5 Reasons It's Always Impossible To Take On Scientology

[MrScorpio]

By David Christopher Bell April 01, 2015

Thanks to HBO's continual insistence on killing it in any given genre, the documentary Going Clear shocked the world last weekend with the revelation that an alien-worshiping religious group founded by a tax-evading sci-fi writer wasn't so great after all. Yes, Scientology sure is America's scary uncle, right down to the fact that it refuses to leave no matter how many court orders get sent.

So how is it that a group almost universally accepted as a grifting cult could still be able to operate legally? The reasons are more diabolically genius than you think, even if you watched the documentary -- because while the Church of Scientology is just regular ol' crazy when it comes to most things, it is crazy like a fox when it comes to legal matters.

#5. They Achieved Tax-Exempt Status by Bombarding the IRS

The one unifying merit to Scientology is that they're the only organization insufferable and wealthy enough to screw the IRS at their own game. The bombardment began in 1973 with the Church's Guardian Office conducting something they called operation "Snow White," a deliberate plan to infiltrate and blackmail the media, medical communities, and government agencies determined to be detrimental to Scientology's bat-shit existence. Like anything a cult does, it didn't take long for this to mushroom into a vast plume of insanity, with the Church going as far as infiltrating and bugging IRS offices. The FBI responded with a generous raid, sending 11 Scientologists straight to prison ... something the Church believes to be a "dark" but "justified" chapter in their history.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-reasons-why-scientology-keeps-winning/

I usually don't link Cracked articles, but this one was jaw-dropping.

[katmondoo]

1. They have tons of money. I wonder

if they secretly give to Republican candidates. The IRS could go after them if they do.

[MrScorpio]

2. Somehow, I doubt it if they'll ever cross swords with the IRS again.

[sendero]

3. The world is full of traps..

.... that you can fall into if you are not vigilant. When I was young (70s) a close friend became interested in Scientology and went to a meeting. He took a 'test' or two which determined he was not 'clear' and needed work.

When he found that it cost big bucks to play their game any further, he demurred. At this point his Scientology friend suggested that he pawn his possessions to get the money. It was then that he realized it was all a scam and ran away.

I realize that these folks prey on folks who are down on their luck, going through a crisis, etc - but when something is as blatantly ridiculous as this and folks join anyway, well, it's a "free" country.

[Initech]

4. Going Clear was an excellent documentary. Fuck Scientology.

[Skidmore]

5. I just watched that documentary this afternoon.

Gave the the heeby-jeebies. There is truly evil in many forms in this world. And, if I could barely tolerate Tom Cruise before, I feel contempt for him now for sure.