To actively dislike Scientology (even though I'm a lover not a fighter)

[snaplockslags]

I watched a Panorama Doc about it and it seems like the most cultish cult of all cults I ever seen, devastating family, society and children's lives.

The whole thing seems really corrupt.

I'm happy to be proved wrong, does anyone on here have any experience of it?

I watched a documentary about it last year - it all seems a bit whack.

It was a bit one sided though to be fair.

They interviewed people who had left who were slating it.

It's seems cultish more than like a "traditional" religion.

Mind you watched a thing about the Moonies a while back too - they are a bit too.

My friend went to a meeting. It was advertised as something spiritual (not 100% sure but I'm pretty sure it didn't mention Scientology). They listened to her talk about her life, asked some questions, saw her Achilles heel (parent had died) and then reduced her to tears telling her she was messed up because of it and needed help. And obviously they were there and were the only ones who could possibly help. "Oh, by the way, it's Scientology and it costs this much." Luckily she wasn't seduced by it all but talk about underhand tactics. I'm very skeptical.

watched a report of John travolta apparently he thinks he has some healing powers (scientologists dont call it healing) but anyway he apparently healed sting before a concert sigh It all seems a bit mad and really feeds the ego of celebs.

I missed a recent documentary about the moonies i was wanting to watch it

They are Kay's handing out those "Dianetics Questionaires" in my local town centre - My eyes are always fixed at the ground .

Always not Kay's

Scientology is a huge - massive - money making machine and very clever they are at it too. I had a two night stand boyfriend in my much younger years who was very into it. Fucking nutjob he was AND could barely get it up. Is there a connection? Who knows - but it keeps me happy to think there might be!

Also I used to know a guy whose carpet/curtain shop used to supply their East Grinstead HQ. He said it was incredibly lavish inside and they didn't give a shit what stuff cost - he got very rich off the back of that.

The Louis Theroux doc wasn't very complimentary either.

I do wonder if Tom Cruise is actually insane - or just totally brainwashed - was he raised within the religion?

I think his Mother is heavily involved so it's possible he was brainwashed from the start? I'm normally very defensive of anyone's right to a religious belief of their choice but this just does not sit well with me.

NO he Joined how long has scientology been around and didnt thingy hubbard write sci fi books ?

no i think he joined * was what i meant to say

But are all religions not just cults too?

Yes he did write sci-fi books.

The more money you give the higher "level" you reach

Oh and YANBU any "religion" devised by a man which insists on silent childbirth is outrageous IMO.

although im not religious I don't think all religions are cults because say a christian does not live their life by what the bible says exactly yet some DO and I think these evangelical groups can be culty, IYSWIM

L Ron Hubbard developed the 'religion' yes. I don't think he was all that in the head either.

you know when they think oh I will throw my money at this so i can get onto a higher plain alarm bells must start ringing , personally i think its their huge ego that feeds into all that shit,

What Scientologists actually believe

Didn't the founder say if you want to make money, start a religion....

Scientology was made up by a sci-fi writer in order to make money. But that's no different from any religion, really: no matter what sort of woo storyline you give your particular version, it's all about arranging things in a way that benefit one group of people (the ruling class and the priest class) at the expense of everyone else, and getting them to obey because otherwise your imaginary friend will eat their eyes or whatever. Scientology isn't much worse than the rest, it's just newer, so there's still a lot of evidence around for it being made-up bollocks.

See, I don't care if they believe in aliens and stuff. You can believe what you like! It's the stories about encouraging members to cut off their families, intimidating anyone who criticises it and that kind of thing that makes it seem more of a cult than a religion.

All religions are cults just some are more mainstreamthan others and some are more blatant rip off merchants.

As Mark Twain wrote the first religion was started when the first conman met the first fool.

More sinister is how top Scientologists like Tom Cruise, Will Smith and John Travolta use the minions of there cult to build and decorate their houses and hangers for their aircraft etc. using the devotees as slave labour.

As Mr Justice Latey clearly stated in his judegment against the cult in the UK courts it is both immoral and socially obnoxious. (...) In my judgement it is corrupt, sinister and dangerous. It is corrupt because it is based on lies and deceit and has as its real objective money and power.

I like the south park sketch, thanks for that, think it's mental how lost people can get so sucked into these types of things.

As a non believer, I respect everyone's right to their religion but scientology just seems completely bonkers to me.

I just can't take it seriously

Is Will Smith a "member" ?

Will Smith pays for scientology schools so that the children are indoctrinated in the scientologists education system which does not recognise any forms of psychology or psychiatry as being helpful to children with special needs.

More sinister is the fact that the scientology movement flooded the Cult Awareness Network website owners with countless frivolous law suits until the owners could no longer fight them and ended up selling the web domain to the scientologist so that now the Cult Awareness Network is actually run by the cult that the website was set up to inform and educate parents about so that they knew how to protect their children from the pernicious ways of the scientologists and other cults.