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demwing

(16,916 posts)

193. Oh I knew a guy, who knew a guy...

Thu Jul 5, 2012, 05:24 PM

Jul 2012

well I was that guy, and I know better.

I spent a few years studying with the Krishnas, lived in temples in Hawaii, Los Angeles, and Berkeley.

The Krishnas came up in the late 60's, in very alternative communities (San Francisco, Lower East side NY), and attracted people of all stripes. Some crazy fuckers joined temples, but they were crazy fuckers before they came, and when they were discovered, they were crazy fuckers that got kicked out, and their victims were compensated and protected.

The VAST majority of people who became Krishnas were peaceful, college educated, and searching for a philosophical alternative to capitalism. The founder preached a sort of spiritual socialism, and though mainstream religion would have wanted you to think they were cultists, the truth is that Vaisnavism (a sect of Hinduism that birthed the Hare Krishnas) is a legit religion thousands of years old, does not coerce or abuse anyone (unless you believe ALL religion is abuse - I'm not having that argument), and has many things to offer spiritually minded progressives.

Unfortunately, I didn't find everything I was looking for there, so I moved on. No one stopped me, no one threatened me. Stories of being sold for cows are nonsense, and if it ever did happen, it was because of crazy assholes who would have been crazy no matter where they ended up. If anything, being a Krishna mellowed those fuckers out. Their actions were certainly never a part of the religion. I know, because I lived it.

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Would you marry a Scientologist? [View all] banned from Kos Jul 2012 OP

god seabeyond Jul 2012 #1

Not a chance derby378 Jul 2012 #2

Not a chance. WillowTree Jul 2012 #3

Never marry any cult member! siligut Jul 2012 #4

Is Seventh Day Adventist a cult? banned from Kos Jul 2012 #5

Branch Davidians, yes. Mainstream Adventists, no. derby378 Jul 2012 #9

I've heard it called a cult, but I really don't know. demosincebirth Jul 2012 #10

Baptists and Pentacostalists and extreme fundies call SDAs a cult. kestrel91316 Jul 2012 #33

Christian fundamentalists can, very loosely, be called cults demosincebirth Jul 2012 #61

Indeed. kestrel91316 Jul 2012 #79

And some of us, raised Catholic, believe that too is a cult. A huge, entrenched LuckyLib Jul 2012 #206

Many Pentecostal churches can be considered cults Hugabear Jul 2012 #86

I'm an atheist married to a SDA. Nevernose Jul 2012 #118

thank you demwing Jul 2012 #157

It's an odd thing, really Nevernose Jul 2012 #212

Some who have studied them certainly think so Major Nikon Jul 2012 #149

What's the difference between a cult and a "world religion"? JackRiddler Jul 2012 #83

You've obviously never met a cult member Lydia Leftcoast Jul 2012 #97

Scientology does not meet all the criteria you mention. JackRiddler Jul 2012 #122

And in Japan, they'd be some variety of Buddhist Lydia Leftcoast Jul 2012 #139

Namyohorengekyo!!! cecilfirefox Jul 2012 #182

That's a Japanese Buddhist chant Art_from_Ark Jul 2012 #205

A friend and I had a run-in with Scientologists 30 years ago arikara Jul 2012 #210

whew blueamy66 Jul 2012 #165

Maybe it's you who hasn't met an early Christian idol-smasher? JackRiddler Jul 2012 #227

The amount of time, energy and brain matter they require a member to give. siligut Jul 2012 #100

I would say my personal idea of a cult is a group that makes is extremely difficult to leave NYC Liberal Jul 2012 #101

Whether they have any political power Prophet 451 Jul 2012 #114

Well, maybe...is she a rich actress that jumps on sofas? HereSince1628 Jul 2012 #6

It depends. demosincebirth Jul 2012 #7

Not a chance. PDJane Jul 2012 #8

But if it were "Muslim" instead would the Political Correctness Doctrine banned from Kos Jul 2012 #11

Depends. If it were an islamist, nothing would bring the pc into play. PDJane Jul 2012 #15

I am an atheist but I rank religious beliefs in terms of how offensive they are. banned from Kos Jul 2012 #25

No--no one has ever advocated marrying Taliban hardliners. Arkana Jul 2012 #19

Kinda curious fujiyama Jul 2012 #23

+100 demwing Jul 2012 #59

Only, "hardly" if you you're not part of the Krishnas... Moonwalk Jul 2012 #108

Oh I knew a guy, who knew a guy... demwing Jul 2012 #193

I didn't say I knew a guy who knew a guy... Moonwalk Jul 2012 #196

Yeah I think the "being sold into marriage" thing was nonsense demwing Jul 2012 #198

I did a bit more reading and fujiyama Jul 2012 #207

Wow demwing Jul 2012 #58

No n/t GarroHorus Jul 2012 #12

Hell, no. The Velveteen Ocelot Jul 2012 #13

Maybe not a good idea dipsydoodle Jul 2012 #14

This is exactly why Katie Holmes is having her divorce proceedings opened to the public. YellowRubberDuckie Jul 2012 #95

The first hearing will be in NYC on July 17. It's an emergency hearing to determine pnwmom Jul 2012 #128

No. I will not marry an extremist of any religious stripe. I have no room for fundamentalism. nt Selatius Jul 2012 #213

Fucks no. Iggo Jul 2012 #16

No. Arkana Jul 2012 #17

That's what I feel too lunatica Jul 2012 #46

Hell No! Tom Cruise is one crazy F***er. Wonder why Katie married him in the first place? teddy51 Jul 2012 #18

Money, recognition, super celebrity status... vaberella Jul 2012 #88

dare I say ignorance/innocence? LiberalEsto Jul 2012 #144

Maybe...I'd do some homework on my future husband before marriage. vaberella Jul 2012 #203

Not on a bet. Ruby the Liberal Jul 2012 #20

Yes... a la izquierda Jul 2012 #21

I agree with you. I have never been offended by a Scientologist. banned from Kos Jul 2012 #28

I have been... YellowRubberDuckie Jul 2012 #96

James Randi: I met L Ron Hubbard twice. Both times he was drunk. longship Jul 2012 #31

Besides the how can dead guy still write books. Historic NY Jul 2012 #50

I've visited Operation Clambake a bunch of times... a la izquierda Jul 2012 #51

Hubbard joked he could create a religion LynneSin Jul 2012 #145

So are his heirs. What a cash cow stupid people are. OffWithTheirHeads Jul 2012 #216

Scientology was the result of a bar bet hifiguy Jul 2012 #171

Well put LyndaG Jul 2012 #42

I once had a friend who had briefly joined Scientology when she was really young. klook Jul 2012 #65

Although overall I agree with you. I just think ALL religions are WEIRD... vaberella Jul 2012 #85

This message was self-deleted by its author lordsummerisle Jul 2012 #107

I'm sure the Nazis had pretty good medical and dental coverage too GCP Jul 2012 #126

Nevermind. Not worth the potential adjudication a la izquierda Jul 2012 #170

The Scientologist I know was with them for thirty years, working in Sea Org pnwmom Jul 2012 #129

I don't think I could marry anybody who was a serious adherent of any religion. LeftyMom Jul 2012 #22

That's pretty much how I feel, too. GoCubsGo Jul 2012 #43

Likewise. Lizzie Poppet Jul 2012 #71

I would slit my wrists before I'd marry a Scientologist or.... Little Star Jul 2012 #24

This /\..nt StopTheNeoCons Jul 2012 #26

Wouild she wear the traditional white straight jacket at the wedding? Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2012 #27

I wouldn't marry a practicing religionist of any stripe. stopbush Jul 2012 #29

No, but to be fair, I'm not going to marry anyone that practices a religion notadmblnd Jul 2012 #30

I'd marry a fundie Baptist or Pentecostal before I'd marry a Scientologist. kestrel91316 Jul 2012 #32

hahaha! frogmarch Jul 2012 #34

I would, if he was rich :) darkangel218 Jul 2012 #35

I couldn't marry anyone devoutly religious..... vi5 Jul 2012 #36

Hell no! I wouldn't even marry a Republican. Hate their selfish hateful values Auntie Bush Jul 2012 #37

Im still not sure what they believe in darkangel218 Jul 2012 #38

Can anyone explain scientology in a few words?? darkangel218 Jul 2012 #39

All of your emotional difficulties are caused by being haunted by space ghosts. For a fee, they will LeftyMom Jul 2012 #81

Are you being serious? darkangel218 Jul 2012 #89

Could I possibly make up something that crazy? LeftyMom Jul 2012 #91

I guess not. Oh wow lol! thanks for enlighting me :) darkangel218 Jul 2012 #93

She really is. At its core, that's the belief system. Posteritatis Jul 2012 #103

Not only serious, but very abbreviated. The more you know, the crazier it gets. Just like Mormonism. Egalitarian Thug Jul 2012 #180

I wonder where personal responsibility comes into this scenario? LiberalEsto Jul 2012 #147

Hey! That's "OT 3" (or whatever) privileged information! :-) Dash87 Jul 2012 #173

That is it in a nutshell. hifiguy Jul 2012 #197

Damn glasses. I thought it read "seismologist" at first. Buns_of_Fire Jul 2012 #40

To be fair to Scientology, should be eaten by a volcano. dimbear Jul 2012 #72

That was my first instinct, but Buns_of_Fire Jul 2012 #150

I wouldn't marry ANYONE who believes in an imaginary sky being csziggy Jul 2012 #41

Just curious - what do you consider "entirely tolerant of other's beliefs"? demwing Jul 2012 #60

He would never use that term csziggy Jul 2012 #70

This message was self-deleted by its author demwing Jul 2012 #75

Not just no but HELL NAW! LadyHawkAZ Jul 2012 #44

No lunatica Jul 2012 #45

No way. n/t RebelOne Jul 2012 #47

maybe if i thought it would help my career? BOG PERSON Jul 2012 #48

I don't know much about them. Do they believe wives should be submissive? Swamp Lover Jul 2012 #49

They are a VERY abusive and destructive religion FrodosPet Jul 2012 #124

No and there is no chance a scientologist would marry me... Tikki Jul 2012 #52

I would not marry anyone who practiced or intended on practicing any type of religion. Lionessa Jul 2012 #53

No. I don't even like science fiction as entertainment; I'm certainly not going to accept it as... Tom Ripley Jul 2012 #54

No. geek_sabre Jul 2012 #55

Yes demwing Jul 2012 #56

did alien intelligence play a part in the evolution of humans or were they zapped into creation? piratefish08 Jul 2012 #57

Marrying someone that believes in a supernatural being ohgeewhiz Jul 2012 #62

why is it a pity? demwing Jul 2012 #64

It depends DJ13 Jul 2012 #63

Only if I had a fair shot at 10s of millions after the divorce. Warren Stupidity Jul 2012 #66

Sure ... it would obviously depend on the person. etherealtruth Jul 2012 #67

Absolutely not. blue neen Jul 2012 #68

Hell no! Scientology is one organization you do not want to fuck with. Initech Jul 2012 #69

It's OK to fuck with them as long as you don't let them know where you live slackmaster Jul 2012 #224

Ni, I would not marry a crazy person. nt Honeycombe8 Jul 2012 #73

It depends on her income and the pre-nup Motown_Johnny Jul 2012 #74

The open, raw bias displayed in this thread demwing Jul 2012 #76

of course prejudice is common to all humans waddirum Jul 2012 #77

It could just be LadyHawkAZ Jul 2012 #78

I didn't know we were supposed to tolerate scams that exploit the vulnerable. LeftyMom Jul 2012 #82

I'm Haitian-American and would sooner die than marry another Haitian. vaberella Jul 2012 #87

I think one can be tolerant of a person, without wanting to marry said person. RedCappedBandit Jul 2012 #94

I'm very comfortable not feeling inclusive towards Scientologists. (nt) Posteritatis Jul 2012 #102

We're talking about marriage here, not inviting someone over for dinner. LAGC Jul 2012 #104

I don't think it is prejudice, people have different life experiences hollysmom Jul 2012 #115

Prejudice IS inherent to all humans Prophet 451 Jul 2012 #117

There's a special place for you Capt. Obvious Jul 2012 #131

I imagine tolerance is indeed, alien to many people... LanternWaste Jul 2012 #142

I think it's ok to judge people based on their beliefs 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #153

Is there an approved list of beliefs demwing Jul 2012 #155

You can pick your own 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #159

"Surely you can't object to other people having standards? " demwing Jul 2012 #162

Not "of faith" of "this faith" 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #166

Let me set something straight demwing Jul 2012 #169

Scientologists don't believe in God 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #172

And no sane person would ever believer aliens exist... LanternWaste Jul 2012 #176

No sane person would fervently believe 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #184

Good for them demwing Jul 2012 #177

And the question wasn't "what floats their boat" 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #185

I'm not asking you to participate demwing Jul 2012 #189

Which DUers were insulted? 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #204

Sorry that you see it as prejudice. I see it as feeling sorry for those caught in a pyramid scheme Dash87 Jul 2012 #174

And I agree with every thing you just wrote demwing Jul 2012 #199

Yes, you are wrong. You are free to believe any stories you like, but don't insist that others Egalitarian Thug Jul 2012 #187

I don't consider myself prejudiced against Scientology FrodosPet Jul 2012 #214

No. emilyg Jul 2012 #80

I would not marry anyone who considers themselves religious and adheres to one belief system. vaberella Jul 2012 #84

No.but LynnTTT Jul 2012 #90

I wouldn't marry anyone who believes fiction is real. RedCappedBandit Jul 2012 #92

We wouldn't even get through the first date Lydia Leftcoast Jul 2012 #98

No. Absolutely not. PotatoChip Jul 2012 #99

Not in a million years. LiberalFighter Jul 2012 #105

no I would not. riverbendviewgal Jul 2012 #106

How hot, rich and open to threeways with other women is she? flvegan Jul 2012 #109

NO treestar Jul 2012 #110

Hell no, I was tangled up with them over 30 years ago n/t Digit Jul 2012 #111

I really don't know Prophet 451 Jul 2012 #112

Are they cute?!!1 or amenable/ semi- open-minded?!1 n/t UTUSN Jul 2012 #113

No... No, I wouldn't or any other Religion confused with being a cult MrMickeysMom Jul 2012 #116

No way. nt Ilsa Jul 2012 #119

nope n/t shanti Jul 2012 #120

I could not marry a person who is extremely rigid in their beliefs or overly proselytizing. AJTheMan Jul 2012 #121

no. Friend was married to one. It was like being married to a gambling addict. all his money went Liberal_in_LA Jul 2012 #123

I just read today that an MIT professor who studied them said that going through all the levels pnwmom Jul 2012 #130

yep. don't they take some sort of exam? And to climb higher in the religion requires more expensiv Liberal_in_LA Jul 2012 #158

I'm not sure I could even stay in the same room with one. madokie Jul 2012 #125

No.... sendero Jul 2012 #127

Scientologist, republican vegan who wears flip-flops in public and is covered in tattoos? Sure... LanternWaste Jul 2012 #132

Given my status as Suppressive Person Level 2 no self-respecting Scientologist would even talk to me slackmaster Jul 2012 #133

When do I get my SP trophy? FrodosPet Jul 2012 #215

I repeatedly published Dianetics and the OT-III materials on the Web without permission slackmaster Jul 2012 #218

Spreading the word about Xenu and the BTs? FrodosPet Jul 2012 #221

NO Iggy Jul 2012 #134

Hell no Aerows Jul 2012 #135

the question should be "would you date a scientologist" Demonaut Jul 2012 #136

Will never discount the possibility Xyzse Jul 2012 #137

No way. RiffRandell Jul 2012 #138

Nope. geardaddy Jul 2012 #140

Not even if she looked like Lucy Liu and was hifiguy Jul 2012 #141

not for millions, not for anything. Pisces Jul 2012 #143

NO WAY ailsagirl Jul 2012 #146

NO. Dawson Leery Jul 2012 #148

no Skittles Jul 2012 #151

I consider mental stability a requirement for even considering to marry a person 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #152

I could never be in a relationship with a judgmental bigot demwing Jul 2012 #156

Judgement, yes 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #160

I don't care what your thoughts are demwing Jul 2012 #167

Full Stop! 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #168

But the discussion evolved demwing Jul 2012 #175

I never said anything about "all religion" 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #181

Post 153: "I think it's ok to judge people based on their beliefs" demwing Jul 2012 #188

I didn't catch where that equates to 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #190

Judging =/= being judgmental demwing Jul 2012 #191

Let's recap 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #192

You simply cant have this discussion demwing Jul 2012 #194

And which DUers are you defending here? 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #202

Jewish businesswoman Adelaide Winkle married SS Obsturmfurher Kluas Stiener in a secrest ceremony in LanternWaste Jul 2012 #178

Stockholm syndrome? 4th law of robotics Jul 2012 #186

Can't JustAnotherGen Jul 2012 #154

Mormonism NeverEnuff Jul 2012 #161

Hell NO! get the red out Jul 2012 #163

FUCK NO blueamy66 Jul 2012 #164

NO catbyte Jul 2012 #179

Nope - otohara Jul 2012 #183

maybe echofreak Jul 2012 #195

I married a conservative; that's all the cross-pollenation you're getting out of me. n/t Nuclear Unicorn Jul 2012 #200

Hmm... whatchamacallit Jul 2012 #201

Lol, he has a lot of fun sabrina 1 Jul 2012 #208

Met? whatchamacallit Jul 2012 #209

BFK! sabrina 1 Jul 2012 #217

Ah, that's what I figured whatchamacallit Jul 2012 #219

No, hell no. HooptieWagon Jul 2012 #211

Hell no davidpdx Jul 2012 #220

No. Blue_In_AK Jul 2012 #222

Would you? Rex Jul 2012 #223

No. HappyMe Jul 2012 #225

No. HuckleB Jul 2012 #226