Would you marry a Scientologist?

[LiberalEsto]

147. I wonder where personal responsibility comes into this scenario?

Back in 1973, I visited a high school friend who had joined the Unification Church (Moonies). This was before I'd heard almost anything about them.

They pounced on me and tried their hardest to rope me into their bizarre cult. One of the many nonsensical things they told me was that you aren't responsible for any wrong you might have done -- that a bad angel hovers over one of your shoulders and makes you do bad things. A good angel supposedly hovers over the other shoulder, etc.

I started arguing about taking personal responsibility for wrongdoing, and not trying to evade responsibility with mythical scapegoats. I was able to get away from them, and a few weeks later, one of them called to tell me that my argument persuaded him to leave the Moonies. Unfortunately my friend, who was purposely kept away from me, stayed in the cult and I believe is a member to this day.