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!

I think many religions started off with forcing people to covert through fear and if they didn’t or stepped away from the religion they were ostracised or killed this still is happening

I wonder how much Prescilla Presley will say or be allowed to say on her life in the inner circle

If you can't walk away from any religious, organisation with fear of reprisals, it's a cult.
Because there is no freedom of will.
Would tom really care anymore about being outed as gay?

I agree that it’s very very sinister. OTOH there are no countries where it is a criminal offence punishable by death to stop being a Scientologist, so they can take the moral high ground over that.

I was a fully active member of the Mormon church for 13 years. I have not been for the last 3. Some of my closest friends are members of the church that has not changed since I stopped attending. I have never been pressured to return and I still attend social events and am always warmly welcomed. I was the only member ( outside my dh and kids ) and while in the church my relationship with my family improved and I became closer to them. I found it to be a very community based church with strong supports for its members.

The Scientology church have opened their European HQ across the road from where I live. Their official opening was last week. A good number of protesters gathered at the opening. I have read a lot about scientology. Personally I do not find the 2 churches comparable.

I've read about a dozen books on Scientolgy. The way children are treated in particular is deeply disturbing. Leah Rmini's book is very interesting as she does explain what she found positive about Scientology before it all started to unravel, although she was a second gen scientologist rather than a celebrity recruit.
They have just set up another base in the uk in Birmingham.

Mysweet Sorry if I offended you. I lived in Utah for a short time and "investigated" (as they call it) joining. I encountered cult like tactics and was dropped by most of my Mormon friends when I didn't join in the end.

A few of my friends were also treated very badly when they questioned the church and their families about the issues of women becoming bishops.

I think there are many similarities between both churches.

I think if JT and TC wanted to leave and “fess up!” now would be the time. I think they’d be accepted with open arms and real anger towards those that blackmailed them and the powers that be would be bending over backwards to show how inclusive they are. The Harvey Weinstein abuse case is shining a light into Hollywood and I think they’d love the focus to be taken off that. I think they stay in it because of personal, life long relationships and friendships with other members not because they truly believe. It would unleash a shit storm into their lives that someone like a elderly JT who lost a child probably just doesn’t want to deal with.

Has PP left Scientology recently, then?

en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/cult

I don't know if a religion that doesn't qualify as a cult. But I wasn't saying all cults are equally as dangerous as each other. Just that they all apply mind control and request financial contribution in some way.

I agree mysweetaudrina - I have experience of being a lapsed member of a church and when I do rarely show up, I'm just greeted warmly.

The scientologists have built a massive headquarters in an area of Dublin that is residential suburb, a sprawl of affordable houses. An area that would be particularly vulnerable to this. It's worrying. Catholicism leaves, enter stage right Scientology

I think the truth about TC is probably just that he had one or two homesexual experiences in his lifetime which he has revealed to the Scientologists. I always thought when KH and TC divorced that more would come out in time but it hasn't really. He has a legal stronghold over KH and the Scientologists have a stronghold over him

Nobody Catholic has had anybody other then their Mum and Dad give them the nudge to show up more often.

That's true now. But it's not true of the last 1000 years. Heresy was a big thing. Apostasy still is with other religions. Other cults/religions have just evolved, to some degree. Scientology is brand new in comparison. And as for money, the Roman Catholic Church is a multi-billion dollar organisation. That's what Scientology aspires to. L. Ron Hubbard was at least honest in his intentions: "You don't get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, start a religion".

Leah's show is brilliant. There was an hbo documentary that was also great. The OT levels are so bizarre. I have a lot of respect for Mike Rinder for continuing to speak out, you can tell how hard it is for him to face the people who have been hurt by Scientology.

It's really not comparable to most other religions.

Scientology is mild compared to other cults/religions. So a few people in Hollywood get treated like shit? That's just the modern equivalent of this:

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_burned_as_heretics

It's amazing how people separate them and forget the history of other religions, and that's not even getting into the modern day problems with apostasy that exist around the world.

Like I said the only difference is a couple of thousand years of history.

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

Ditto, me too. I can thoroughly recommend this book "Going Clear"... no sensationalism, just factual about how it is.

Here

Yeah Jigsisaw I live across from it. Although I'm not sure about the affordable housing bit. 2000e monthly rent or 450,000e to buy.

BriechonCheese no offence taken. I have heard similar it just has not been my personal experience.

Ds and his gf decided to take the test for a laugh. The report was horrible, designed to make you feel bad about yourself and we can "fix" you.
Thankfully ds and gf didnt take it seriously

Not needing a tinfoil hat or anything, but Ive tried to read this thread 5 times and my iPad crashed every time. Coincidence? I think not!😉
Me and a friend took the "survey" many years ago, we were bombarded with letters and phone calls, until our parents pointed out we were under 18 and penniless.We even had a visit, dad gave them very short shrift.

makeourfuture I think the e-meters are a load of rubbish, which merely pick up on stress indicators. The rest is down to carefully trained questions and manipulation.

In the 90's in Birmingham, the CoS used to approach people in Birmingham New Street. I went in and had a reading taken, was convinced I was lacking direction and could benefit from joining a course. I was stressed as was unemployed, had been doing agency interviews and was broke. I walked out spending over £30 I couldn't afford on starter books because I felt so deflated and they seemed to offer hope. I came to my senses shortly after.

I watched Leah's 1st season and could see how easy it would be to be so sucked in as an adult. If you were brought up as a child, you wouldn't know any difference.

Just popped up on news. Priscilla Presley has left Scientology.

Sorry mysweetaudrina, i thought it was in tallaght/clondalkin. When i was looking to buy that seemed like the most affordable area.

Its okay though as if you Google "BBC Birmingham news scientology", they have just open Pitsmaston House in Moseley, Birmingham in last few hours. There was a heavy police presence of four officers due to no crowds 😂😂

@BriechonCheese there are millions of Mormons, all over the world. Whilst I'm sure your experience was uncomfortable and unfortunate, I wouldn't say all Mormons behave the same way. Especially if you are talking about Utah Mormons - a culture unique unto itself.

There are some fascinating documentaries. They probably know too much about the celebs for them to leave but they are also treated like royalty
TC is an idiot. Watch his interviews. They have a name for non-believers I can't remember what it is but it's two words so they use letters so AC or whatever it is. He laughs a lot about the ACs in his interview in a very scathing way. Of course most folk who get involved in the cult are not treated like him. They massage his ego
I don't think most religions are cults. They are happy for members to come and go and mix with non-members
JW are close imo. I have worked with some. They marry within the religion and will not socialise outside of the group

Eh, most religions can be made to fit the definition of a cult-who really cares? (About Scientology, not child abuse, obvious everyone in the right mind is deeply concerned about child abuse).