General Discussion

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)

49. between the black mail (L Ron used to play the tapes for his own amusement)

Mon Aug 5, 2013, 09:00 AM

Aug 2013

which happens very early, and the isolation via poverty and loss of any social connections they do a number on people. They offer them "work" which is below min wage and goes for 7 days a week 10 hours a day and housing so they get every penny back and you are surrounded by them 24/7. They have thousands of lawyers who squash lawsuits, and enforcers who intimidate those who want to leave. One woman who spoke out came home to find her dog brutally murdered after suffering years of harassment for trying to leave.
Starting in the late 70's, they made a huge effort to popularize themselves by gaining celebrities (who -in contrast- they treat like royalty) by going after the Hollywood community. Actors are encouraged to aim high and latch on to biggest celebrities they can convert. Travolta and Cruise came in via their partners. Elvis's daughter latched on to Michael Jackson in an attempt to bring him into Scientology.

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Leah REMINI (King of Queens): "More to follow me out of Scientology" [View all] UTUSN Aug 2013 OP

Leah Remini did not choose Jenoch Aug 2013 #1

Ah, thanks!1 In previous news she has been saying her family is being supportive. UTUSN Aug 2013 #2

Wow! what a legacy. that would have to be Mimi Rogers, Cha Aug 2013 #37

yeah, I wondered about that when I read it.. I was Cha Aug 2013 #35

Wait, what? "choosing Scientology in the first place is nutso judgment"? Really? cleanhippie Aug 2013 #3

Pretty much. But mental submission seems starker in the "newer" ones. I like Zeus, et al. n/t UTUSN Aug 2013 #4

Perhaps only because it is not so ingrained in our culture. cleanhippie Aug 2013 #5

forget their doctrine & prophet for a sec -- elehhhhna Aug 2013 #6

On that we are in full agreement. cleanhippie Aug 2013 #7

Lots of mainstream Christians don't believe all the supernatural stuff. kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #9

Doesn't one need to believe that Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected days later? cleanhippie Aug 2013 #14

Lots of Christians read the bible as metaphor and not literal verbatim truth. kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #18

I think the point is that not all believers follow this completely literal, almost child-like nomorenomore08 Aug 2013 #22

While I understand your point, it seems to be mere rationalization to me. cleanhippie Aug 2013 #23

I agree that religion and public policy should be strictly separated. Also that all religious belief nomorenomore08 Aug 2013 #36

Russell's teapot Major Nikon Aug 2013 #41

I've heard of that proposition before, and I agree. The unprovability is partly why I have no real nomorenomore08 Aug 2013 #60

I could care less what someone believes so long as they aren't impacting me Major Nikon Aug 2013 #61

Agreed. Religious institutions, in my mind, are certainly a net negative. nomorenomore08 Aug 2013 #63

I believe the same thing you do Major Nikon Aug 2013 #64

Lots of Americans are incredibly gullible and superstitious. iemitsu Aug 2013 #33

Scientology has a lot of pure evil associated with it. Initech Aug 2013 #10

The same kind of examples can be found for any other religion. cleanhippie Aug 2013 #15

I don't think mainstream Christian denominations run slave labor camps. kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #19

I don't think any other religions run slave labor camps. Initech Aug 2013 #20

Scientology is right up there with the Rajeeshnees, the Moonies, kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #21

Moonies are Christians Major Nikon Aug 2013 #42

Some might beg to differ on that point, lol. They say Rev. Moon is God (or was, IIRC he died). kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #57

Yes, Jesus in particular Major Nikon Aug 2013 #58

You can reduce reduce this to the absurd if it makes you feel better. cleanhippie Aug 2013 #25

Your point seems to be that you take everyone else's spiritual beliefs as a kestrel91316 Aug 2013 #27

It seems that the point really did fly over your head. cleanhippie Aug 2013 #32

They demonize the LGBT community by spewing pure unadulterated bigotry straight from the pulpit. Major Nikon Aug 2013 #44

The Catholic Church did in Ireland into the nineties. LeftyMom Aug 2013 #67

I thought we were talking about Christians here XemaSab Aug 2013 #68

I know you're joking, but some idiot won't and they're probably typing up a howler. LeftyMom Aug 2013 #69

Want a Cuba Libre? XemaSab Aug 2013 #71

Rum! Romanism! Ruin is sure to follow. LeftyMom Aug 2013 #72

AKA "Monday" in your house XemaSab Aug 2013 #73

It really is. Dr. Strange Aug 2013 #12

And that makes it more nutso? cleanhippie Aug 2013 #16

the volcano stuff, the blackmailing, and believing you yourself have superpowers..... bettyellen Aug 2013 #17

To be fair, the abrahamic religions all did those things too. cleanhippie Aug 2013 #26

Eh. Scientology reads like a cynical farce of the WORST of religion though DirkGently Aug 2013 #30

Excellent post with thoughtful and informative comments. iemitsu Aug 2013 #38

It does for me, in the following sense: Dr. Strange Aug 2013 #31

The roman Catholic Church did not allow the Bible to be produced iemitsu Aug 2013 #39

Meh, people have been able to read and study different scholars interpretations bettyellen Aug 2013 #48

Yes but that debate is between believers, iemitsu Aug 2013 #50

non-believers have added to the debate too. and many of the believers do not believe or bettyellen Aug 2013 #54

Scientologists push their literature all the time oberliner Aug 2013 #43

They hide the really weird stuff, till you have spent bettyellen Aug 2013 #46

Interesting oberliner Aug 2013 #47

between the black mail (L Ron used to play the tapes for his own amusement) bettyellen Aug 2013 #49

You know a lot about this topic. oberliner Aug 2013 #51

Because I have a friend who lost a best friend to it, and he tried really hard to help him out of it bettyellen Aug 2013 #52

Pssst... CanSocDem Aug 2013 #65

Xenu is displeased. Dr. Strange Aug 2013 #66

. XemaSab Aug 2013 #70

Your argument in this thread is clear and sound. iemitsu Aug 2013 #40

Thanks. Scurrilous Aug 2013 #8

I've always liked Leah Remini. mzmolly Aug 2013 #11

I've known about Scientology's existence for only about a decade, TxDemChem Aug 2013 #13

Xenu is not amused. Warren DeMontague Aug 2013 #24

Watch the Southpark episode about Scientology, it is a classic! n-t Logical Aug 2013 #28

She's an idiot. Codeine Aug 2013 #29

She was indoctrinated by her parents, she didn't choose it. Avalux Aug 2013 #59

That is the weirdest shit.. it's hard to wrap my head Cha Aug 2013 #34

I heard she votes republican B Calm Aug 2013 #45

I just finished reading this book tabbycat31 Aug 2013 #53

Sounds good!1 Here's an article about weirdness involving the Jet Propulsion Lab & Aleister CROWLEY UTUSN Aug 2013 #55

I've seen Scientology as a mafia in the arts . olddots Aug 2013 #56

And how, exactly, did she get in? brooklynite Aug 2013 #62