Posted on 02/24/2006 11:05:41 AM PST by Central Scrutiniser
Inside Scientology
Unlocking the complex code of America's most mysterious religion
The faded little downtown area of Clearwater, Florida, has a beauty salon, a pizza parlor and one or two run-down bars, as well as a bunch of withered bungalows and some old storefronts that look as if they haven't seen customers in years. There are few cars and almost no pedestrians. There are, however, buses -- a fleet of gleaming white and blue ones that slowly crawl through town, stopping at regular intervals to discharge a small army of tightly organized, young, almost exclusively white men and women, all clad in uniform preppy attire: khaki, black or navy-blue trousers and crisp white, blue or yellow dress shirts. Some wear pagers on their belts; others carry briefcases. The men have short hair, and the women keep theirs pulled back or tucked under headbands that match their outfits. No one crosses against the light, and everybody calls everybody else "sir" -- even when the "sir" is a woman. They move throughout the center of Clearwater in tight clusters, from corner to corner, building to building.
This regimented mass represents the "Sea Organization," the most dedicated and elite members of the Church of Scientology. For the past thirty years, Scientology has made the city of Clearwater its worldwide spiritual headquarters -- its Mecca, or its Temple Square. There are 8,300 or so Scientologists living and working in Clearwater -- more than in any other city in the world outside of Los Angeles. Scientologists own more than 200 businesses in Clearwater. Members of the church run schools and private tutoring programs, day-care centers and a drug-rehab clinic. They sit on the boards of the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the Boy Scouts.
(Excerpt) Read more at rollingstone.com ...
Thanks! I missed that one.
Scientology is science fiction, invented by a science fiction writer.
Apart from Parsons having nothing to do with the founding of Scientolgy, and Hubbard not being a follower of Crowley, you are almost accurate.
I never thought of that. I thought it was a take off of the Greek letter. I always wondered if nutty L. Ron thought he was pulling one over on people and getting in little jokes until he started believing his own press.
Penthouse: He was trying to perform an abortion?
Hubbard: According to him and my mother, he tried to do it with me. I was born at six and a half months and weighed two pounds, two ounces. I mean, I wasn't born: this is what came out as a result of their attempt to abort me. It happened during a night of partying --he got involved in trying to do a black-magic number. Also, I've got to complete this by saying that he thought of himself as the Beast 666 incarnate.
Penthouse: The devil?
Hubbard: Yes. The Antichrist. Alestair Crowley thought of himself as such. And when Crowley died in 1947, my father then decided that he should wear the cloak of the beast and become the most powerful being in the universe.
You're right. The fear of Islam is of a different order entirely.
As far as I can tell, this is 100% accurate.
Some of the details are after my time, but sound plausible.
Post 145 has a link to an interview with LRH, Jr.
I was going to ping you, I wasn't sure anyone did.
Thanks, Bush_Democrat got me first.
I'd druther get a dozen redundant pings than miss a thread like this.
That claims says Elron was involved in the occult in the 1930s, a circumstance for which there is no evidence whatsoever.
And when it copnmes to matters of veracity, L. Ron Hubbard, Jr. is his fathers's son.
And Calpernia beat him...
Wouldn't one have to actually be a Catholic to make that statement?
I found it interesting that Scientology really didn't start up until the 25-year-old assistant to L. Ron (the current head) got it going. He's the caliphate, the Brigham Young.
Tom Cruise, who is near the top of Scientology's Bridge, at a level known as OT VII. OTs are Scientology's elite -- enlightened beings who are said to have total "control" over themselves and their environment. OTs can allegedly move inanimate objects with their minds, leave their bodies at will and telepathically communicate with, and control the behavior of, both animals and human beings. At the highest levels, they are allegedly liberated from the physical universe, to the point where they can psychically control what Scientologists call MEST: Matter, Energy, Space and Time.
watch out Oprah!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks, I just finished the article. Good insight.
Did you notice how emotional the Scientologists seemed over every little thing about their religion? Very defensive. The writer could be distorting things, but her point of view is very subtle. The writer is very clever, although the article seems even handed -- and it does allow Scientologists a very wide latitude and does not directly mock them -- it is directed so that we can feel the weirdness therein.
You should have read his profile page. "Scrutiniser" is a Brit spelling.
I'm just saying what Google found.
watch out Oprah!!!!!!!!!!!
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