What do you think of scientology ?
Do you feel it may be a threat for democracy ? A mind manipulating organization ? A wedding agency for Tom Cruise ? A nice religious group ?

For those who live in St Petersburg, Florida : how is lfe next to these guys ?

A threat to democracy? I don't think so. Other than that it's like a lot of religions - it seems weird to those on the outside.

Originally posted by astrapol2
For those who live in St Petersburg, Florida : how is lfe next to these guys ?
I don't hear much from them. Their building in Clearwater is pretty cool, though.

Originally posted by BorgHunter
I don't hear much from them. Their building in Clearwater is pretty cool, though.

I quess if you want to see the building it's better to build it in clear water compared to muddy water :D

Originally posted by LionelHutz
A threat to democracy? I don't think so. Other than that it's like a lot of religions - it seems weird to those on the outside.

I am not refering to their belief - if they really buy their ET reincarnation stuff it's their problem - but to their methods : mind manipulation to get new adepts, and most of all use of criminal methods to intimidate those they consider as dangerous, including govt officials.
Is this issue not debated in the USA ?

I read that Scientology was based on a bet Hubbard made with his colleagues that he could create a religion from his Dianetics book.

Originally posted by astrapol2
I am not refering to their belief - if they really buy their ET reincarnation stuff it's their problem - but to their methods : mind manipulation to get new adepts, and most of all use of criminal methods to intimidate those they consider as dangerous, including govt officials.
Is this issue not debated in the USA ?

Not so much. I mean most people consider them to be very odd, but beyond that, not much debate. They haven't really been elevated to "cult" status in the minds of most Americans. I've heard a few stories of them being active in the governments of other countries, but I'm not that familiar with the issue. For whatever reason, it's not something they get involved in here.

Or they are powerful enough to scare the media against any serious enquiry.

I know this kind of sentence makes me look like some paranoid, conspiracy theory adept. Which I don't think I am (btw I don't feel "They" are behind every problem in the world).

But honestly, for having read many things about the Scientology methods and objectives, I'm quite scared to learn they are not seriously being investigated in their own country.



"Somebody some day will say ‘this is illegal.’ By then be sure the orgs [Scientology organizations] say what is legal or not."
- L. Ron Hubbard, Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter, 4 January 1966, "LRH Relationship to Orgs"

"If attacked on some vulnerable point by anyone or anything or any organization, always find or manufacture enough threat against them to cause them to sue for peace."
- L. Ron Hubbard, Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter, 15 August 1960, Dept. of Govt. Affairs

"When you move off a point of power, pay all your obligations on the nail, empower all your friends completely and move off with your pockets full of artillery, potential blackmail on every erstwhile rival, unlimited funds in your private account and the addresses of experienced assassins and go live in Bulgravia [sic] and bribe the police."
- L. Ron Hubbard, Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter, 12 February 1967, "The Responsibilities of Leaders"


"We're playing for blood, the stake is EARTH."
- L. Ron Hubbard, Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter, 7 November 1962

"THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN CONTROL PEOPLE IS TO LIE TO THEM. You can write that down in your book in great big letters. The only way you can control anybody is to lie to them."
- L. Ron Hubbard, "Off the Time Track," lecture of June 1952, excerpted in JOURNAL OF SCIENTOLOGY issue 18-G, reprinted in TECHNICAL VOLUMES OF DIANETICS & SCIENTOLOGY, vol. 1, p. 418

"I’d like to start a religion. That’s where the money is."
- L. Ron Hubbard to Lloyd Eshbach, in 1949; quoted by Eshbach in OVER MY SHOULDER: REFLECTIONS ON A SCIENCE FICTION ERA, Donald M. Grant Publisher. 1983


http://www.xenu.net/archive/infopack/5.htm

Scientology is not a theat to Democracy - some of the quotes you put out there sound like some of our current politicians. There's a threat~! But they have a great study technology that our public schools could definitely use.

Originally posted by astrapol2
Or they are powerful enough to scare the media against any serious enquiry.

I know this kind of sentence makes me look like some paranoid, conspiracy theory adept. Which I don't think I am (btw I don't feel "They" are behind every problem in the world).

But honestly, for having read many things about the Scientology methods and objectives, I'm quite scared to learn they are not seriously being investigated in their own country.



http://www.xenu.net/archive/infopack/5.htm

You're paranoid alright. Stop being a rumormonger - if you've never been there how can you know they're even worth being afraid of? I've been in Scientology and they're very focused on understanding others and listening and creating a safer place to live. Lots of people are Scientologists. They're not out to hurt anyone. The money they get for courses and auditing goes to the people that work there and for buildings and ships. They are non-profit!
The whole organization belongs to all of them just like a church that teaches the Word of God. You took everything out of context. R.H. was an archeologist and a physisist - he had money. He studied many different religions and he found a lot of people were suppressed. A Suppressive person wants to control others and to do that he lies to them and controls them with that lie. Religious organizations are the only ones who support the ir own employees without producing a 'tangible product' to sell except for their published books. They pay for the publishing too.

Originally posted by newdsagent3
[ You took everything out of context. R.H. was an archeologist and a physisist - he had money. He studied many different religions and he found a lot of people were suppressed. A Suppressive person wants to control others and to do that he lies to them and controls them with that lie. Religious organizations are the only ones who support the ir own employees without producing a 'tangible product' to sell except for their published books. They pay for the publishing too.

SO correct me if I'm wrong, he didn't like organised religion because it is suppressive? So he forms an organised religion? I don't know much about this, just curious as to how one is different from the other? :confused:

Originally posted by mad dog
SO correct me if I'm wrong, he didn't like organised religion because it is suppressive? So he forms an organised religion? I don't know much about this, just curious as to how one is different from the other? :confused:

Well, his organization leads one to know that we are more than flesh with a thinking mind. In that manner it is spiritual. God, to L.H.R., is the author of the universe. I'm sure he's found out by now what the Authors' name is.

it is just another "religion" that people jump on until they find something else more appealing. ever notice how some people jump from one belief to another. change faiths like some people change their socks. what ever is popular at the moment.
oo......i like the blue one today.