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Original poster

Anyone know anything about Scientology?

59 replies

JuniperDewdrop · 19/09/2004 10:04

I'm not thinking of changing religion or anything it's just since seeing Tom Cruise on Parky and how strongly he defended it has made me curious. I thought Parky was very rude to him to be honest, would he get away with saying such things about any other religion?

OP posts:
MarmaladeSun · 19/09/2004 21:35

Juniper, I had her at home, and the children were indeed in the house, although at the crucial moment they decided to wait outside the door. They did however come in seconds after the birth, and were there to hear her take her very first cry . I had a lot of criticism, mind you, about allowing them to be there, but they are incredibly close to her.

Turquoise · 19/09/2004 21:38

I know next to nothing about it, but I heard a dirtect quote from Ron Hubbard the other day advocating corporal punishment of women, which long with the birth stuff, sounds rather disturbing.

Papillon · 19/09/2004 21:39

Their Bern office is just down the road from us.
Good that they search life but not on such a religious sense as I am not convinced of its worth in any shape or form.

have not seen the programme, might still be yet to come in CH

Papillon · 19/09/2004 21:40

I had a home birth too

stupidgirl · 19/09/2004 21:41

FWIW, all I know is that the HQ (or whatever they call it) of the Scientologist church is based in a town just up the road. They have a shop on the highstreet which used to have people stationed outside to accost passersby, and basically the only way to get away once they'd lured you in was to pay for something. I know several people who said the same thing about it.

IMHO it's a cult and it's dangerous, but that's just me...

Papillon · 19/09/2004 21:41

i thougth Nicole would have been into corporal punishment - perhaps Tom was not tough enuf

stupidgirl · 19/09/2004 21:43

By dangerous, I mean they seem to have a way of sucking you in by offering 'things' which seem entirely innocent, but have an agenda.

pupuce · 19/09/2004 21:46

Yes birth should be silent which DOES create problems for midwives sometimes!

Also in France scientology is officially a sect.

ChicPea · 19/09/2004 22:51

Speaking of religions where a direct debit/serious donations are obligitory, I have a friend whose brother is heavily into the Kaballah. He is an estate agent in a nice but not affluent area, so not earning a fortune and in his first year he donated £25,000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who TF has £25k to donate to a religion when his annual salary is probably gross £30k?????
He is very extremely happy though and when I met him (once) I was FACINATED by his enthusiasm and his energy. And his hope. He was positively gushing as he genuinely believes in the kaballah and its preaching. I am not a follower of any religion but I must admit I thought about what he said for about 3 days. My DH whispered when the bother went to the loo "..He sounds a bit of a nutter.." !! In fact, thinking back to what I briefly remember he said, they are read sermons which examine/question the relationship between the husband and wife and how they take each other for granted, etc. So I saw it as taking time out to think about your life and attitude and what you are lucky enough to have and how to keep it, if not improve upon it. Food for thought.
Sorry to hijack your thread JuniperDewdrop. I have always wondered what is so special about Scientology and yes as one MNer pointed out, you can't walk past their shop near to Goodge St tube without getting accosted.

Original poster
JuniperDewdrop · 20/09/2004 06:57

Morning,
I wouldn't fancy being accosted in the street like that. I bet some lonely people get 'sucked in' that way. I know a lot of organised religions are in your face but this sounds quite extreme.

Marmaladesun your birth story sounds so beautiful. I'd have loved DS1 to have been there for DS2s birth but he wasn't 3 yet, even though he's very grown up. I had to have DS2 in hospital as I'd had problems pre birth with numbness etc..so it wouldn't have been a very nice atmostphere for him with the drips and everything. It's a shame you were criticised

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Original poster
JuniperDewdrop · 20/09/2004 06:58

Chicpea, glad to hear your friend's brother is happy. I'm amazed too that he can afford so much, it's rather more than the 10% tithe that a lot of religions suggest.

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MarmaladeSun · 20/09/2004 10:35

I'm afraid I am rather ignorant as to the facts about any religions really, apart from the one I was raised in. I just think that religion should never be 'in your face' or rammed down your throat as a lot of these seem to be. I have never been approached by scientologists, but I DO hate being stopped in the street or having my day disturbed by people attempting to add me and mine to their ranks. I even had some Jehova's Witnesses knock on my door on Christmas morning one year and were extremely pushy when I wouldn't spare the time. I'm afraid I had to get quite abrupt in the end. Each to their own really, but don't try and force other people into the same beliefs, that's what I say.

aloha · 20/09/2004 11:14

Oh, but scientology is a load of cr*p. I mean, the bloke who founded it is called L Ron Hubbard and writes science fiction!! It's a cult. I didn't see the interview but good for Parky.

suzywong · 20/09/2004 12:48

that's what I said and I got bed

Heathcliffscathy · 20/09/2004 12:50

am v mistrustful of organised religion altogether...but a religion which charges??? that isn't a religion is it? it's a networking business opportunity no?

Original poster
JuniperDewdrop · 20/09/2004 12:52

I looked on the web site and they try every which way to get your email addy

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MarmaladeSun · 20/09/2004 13:00

LOL Suzy

edam · 20/09/2004 13:31

It's a cult, not a religion.

aloha · 20/09/2004 13:41

Suzy, at least I agree with you, eh?

Original poster
JuniperDewdrop · 20/09/2004 13:42

seems like the whole cruise family is involved now. His mum is a catholic but says Jesus will understand?

OP posts:
suzywong · 20/09/2004 13:43

S'pose so

Original poster
JuniperDewdrop · 20/09/2004 13:46

Awwww You were very helpful. sorry you got berated hun xx I'm sure rosie didn't mean to be so hurtful (I hope)

OP posts:
rosies · 20/09/2004 15:21

suzy, of course i wasnt being mean... anymore than you were or aloha and edam, for that matter!

for the record, i dont adhere to scientology but i also dont think it can be called a cult or crap. some people do follow its teachings and its not for anyone else to question it... be a bit like me saying the whole christian thing is a made up fairy tale... science fiction if you will... myth at the very least. but it would be highly offensive to say that as i know many reading this could well be adherants... as there could be scns, JWs, LDS.

yes, i do happen to think that its wrong to charge people for a philosophy to help them feel better about themselves, but councillors, psychs, NLP, EFT, Landmark etc etc all do it.

anyway, nuff said. the topic has been a hot bed... not just here, i might add. as i say, there are many VERY critical sites but still people go along with it .

Tinker · 20/09/2004 15:25

"some people do follow its teachings and its not for anyone else to question it..."

Why on earth not?

Bunglie · 20/09/2004 16:07

I have not read all the posts, but I HATE relion debates as I think it is personal, however whoever posted that Scientologists don't like GP's etc I think has it mixed up with Christian Scientists, which I was brought up as not a scientologist which I always thought was the 'new' name for the 'Moonies' and definitely in my book a cult.

However I think whatever path you choose is personal and should be respected unless it involves abuse of any person or causes emotional or physical harm. I do not know enough about Scientology to judge, but please don't mix it up with Christian Scientists, they are very different. (Don't worry before you all tell me....I am not a Christian Scientist now, I was brought up by parents who were!)