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lapfog_1

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33. for decades I've heard about the bar bet between Robert Heinlein and L. Ron Hubbard

Thu Jun 28, 2018, 06:18 PM

Jun 2018

and Harlan was the witness and the "holder of the money".

Supposedly the bar bet was "Could you really create a fake religion?" as Heinlein had written a short story (the Sixth Column) postulating a "fake religion" as the potential resistance to a foreign power taking over America.

According to the story, as related by Harlan, Heinlein took the position that this is actually impossible... whereas L. Ron said "sure, there are enough stupid people here to do it".

And Scientology is the result.

I heard the story about this decades ago... and have often wondered if it was true.

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Harlan Ellison dies at 84 [View all] yewberry Jun 2018 OP

A great writer. He'll be missed. First Speaker Jun 2018 #1

His tastes were a bit creepy for me, but I did like his Star Trek episode. lagomorph777 Jun 2018 #47

RIP sir! Coventina Jun 2018 #2

He will be missed still_one Jun 2018 #3

One of the best. bluedigger Jun 2018 #4

:( Solly Mack Jun 2018 #5

He was truly one of a kind. nocoincidences Jun 2018 #6

RIP peekaloo Jun 2018 #7

A veritable giant has passed, and will be greatly missed. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2018 #8

All my SF/comic heroes exboyfil Jun 2018 #9

I was talking about Len about two hours ago MurrayDelph Jun 2018 #45

That man significantly altered my existence. byronius Jun 2018 #10

There were giants in those days. RIP. Hekate Jun 2018 #11

bummer. RIP. i have a glass teat autographed by him certainot Jun 2018 #12

I'm shattered. Aristus Jun 2018 #13

He was one of my greatest writing heroes. Dave Starsky Jun 2018 #14

He was certainly one of the most litigious authors of all time. LudwigPastorius Jun 2018 #24

He was only an asshole to people who deserved it. Aristus Jun 2018 #42

One of my favorite writers. RIP bluescribbler Jun 2018 #15

PAY THE WRITER! nolabear Jun 2018 #16

I know one thing; he's not going to hell sarge43 Jun 2018 #17

Maybe he's going down there to help us out. Dave Starsky Jun 2018 #38

If anyone could, he'd be the one. sarge43 Jun 2018 #39

Great writer but cannabis_flower Jun 2018 #18

He might not disagree... hunter Jun 2018 #21

Yeah I met him at a bookstore signing in the 80s More_Cowbell Jun 2018 #23

Met him at a science fiction convention cannabis_flower Jun 2018 #29

I met him once; he hit on my wife. SansACause Jun 2018 #35

Not really surprised he hit on your wife. bitterross Jun 2018 #41

One of the greatest English-language essayists Codeine Jun 2018 #19

RIP Harlan Ellison 47of74 Jun 2018 #20

Rest In Peace, Harlan Ellison. calimary Jun 2018 #22

I have no mouth and I must scream AllyCat Jun 2018 #25

"A boy and his dog" SonofDonald Jun 2018 #26

I met Ellison at Dayton's Living Arts Center in 1970. OilemFirchen Jun 2018 #27

A boy and his dog lunatica Jun 2018 #28

All of his stories are that way. Dave Starsky Jun 2018 #30

And the movie was actually pretty good, too. marble falls Jun 2018 #32

I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream marble falls Jun 2018 #31

for decades I've heard about the bar bet between Robert Heinlein and L. Ron Hubbard lapfog_1 Jun 2018 #33

He was such an influence on me. SansACause Jun 2018 #34

Harlan Ellison certainly mattered. scarletwoman Jun 2018 #36

I have been trying to get in this thread to say BIG R.I.P. BumRushDaShow Jun 2018 #37

So sad. I love his work. The Deathbird is one of the greatest stories. bitterross Jun 2018 #40

Ave atque vale. ChazInAz Jun 2018 #43

He was at best a jerk. He pissed off many, many people. PoindexterOglethorpe Jun 2018 #44

I wish I had written this. MicaelS Jun 2018 #46

My wife and I both had encounters with Ellison before we met. hunter Jun 2018 #48

Here's something else related to him. PoindexterOglethorpe Jul 2018 #49