Scientology

[dimondjedi9]

There has been a lot about Scientology in the news and on the television, I saw a documentary where Leah Remini opens up about the church.
Aibu to see this so called religion as a cult and quite a dangerous one at that.
The latest celebrity to quit Scientology is Pricilla Presley, who calls it an evil cult.
It’s shocking the things that the church of Scientology are accused of, their bullying tactics when a member decides to leave, it’s quite upsetting.
When John Sweeney from the bbc investigated them they followed him, trying to intimidate him, it’s shocking how a man that is usually so calm and professional totally looses it.
It amazes me how people get brainwashed and convinced to hand over ridiculous sums of money, surely with all these celebrities leaving it would prompt the authorities to investigate them, even allegations of child abuse have been made and families have been split up, there doesn’t seem that much difference between Scientology and the branch Davidians and look what happened in Waco!

[BitOfFun]

I agree with Deborah Frances-White's definition of a cult as being a community you cannot leave with dignity. It's horrible.

[NotBadConsidering]

All religions are cults. Scientology is no different, just only has 50 years or so behind it rather than 2000.

[KarateKitten]

All religions are cults. Some use control tactics more than others but they all alter and control your thinking and take your money.

[user1497357411]

I am against Scientology for being anti-science and for taking advantage fo mentally ill people. Scientology claim that vitamins (their vitamins which they sell at high prices) and their courses can cure mental illnesses. So Scientology lure mentally ill people in to their courses and to pay a s...-load of money for ordinary vitamins and the members of Scientology pretend to be their friends. When the mentally ill people have no more money, they are no longer wellcome and if they try to ring/contact any of their "good buddies" in Sceintology they get threatened with blacklisting and/or the police.

[ivykaty44]

Any organisation that uses tactics to control your life by manipulation is a cult

[makeourfuture]

I do find that e-meter fascinating.

[ILoveMillhousesDad]

I have read alot of stuff about this as it just beggars belief. Lots of stuff by Paul Haggis who done a massive expose.

They pray on vulnerable people and the whole Tom Cruise situation is fucking bizarre.

The way they send people to work on ships the Sea Org as punishment or something. It's just so weird.

[ILoveMillhousesDad]

*prey

[ShakeShakeTheMuffin]

I suspect their lawyers will close down this thread!
In all seriousness I agree that Scientology is both fascinating and evil. I've read several books on it and watched the John Sweeney documentary and the Louis Theroux film too.
I so wish Tom Cruise would leave as that would be such a massive blow to them. I wonder if he's still genuinely committed or if he wants to leave and feels unable to.

[ILoveMillhousesDad]

I think they have total blackmail material on cruise and travolta.

Imho, I think they have admitted they are gay on the tapes they record and have threatened to be exposed if they leave the cult.

Now that is just my opinion of course.

[ShakeShakeTheMuffin]

I agree with you MillhousesDad but I could understand if it was the 1970"s and they were afraid of having their sexuality revealed. But it's nearly 2020 and most of the world couldn't give a hoot about people's preferences.

[ShakeShakeTheMuffin]

I guess you've seen that South Park episode?

[ShakeShakeTheMuffin]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapped_in_the_Closet_(South_Park)

[ILoveMillhousesDad]

Agree shake

[NameChanger22]

Any organisation that uses tactics to control your life by manipulation is a cult

This is all religions. I was specifically told by a member of the Church of England that if I started going to their church my child would get into the best primary school. I declined.

[Jigsisaw]

That's a good definition.

I think that it's dangerous to lump Scientology in with say Catholicism and to say fashionable things like ''all religions are cults''.

Nobody Catholic has had anybody other then their Mum and Dad give them the nudge to show up more often. Their mum and dad don't cut them off, or threaten to cut them off, or launch a huge smear campaign against them. Catholicism has a LOT to answer for I know but I think it takes away the wariness that people need to have, if they get involved with Scientology, to say in a blanket statement ''All religions are the same''. Catholic confession is private as well come to think of it. The priest might know who you are but he doesn't use it against you. I'm not even Catholic btw, but knowing a lot of lapsed Catholics who are all still able to show up occasionally for christenings and weddings and funerals, it is not the same.

[dimondjedi9]

What I found awful is the whole being an ‘apostate’ thing if they leave and family that are in the cult are not allowed to acknowledge them.
The powers that be tried to destroy poor Leah Remini, the tactics they use are both underhand and and OTT.
Mike Rinder who was David Miscavige right hand man tells all, I agree the whole ‘sea org’ thing is very bizarre, I can’t believe that people actually pay to be interrogated during those auditing sessions.
Am I right in thinking that they have a big compound in this country?
Haha yep I can imagine a member of Scientology seeing this post and reporting back to get it removed, they don’t take kindly to any type of criticism do they.
You are right, can you imagine if Tom Cruise or John Travolta left, both Tom Cruise ex wives have left, I bet they have both paid eye watering amounts to this cult. What I worry about are the children who are part of it, the adults can fend for themselves but children are very vulnerable and impressionable.

[LoniceraJaponica]

"All religions are cults...they all alter and control your thinking and take your money."

That hasn't been my experience of the C of E churches I have attended in the past. I admit that I am open minded and on the fence regarding belief in God, but I agree with your statement about most religions.

Cults don't have to be religious either.

[Jigsisaw]

That is different namechanger, because the exclusion is optional. You include or exclude yourself. The only ''punishment'' for excluding yourself from the Church of England church in this case is that your child doesn't go to a Church of England school.

There are other schools so that is hardly comparable to the Scientologists manipulating and controlling their own members.

[Jigsisaw]

DiamondJedi I got sucked down a hold watching documentaries on youtube as well!

KH went as far as she could issuing a statement of apology to Leah. She is probably tied up in knots legally and probably had to have a team of lawyers look at that one short sentence of apology!

[Littlebelina]

Also jigs if you turn up at a Catholic (or CofE) church and ask them to explain their religion to you they would be happy to do so and will even provide you with the religious texts. Scientology will charge you for that "privilege" and continue to charge you more to move up the levels to find out their great "secrets".

Not saying organised religion doesn't have it issues (there are many) or that individual sects or individuals don't some act in cultist ways but Scientology is a step above the mainstream religions.

Also folks have seen Justin Welby's wife in the last decade.

[BriechonCheese]

I am fascinated by both Scientology and Mormonism. The way both treat "apostates" is vile.
I can't stop myself from reading about both.

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

But it's nearly 2020 and most of the world couldn't give a hoot about people's preferences. most of the world doesn’t but Hollywood does.

[GoingIn]

I really don't think scientology is comparable to c of e or Lutheran church or other mainstream Christian churches. I grew up in a religious household but don't share my parents faith anymore. There has been no pressure from anyone to cut contact with me. Also, you don't have to pay to 'move up' in your faith. Church members are not spying and reporting on others to the head of the organisation.

[TidyDancer]

Scientology is not comparable to your average religion. It is IMO a cult and a dangerous one at that. I would suggest having a read of the Wikipedia article titled ‘Scientology controversies’ as a starting point.