraceful motives to all who oppose it; its authoritarian principles and practice are a potential menace to the personality and well being of those so deluded as to become followers; above all, its methods can be a serious danger to the health of those who submit to them... There is no power under existing law to prohibit the practice of Scientology; but the government has concluded that it is so objectionable that it would be right to take all steps within its power to curb its growth."
- Kenneth Robinson, British Minister of Health
"The crime committed by these defendants is of a breadth and scope previously unheard of. No building, office, desk, or file was safe from their snooping and prying. No individual or organization was free from their despicable conspiratorial minds. The tools of their trade were miniature transmitters, lock picks, secret codes, forged credentials and any other device they found necessary to carry out their conspiratorial schemes."
- US Federal prosecutor's memorandum to the judge urging stiff jail sentences for 9 top leaders of Scientology who had pleaded guilty to criminal charges
"Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious...It is corrupt sinister and dangerous. It is corrupt because it is based on lies and deceit and has its real objective money and power for Mr. Hubbard... It is sinister because it indulges in infamous practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestionly and to those who criticize it or oppose it. It is dangerous because it is out to capture people and to indoctrinate and brainwash them so they become the unquestioning captives and tools of the cult, withdrawn from ordinary thought, living, and relationships with others."
- Justice Latey, ruling in the High Court of London
"[The court record is] replete with evidence [that Scientology] is nothing in reality but a vast enterprise to extract the maximum amount of money from its adepts by pseudo scientific theories... and to exercise a kind of blackmail against persons who do not wish to continue with their sect.... The organization clearly is schizophrenic and paranoid, and this bizarre combination seems to be a reflection of its founder, L.Ron Hubbard."
- Judge Breckenridge, Los Angeles Superior Court
"In addition to violating and abusing its own members' civil rights, the organization over the years with its 'fair game' doctrine has harassed and abused those persons not in the church whom it perceives as enemies."
- Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Paul Breckenridge, June 1984, in the Gerry Armstrong case
"In January 1980, fearing a raid by law enforcement agencies, Hubbard's representatives ordered the shredding of all documents showing that Hubbard controlled Scientology organizations, finances, personnel, or the property at Gilman Hot Springs. In a two week period, approximately one million pages were shredded pursuant to this order."
- California appellate court, 2nd. district, 3rd. division, July 29, 1991, B025920 & B038975, Super. Ct. No. C 420153
"When a person is subjected to coercive persuasion [as in Scientology] without his knowledge or consent ...[he may] develop serious and sometimes irreversible physical and psychiatric disorders, up to and including schizophrenia, self-mutilation, and suicide."
- California Supreme Court, United States v. Lee [455 U.S. 252,257,258 (1982)]
"Substantial evidence supports the conclusion Scientology leaders made the deliberate decision to ruin Wollersheim economically and possible psychologically....We do not mean to suggest Scientology's retributive program... represented a full scale modern day 'inquisition.' Nevertheless there are some parallels in purpose and effect. 'Fair game,' like the 'inquisition,' targeted heretics. "Other testimony established Scientology is a hierarchal organization which exhibits near paranoid attitudes toward certain institutions and individuals -- in particular the government, mental health professions, disaffected members, and others who criticize the organization or its leadership... During trial, Wollersheim's experts testified Scientology's 'auditing' and 'disconnect' practices constituted 'brainwashing' and 'thought reform' akin to what the Chinese and North Koreans practiced on American prisoners of war... "Using its position as religious leader, the church and its agents coerced Wollersheim into continuing auditing even though his sanity was repeatedly threatened by this practice... Thus there is adequate proof the religious practice in this instance caused real harm to the individual and the appellant's outrageous conduct caused that harm... Church practices conducted in a coercive environment are not qualified to be voluntary religious practices entitled to first amendment religious freedom guarantees... "We hold that the state has a compelling interest in allowing its citizens to recover for serious emotional injuries they suffer through religious practices they are coerced into accepting. Such conduct is too outrageous to be protected under the constitution and too unworthy to be privileged under the law of torts."
- California appellate court, 2nd district, 7th division, Wollersheim v. Church of Scientology of California, Civ. No. B023193 Cal. Super. (1986)
For more information:
http://www.xenu.net
Great post!
And every single word is true. This cult is more dangerous and insidious than most anyone could possibly imagine.
And every single word is true. This cult is more dangerous and insidious than most anyone could possibly imagine.
Scientology is a deeply sinister self-help scam, that has used “religious image checklists” to ensure that they receive the protection rightly afforded to bona-fide religions.
People who’ve criticized them previously, have been framed for terrorist offences (Google “Operation Freakout”), suffered attempted assassination in staged hit and runs (former Clearwater Mayor Gabriel Cazares). This all comes from documents seized by the FBI when they raided this so-called Church.
Finally it's looking as though the "church" has met it's match, it's time to stand up...
11:00am May 10th. Protest. Scientology Centers Everywhere.
People who’ve criticized them previously, have been framed for terrorist offences (Google “Operation Freakout”), suffered attempted assassination in staged hit and runs (former Clearwater Mayor Gabriel Cazares). This all comes from documents seized by the FBI when they raided this so-called Church.
Finally it's looking as though the "church" has met it's match, it's time to stand up...
11:00am May 10th. Protest. Scientology Centers Everywhere.
Are these protests being organized by communist or Maoist groups? This is the second anti-Church of Scientology protest postings that I've seen posted on Indybay that has Chinese Communist propaganda posters incorporated into it. Are the communists trying to take over these protests movement just like the anti-war movement and others. Communism is just of a cult as the Scientologists.
Good article!
Thank you for spreading the facts about hubbard's paranoid and anti-social philosophy.
Please do not capitalize the word "scientology" -- it does not deserve that distinction.
Another Surfer
Thank you for spreading the facts about hubbard's paranoid and anti-social philosophy.
Please do not capitalize the word "scientology" -- it does not deserve that distinction.
Another Surfer
Please include why these places are being investigated. It's important to know that scientology centers were shut down for fraudulently advertising jobs in a newspaper when they were really just recruitment propositions for unpaid volunteer work.
The Church of Scientology is frighteningly callous. I cannot understand how they could really believe it was OK to expose thousands of parishioners and staff to the deadliest form of asbestos, for 21 years. This is an organization with hundreds of millions of dollars sitting in bank accounts and huge real estate holdings (boasted about in the "New Years Celebration" leaked on to video-sharing websites). The Church of Scientology could easily afford to protect the health of its parishioners. Also, they put non-Scientologist locals at risk, because functions were held where the Freewinds was docked.
What else have they been hiding?
They surely don't want us to know about Operation Snow White, Operation Freakout, Fair Game, Introspection Rundown, or "Battletoad Earth - Operation FairGameStop" .
What else have they been hiding?
They surely don't want us to know about Operation Snow White, Operation Freakout, Fair Game, Introspection Rundown, or "Battletoad Earth - Operation FairGameStop" .
For more information:
http://truthtopplestyranny.blogspot.com
A Scientologist writes: "Last month the Church announce the purchase of nine major buildings around the globe."
It is disgusting how they buy real estate instead of paying staff a fair wage, or adhering to occupational safety and health regulations, or fixing the decades-old asbestos problem on their Freewinds death ship.
It is disgusting how they buy real estate instead of paying staff a fair wage, or adhering to occupational safety and health regulations, or fixing the decades-old asbestos problem on their Freewinds death ship.
For more information:
http://youfoundthecard.com
Great stuff; spamming link as I type this.
I will believe it when I see it...
I was referring to this below when I posted the "I'll believe it when I see it..." comment.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/article485937.ece
Here ya go Lilly. Anyone reading your post might get the idea that you have just a tad but of resistance to Scientology. Here's the latest growth figures in Clearwater. Last month the Church announce the purchase of nine major buildings around the globe. I guess people aren't listening to your BS.
Oh and by the way, the protests last months were much smaller than the month before. I give it say, oh, maybe two more months until some other party comes along. Hate doesn't stay around very long. See ya.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/growth/article485937.ece
Here ya go Lilly. Anyone reading your post might get the idea that you have just a tad but of resistance to Scientology. Here's the latest growth figures in Clearwater. Last month the Church announce the purchase of nine major buildings around the globe. I guess people aren't listening to your BS.
Oh and by the way, the protests last months were much smaller than the month before. I give it say, oh, maybe two more months until some other party comes along. Hate doesn't stay around very long. See ya.
Growth in Clearwater ≠ Growth of Scientology worldwide
Purchasing more buildings ≠ Growth of Scientology worldwide
According to information gleaned from recent defectors and apparent insiders, Flag in Clearwater is the only org currently running at a profit. Lets not forget that no matter how much money the CoS may be losing or otherwise, it has some seriously wealthy benefactors, such as James Packer (worth $5.7 billion), Lisa-Marie Presley ($300 million), Tom Cruise ($250 million) and John Travolta ($200 million). They could be losing people every day and still have enough in the coffers to give the impression of steady growth
(source: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,23613714-5013560,00.html)
Purchasing more buildings ≠ Growth of Scientology worldwide
According to information gleaned from recent defectors and apparent insiders, Flag in Clearwater is the only org currently running at a profit. Lets not forget that no matter how much money the CoS may be losing or otherwise, it has some seriously wealthy benefactors, such as James Packer (worth $5.7 billion), Lisa-Marie Presley ($300 million), Tom Cruise ($250 million) and John Travolta ($200 million). They could be losing people every day and still have enough in the coffers to give the impression of steady growth
(source: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,23663,23613714-5013560,00.html)
It really is no more a scam than most religions, political or social groups that portray themselves as the holders of truth and require regular donations to sustain themselves.
Tything and following a top down organization is a fundamental part of many world religions from Shia Islam, to Mormanism to Catholocism.
Among left-wing activist groups the ISO, RCP and Sparts have aspects to how they operate that look a bit cult-like. The ISO looking more like a business / pyramid scheme in terms of paper sales with the RCP looking more like a classic religious cult when it promotes its leader (who only a select few are allowed to meet and never engages in debate or dialogue with those that disagree). The Sparts have less of the leadership thing going on but have a feel that kinda reminds me of the Amish or some old fashioned Puritanical cult that focuses so much on dogma that dialogue with outsiders involves little individual thought (since the truth was written down a long time ago in holy books).
Plenty of businesses also try to warp world views around product loyalty. AmyWay being an extreme example but Apple have some elements of this too. Even some aspects of open source software and environmental movements can stress a certain type of loyalty mixed with a world view that goes beyond the actual organization goals of the group.
Scientology a least was founded by a pervy science fiction writer who took a lot of LSD. For all Ron may have tried to convince followers he knew some truth they had to pay him to reveal he also wrote disturbing trashy novels that made no attempt to be anything more than that. His religion even borrowed from his SciFi books although as far as I can tell Scientology leaves out the transplanting of large penises and hired killers who only have sex with either dead bodies or their own mother. While the religion has grown beyond him, one almost gets the feel that Scientology started as a performance art commentary on religion.
Tything and following a top down organization is a fundamental part of many world religions from Shia Islam, to Mormanism to Catholocism.
Among left-wing activist groups the ISO, RCP and Sparts have aspects to how they operate that look a bit cult-like. The ISO looking more like a business / pyramid scheme in terms of paper sales with the RCP looking more like a classic religious cult when it promotes its leader (who only a select few are allowed to meet and never engages in debate or dialogue with those that disagree). The Sparts have less of the leadership thing going on but have a feel that kinda reminds me of the Amish or some old fashioned Puritanical cult that focuses so much on dogma that dialogue with outsiders involves little individual thought (since the truth was written down a long time ago in holy books).
Plenty of businesses also try to warp world views around product loyalty. AmyWay being an extreme example but Apple have some elements of this too. Even some aspects of open source software and environmental movements can stress a certain type of loyalty mixed with a world view that goes beyond the actual organization goals of the group.
Scientology a least was founded by a pervy science fiction writer who took a lot of LSD. For all Ron may have tried to convince followers he knew some truth they had to pay him to reveal he also wrote disturbing trashy novels that made no attempt to be anything more than that. His religion even borrowed from his SciFi books although as far as I can tell Scientology leaves out the transplanting of large penises and hired killers who only have sex with either dead bodies or their own mother. While the religion has grown beyond him, one almost gets the feel that Scientology started as a performance art commentary on religion.
what kinda of church has you swpie your credit card when u enter, then sign a release form saying that u won't ask for a refund when u leave?
scientology does^_^
infact lets see how they compare to a buisness
1.there name is copy-righted
2.there symbol is copy-righted
3.they have "fixed donations", also known as a price tag
4.they charge for confessional
5.they charge for sermons
6.they censure and charge for their religous texts
then after all that charging
7.their prist, or "auditors" make commistion on how many books they sold, on how many coures they sold.
you need books to complete coures and u need coures to get closer to enlightment...
also without taking those "coures" you can't read your religous text untill u've paid in full for them.
how much does it cost to become enlightented in scientology?
300 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
this is no church, this is a buisness. designed to make profit and to milk you for all your worth.
CALL YOUR IRS AGENT/GOVERNER/CONGRESSMAN
ASK THEM TO INVESTIGATE SCIENTOLOGY
for more info visit
http://www.xenu.net
scientology does^_^
infact lets see how they compare to a buisness
1.there name is copy-righted
2.there symbol is copy-righted
3.they have "fixed donations", also known as a price tag
4.they charge for confessional
5.they charge for sermons
6.they censure and charge for their religous texts
then after all that charging
7.their prist, or "auditors" make commistion on how many books they sold, on how many coures they sold.
you need books to complete coures and u need coures to get closer to enlightment...
also without taking those "coures" you can't read your religous text untill u've paid in full for them.
how much does it cost to become enlightented in scientology?
300 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
this is no church, this is a buisness. designed to make profit and to milk you for all your worth.
CALL YOUR IRS AGENT/GOVERNER/CONGRESSMAN
ASK THEM TO INVESTIGATE SCIENTOLOGY
for more info visit
http://www.xenu.net
Isn't that the point of televangelists?
Also, many religious group, require rather than just request, donations for you to attend.
Looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tythe give a lot of good modern examples
Church tax is compulsory in Austria and Catholics can be sued by the Church for not paying it. Anyone who wants to stop paying it has to declare in writing, at their local municipal council, that they are leaving the Church. They are then crossed off the Church registers and can no longer receive the sacraments. The tax amounts to about 1% of the income.
Germany levies a church tax, on all persons declaring themselves to be Christians, of roughly 8-9% of the income tax, which is effectively (very much depending on the social and financial situation) typically between 0.2% and 1.5% of the total income.
Also note that:
LDS Members are expected to donate their time, money, and talents to the church, and those who have participated in the Endowment ceremony make an oath to donate all that they have, if required of them, to the Lord. To be in good standing and to enter the church's temples, church members are asked to tithe their income to the church, which is usually interpreted as 10% of income. In addition, members are asked to donate monthly charitable "fast offerings" (at least the equivalent cost of two meals), which are used to help the needy, regardless of whether or not they are church members, and are encouraged to make other humanitarian donations when necessary.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-Day_Saints
Also, many religious group, require rather than just request, donations for you to attend.
Looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tythe give a lot of good modern examples
Church tax is compulsory in Austria and Catholics can be sued by the Church for not paying it. Anyone who wants to stop paying it has to declare in writing, at their local municipal council, that they are leaving the Church. They are then crossed off the Church registers and can no longer receive the sacraments. The tax amounts to about 1% of the income.
Germany levies a church tax, on all persons declaring themselves to be Christians, of roughly 8-9% of the income tax, which is effectively (very much depending on the social and financial situation) typically between 0.2% and 1.5% of the total income.
Also note that:
LDS Members are expected to donate their time, money, and talents to the church, and those who have participated in the Endowment ceremony make an oath to donate all that they have, if required of them, to the Lord. To be in good standing and to enter the church's temples, church members are asked to tithe their income to the church, which is usually interpreted as 10% of income. In addition, members are asked to donate monthly charitable "fast offerings" (at least the equivalent cost of two meals), which are used to help the needy, regardless of whether or not they are church members, and are encouraged to make other humanitarian donations when necessary.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-Day_Saints
Do you know how to read? Or are you just deliberately being obtuse. You make a huge post about a fragment of the picture. Does your church MAKE you pay thousands of dollars for every little step of your "spiritual" progress? Anyway, this issue is far from the main issue. It is crooked that they force people to pay, and people are stupid to do it, but the real issues are Scientology's human rights abuses, their tax-exemption racket and other crimes. Please don't try to divert the topic with a retarded side issue.
Actually, I think you must be a Scientologist. I've seen this angle from you people before.
re: Sunday May 4th, 2008 11:03 AM
Isn't that the point of televangelists?
Actually, I think you must be a Scientologist. I've seen this angle from you people before.
re: Sunday May 4th, 2008 11:03 AM
Isn't that the point of televangelists?
deprogram wrote: "Are these protests being organized by communist or Maoist groups? This is the second anti-Church of Scientology protest postings that I've seen posted on Indybay that has Chinese Communist propaganda posters incorporated into it. Are the communists trying to take over these protests movement just like the anti-war movement and others. Communism is just of a cult as the Scientologists."
I'm pretty sure the use of Communist propaganda posters is what you might call a joke. The people involved in the current anti-Scientology movement have a pretty obvious silly streak (which makes sense, given their origins at 4chan).
I'm pretty sure the use of Communist propaganda posters is what you might call a joke. The people involved in the current anti-Scientology movement have a pretty obvious silly streak (which makes sense, given their origins at 4chan).
Why do you think they are a joke? It's not a joke. It is just an attractive and effective kind of propaganda (in the neutral sense of propaganda). Don't get all hung up on these things. This effort against Scientology is NON-POLITICAL. People of all political ideologies are involved in this.
"Does your church MAKE you pay thousands of dollars for every little step of your "spiritual" progress?"
I'm an athiest and don't go to a church, but it is my impression that some churches do make you pay for spiritual progress especially if you have to buy religious garb with your own money. I think government required funding in European countries is worse though than Scientology making you pay to get Science fiction books that may be overpriced but at least are more entertaining than most religious texts. Would you be equally concerned if JK Rowling started selling more expensive books with secret details about the Harry Potter universe (she did write a few books for charity that sold for a few million dollars...) I guess a closer parallel would be D&D where there were pricy books you could buy with details on certain types of monsters and the like.
"Scientology's human rights abuses, their tax-exemption racket and other crimes. "
Not sure about human rights abuses, but any church where leaders make a lot of money would seem to be part of a similar racket. Aside from obvious corrupt cases of poeple like Jim and Tammy Baker, the Catholic Church has huge financial resources (and while leaders dont technically own them they do control them). Televangelists who always ask for money to make their church nicer seem to also be in the same sort of scam as Scientology if you just see it as providing entertainment for tax free money.
"Actually, I think you must be a Scientologist. I've seen this angle from you people before. "
I'm not and don't know that much about Scientology (they worship dead people from a spaceship that crashed into a volcano or something like that which seems like a mixture of the X-Files and Lost) although I did read a bunch of L Ron Hubbard Sci Fi stuff in middle school. I didn't think they were that great but they were pretty strange ad it struck me as very weird that the person who wrote them could have his own religion (which is why I would guess that he may have sen the creation of the church as a joke, and expirement in human psychology or perhaps performance art... the other alternative is that he took too much LSD and actually believed the stuff himself...)
The one reason I might defend Scientology is that I tend to see all religions as irrational scams that sell people on why they need to fund churches. Scientology at least seems to exploit rich Hollywood types more than evangelical or Catholic groups that take money from the elderly and poor.
I also tend to be a bit worried that attacks on cults come from a religious perspective. As an atheist one religion seems just as absurd as other but traditionally religious people are the most afraid of other religions since believing in false idols is a sin or whatever. When countries start coming up with laws against specific cults the concern is that at some point they could go after lager groups based of religion or ethnicity. Of course in the case of this specific post it seems like it a Maoist group which doesnt like Scientology so there isnt too much concern on my part that its coming from a place of one religion hating all others (unless of course you see the RCP as a religious group which at times it does resemble)
Of course some anti cult stuff from relatives or friends of those whose lives were effected by cults does make sense to me but I'm still hesitant to blame that on the religion being different since people who become Christian nuns or monks (of Budhist monks for that matter) also isolate themselves and separate themselves from friends and relatives in an unhealthy way.
I'm an athiest and don't go to a church, but it is my impression that some churches do make you pay for spiritual progress especially if you have to buy religious garb with your own money. I think government required funding in European countries is worse though than Scientology making you pay to get Science fiction books that may be overpriced but at least are more entertaining than most religious texts. Would you be equally concerned if JK Rowling started selling more expensive books with secret details about the Harry Potter universe (she did write a few books for charity that sold for a few million dollars...) I guess a closer parallel would be D&D where there were pricy books you could buy with details on certain types of monsters and the like.
"Scientology's human rights abuses, their tax-exemption racket and other crimes. "
Not sure about human rights abuses, but any church where leaders make a lot of money would seem to be part of a similar racket. Aside from obvious corrupt cases of poeple like Jim and Tammy Baker, the Catholic Church has huge financial resources (and while leaders dont technically own them they do control them). Televangelists who always ask for money to make their church nicer seem to also be in the same sort of scam as Scientology if you just see it as providing entertainment for tax free money.
"Actually, I think you must be a Scientologist. I've seen this angle from you people before. "
I'm not and don't know that much about Scientology (they worship dead people from a spaceship that crashed into a volcano or something like that which seems like a mixture of the X-Files and Lost) although I did read a bunch of L Ron Hubbard Sci Fi stuff in middle school. I didn't think they were that great but they were pretty strange ad it struck me as very weird that the person who wrote them could have his own religion (which is why I would guess that he may have sen the creation of the church as a joke, and expirement in human psychology or perhaps performance art... the other alternative is that he took too much LSD and actually believed the stuff himself...)
The one reason I might defend Scientology is that I tend to see all religions as irrational scams that sell people on why they need to fund churches. Scientology at least seems to exploit rich Hollywood types more than evangelical or Catholic groups that take money from the elderly and poor.
I also tend to be a bit worried that attacks on cults come from a religious perspective. As an atheist one religion seems just as absurd as other but traditionally religious people are the most afraid of other religions since believing in false idols is a sin or whatever. When countries start coming up with laws against specific cults the concern is that at some point they could go after lager groups based of religion or ethnicity. Of course in the case of this specific post it seems like it a Maoist group which doesnt like Scientology so there isnt too much concern on my part that its coming from a place of one religion hating all others (unless of course you see the RCP as a religious group which at times it does resemble)
Of course some anti cult stuff from relatives or friends of those whose lives were effected by cults does make sense to me but I'm still hesitant to blame that on the religion being different since people who become Christian nuns or monks (of Budhist monks for that matter) also isolate themselves and separate themselves from friends and relatives in an unhealthy way.
Do some actual research on it before babbling your two cents, if you don't really know anything about it. It's not a religion. It is a charade of a religion. Do some research please before yapping about it. http://www.factnet.org, http://www.lermanet.com, http://www.xenu.net
For more information:
http://www.xenu.net
All religions are based off some form of insanity and most have hierarchies that make money off the religion to keep them propagating (and organization that calls itself a religion and doesnt do that doesnt last long which is why they are have so many similarities). Considering the horrors perpetrated by all major organized religions it seems a bit strange to attack Scientology for not being a religion. Is there some sort of stamp of approval one needs to be a religion and carry out Crusades, wars over the correct way to eat wafers or the like?
Scientology is a scam just like any other religion. It is good to make those who get involved know what they are getting involved in (especially those who are recruited when hey are in the middle of crises) but treating Scientology as fundamentallty different and worse than groups like the Salvation Army, AA and the Krishnas is to show an irrational bias.
Scientology is a scam just like any other religion. It is good to make those who get involved know what they are getting involved in (especially those who are recruited when hey are in the middle of crises) but treating Scientology as fundamentallty different and worse than groups like the Salvation Army, AA and the Krishnas is to show an irrational bias.
Our cause is just, let us end this murderous institution, so that its believers can practice in freedom from brainwashing, pyramid schemes and dissembling.
When you say "murderous institution" that does seem like overkill.
I'm a bit unclear on the accusations...
Is it that they are a business cult (like Amway or Cutco) which exploits followers monetarily and leavs them usually unwilling to complain when they realize they were duped?
Is it that they encourage unhealthy ways of living with ceremonies that do more harm than good (like exorcism among more extreme Catholics or the ex-gay movement)?
Is it that they go after anyone who tries to question them or freely release their material?
Do they fit into that next level of cult like the David Koresh followers and polygamy cults were there is a significant amount of physical abuse and control?
Or do you think they are as murerous to their followers others like Jim Jones' People's Temple, Heavan's Gate, or Ohm Shinrikio?
My guess is they fall somewhere in the middle and exposing them is good. At the same time I think being too hyperbolic backfires since if your trying to expose an irrational cult its good to be pretty down to earth in what you present about them (which admitedly is hard if they harmed your or friends of yours)
I'm a bit unclear on the accusations...
Is it that they are a business cult (like Amway or Cutco) which exploits followers monetarily and leavs them usually unwilling to complain when they realize they were duped?
Is it that they encourage unhealthy ways of living with ceremonies that do more harm than good (like exorcism among more extreme Catholics or the ex-gay movement)?
Is it that they go after anyone who tries to question them or freely release their material?
Do they fit into that next level of cult like the David Koresh followers and polygamy cults were there is a significant amount of physical abuse and control?
Or do you think they are as murerous to their followers others like Jim Jones' People's Temple, Heavan's Gate, or Ohm Shinrikio?
My guess is they fall somewhere in the middle and exposing them is good. At the same time I think being too hyperbolic backfires since if your trying to expose an irrational cult its good to be pretty down to earth in what you present about them (which admitedly is hard if they harmed your or friends of yours)
RE: why single out Scientology
As far as i'm aware, Hari Krishnas don't operate forced labour, the Salvation Army doesn't pressure women into abortions, the Mormons don't spend exorbitant amounts of money on trying to distroy the lives and reputations of anyone that speaks out against them, and the Catholic church doesn't actively seek to disconnect members from their families and friends. Add to that their abusive treatment of Sea Org members, their history of government infiltration, their grossly under paid staff (often way below minimum wage), and you're only just scratching the surface.
RE: Scientology texts as "over priced science fiction books"
Wrong, the CoS vehemently denies the sci-fi aspect of Scientology, for a number of reasons. We're not talking about a few expensive books, we're talking about an average of $US360,000 to reach OTVIII (excluding other services and training materials I believe), and also them charging thousands in back pay for auditing services should anyone choose to leave (one of many reasons why people have found it difficult to do so). I think it would be benificial for you to read more about the CoS, both sides of the argument, before you go out of your way to defend them.
As far as i'm aware, Hari Krishnas don't operate forced labour, the Salvation Army doesn't pressure women into abortions, the Mormons don't spend exorbitant amounts of money on trying to distroy the lives and reputations of anyone that speaks out against them, and the Catholic church doesn't actively seek to disconnect members from their families and friends. Add to that their abusive treatment of Sea Org members, their history of government infiltration, their grossly under paid staff (often way below minimum wage), and you're only just scratching the surface.
RE: Scientology texts as "over priced science fiction books"
Wrong, the CoS vehemently denies the sci-fi aspect of Scientology, for a number of reasons. We're not talking about a few expensive books, we're talking about an average of $US360,000 to reach OTVIII (excluding other services and training materials I believe), and also them charging thousands in back pay for auditing services should anyone choose to leave (one of many reasons why people have found it difficult to do so). I think it would be benificial for you to read more about the CoS, both sides of the argument, before you go out of your way to defend them.
Re: murderous organisation
Scientology related deaths have generally occured from withholding proper psychiatric and medical care, due to their extreme anti-psychiatry stance. There are a number of notable examples at http://www.whyaretheydead.net/, though i've only briefly looked at this particular site so I can't comment on your concerns of hyperbole.
Scientology related deaths have generally occured from withholding proper psychiatric and medical care, due to their extreme anti-psychiatry stance. There are a number of notable examples at http://www.whyaretheydead.net/, though i've only briefly looked at this particular site so I can't comment on your concerns of hyperbole.
"Scientology is a money-making scam that doesn’t tell its own believers until they’ve paid hundreds of thousands of dollars that the point of all their classes and lie-detector machines is to remove space-alien souls from the human body."
Tony Ortega, Village Voice.
And he doesn't even begin there to get into the brainwashing and hypnosis. One technique they use is the gypsy trick. What they do is make hypnotic suggestions that you have lived a past life. They don't even tell u they are going to hypnotize you. And they keep at you. When you start to believe it, they put the wammy on you for all your bucks, because you think they have all the secrets of life. This is not a religion.
Tony Ortega, Village Voice.
And he doesn't even begin there to get into the brainwashing and hypnosis. One technique they use is the gypsy trick. What they do is make hypnotic suggestions that you have lived a past life. They don't even tell u they are going to hypnotize you. And they keep at you. When you start to believe it, they put the wammy on you for all your bucks, because you think they have all the secrets of life. This is not a religion.
For more information:
http://xenu.net
Whether or not Scientology is based on nonsense or perpetrates the same sort of abuses as other more mainstream religions is completely irrelevant. The argument that, "other organizations do the same thing" is fallacious. The take-away from that sort of argument is that, yes, these other organizations should also have their practices and abuses brought to light. Period. If you think other organizations are being abusive -- feel free to protest them if it bothers you. This has nothing to do with comparative theology, or religion.
"All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."
-- Edmund Burke
-- Edmund Burke
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