Posted on 04/01/2015 7:33:10 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Astrophysicist and cosmologist Neil DeGrasse Tyson is defending Scientology in light of HBO's highly critical documentary on the church.
HBO's documentary "Going Clear" did not show the church in an entirely positive light — Scientology has a built a reputation for tormenting members who leave it either by surveillance or harassment.
The film highlights the celebrities who made the religion intriguing to the world as well as the horrific stories of abuse from former members.
But Tyson, in an interview with The Daily Beast, declined to bash the controversial church, saying people are free to believe whatever they want.
"So, you have people who are certain that a man in a robe transforms a cracker into the literal body of Jesus saying that what goes on in Scientology is crazy? Let’s realize this. What matters is not who says who’s crazy, what matters is we live in a free country," Tyson, known for his skeptical views of Christianity, said. "You can believe whatever you want, otherwise it’s not a free country—it’s something else. If we start controlling what people think and why they think it, we have case studies where that became the norm. I don’t care what the tenets are of Scientology. They don’t distract me. I don’t judge them, and I don’t criticize them."
There is dispute, however, about whether or not Scientology is a legitimate religion.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
I liked the Southpark episode on Scientology where Tom Cruise was locked in the closet.
So sayeth the documented lier?
Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Oh yes we do. We also have a right to judge people as being Christians or enemies of Christ.
That South Park episode was awesome. There was a follow on, I remember. Something about a fruity little club.
Says the man who believes that matter can spring into existence from nothing.
Can I consider this guy cray cray?
He’s so above it all- being the Master of the Universe and such. Neil is in for a rude awakening.
If we live in a free country, don't we have the right to call something crazy ... like it's a First Amendment thing?
For a scientist, he isn't very logical. Just saying ...
WE are not free to believe, however, that Obama hates America, or there is no such thing as man made global climate change or that there isn’t an epidemic of white racism in this country. Regardless of the evidence at hand.
It’s a cult. but a rich cult. If you are ever here in the Hollywood area, they have the biggest block of buildings non-studio and I’m sure you can;t miss these clowns as they have full uniforms asking if you are depressed and willing to take their stress test. One of the most successful scams ever orchestrated.
Dear Mr. Degas,
I would like to inform you that in America I have the right to even call you a degenerate, incompetent, fat, ugly, ignorant, demented, idiot scientologist. You are also full of crap and the proof is your eyes are brown.
Now, it’s your turn.
Tyson is a schmuck, it is easy to leave most any christian church, you just don’t go any more, try leaving L. Ron’s Cult and you better invest in a new identity.....
what does one have to do to earn or gain the free speech right of calling anyone “crazy”?
Future historians will label this chapter in our history as “the tyranny of the clown negros”.
It's not what they believe that makes Scientology dangerous, it's what they do to prevent people from leaving that makes them dangerous.
Tyson completely misses the point, and thinks he's a genius.
That's the key differentiator. Scientology isn't a religion, it's a cult expressly designed to extract money out of gullible people.
L. Ron Hubbard created it, on a bet with Robert Heinlein:
While there are people that promote traditional religion for profit, they are a relatively minor side-show.
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