Paige Wrote:I stared reading up on it after i finished Crisscross and the more i read the more scared i become. It's hard to believe that people can still believe into this stuff in todays day and age. What is the world would cause them to even consider joining? It's truly at a loss. These people seem dangerous to me and i'm surprised our government has let this go on (not a big fan of Bush, but maybe he put that Christian talk of his to use for once.)To each his own. I figure that I am too busy worrying about me and my family to waste time worrying about other's decisions. I don't even know what I believe ("I'm so confused" - Vinny Bobarino), let alone bother with what others believe.
I recomend this as a start http://lermanet.com/ for more info.
Paige Wrote:please don't get me wrong, this has nothing to do me thinking that their religion is bogus. Though there's that, but that's not the reason for the post. The fact is, they're defrauding people out of their money. And that's kind of the big no-no.
Scott Miller Wrote:I agree that it is immoral, but cults couldn't possibly exist in a society where intellectualism thrives. People's gullibility speaks volumes about how out of whack our society is. Thinking is becoming passe and that is scary.Intellectualism has been deemed elitist by some. Its really sad when it becomes a negative to strive to be intelligent and informed.
Scott Miller Wrote:I agree that it is immoral, but cults couldn't possibly exist in a society where intellectualism thrives. People's gullibility speaks volumes about how out of whack our society is. Thinking is becoming passe and that is scary.my sentiments exactly!
Paige Wrote:please don't get me wrong, this has nothing to do me thinking that their religion is bogus. Though there's that, but that's not the reason for the post. The fact is, they're defrauding people out of their money. And that's kind of the big no-no.
Bluesman Mike Lindner Wrote:Paige, back in '72, I guess it was, I wandered into the Scientologists' headquarters on West 72nd Street. John Keel had clued me into their scam, but I wanted to check it out for myself. I walked in with my usual friendly smile, and was hustled--and that's the exact word--into a little booth where a very intense young woman asked me unanswerable questions. My friendly smile became broader, and I asked =her=, "You know this is horseshit, don't you? You know the e-meters are a joke, right?" She pressed a button, and a couple of brawny bruisers materialized, and hustled--again, the exact word--my ass right out of the joint. L. Ron Hubbard, to be fair, was up-front about his goal. He was a member of Robert Heinlein's Manana Society, and one night, after enough cheap red wine had been drunk, he asked, "Men, why are we breaking our backs for a penny a word? Religion!--=that's= where the handsome coin is!" Gotta give him credit--he carried out his program, bogus at it was. But I wonder what he answered when God asked, "Why?"
Susan Wrote:This post and Paige's link are FREAKING me out! I always thought they were a cult, but I had no idea that the stuff Paul wrote in Crisscross was so closely based on the truth.
I just don't get it. How can people exposed to so many thoughts and experiences like Tom Cruise and John Travolta be persuaded to join Scientology? Something very fishy going on there.
I wonder if Scientology had anything to do with the Tom/Nicole breakup. Hmm...I'm just full of conspiracy theories today! :p
Susan
Paige Wrote:I stared reading up on it after i finished Crisscross and the more i read the more scared i become. It's hard to believe that people can still believe into this stuff in todays day and age. What is the world would cause them to even consider joining? It's truly at a loss. These people seem dangerous to me and i'm surprised our government has let this go on (not a big fan of Bush, but maybe he put that Christian talk of his to use for once.)Here's a 3 part series that is pretty good. People's religion is their business, no matter how wacky. With these guys its the bullying and intimidation that bugs me.
I recomend this as a start http://lermanet.com/ for more info.