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 ...
Just asking you to stick to one subject.
If you want to bash Islam, do it somewhere else.
No one is censoring you, but I'm not impressed by your boring, overdone cliche's.
Which they were awarded under pressure from the Clinton administration ...
Rats, You beat me by 2 posts!
It's a BIG money scam ..that's it !
How is that?
From the Editorial Review of the book you recommend:
"Scientist, poet, and self-proclaimed Antichrist, Jack Parsons was a bizarre genius whose life reads like an implausible yet irresistible science fiction novel. Sex and Rockets looks at his short life and dual career as cofounder of Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and leader of the Agape Lodge of Aleister Crowley's Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO)."
Why do you think he has such a name. He's on Cruise Control.
I can't get over how much the group in "The 4400" sounds like Scientology.
lol
Yeah, like I care about impressing you.
I simply made a comment that current events makes not only relevant but quite obvious.
I'm sorry if it frustrates and confuses you to have other relevant topics included in a discussion.
May I suggest you create your own forum and establish strict rules of one-and-only-one topic per thread.
Let me know how popular it is. I suspect only those who share your exclusive views such as Muslims and Scientologists will find it to their liking.
."..he gleefully started a whacked up religion"
Well he isn't the only one. And I won't name names, or I will be flamed.
LOL!
I see it as Demonic Possession or the results of "Scientology Church-approved" Ultra-High use of psychotic matter
Here's a link to Null and Void's Q&A on Scientology (as a former member): http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1522132/posts
There will always be schisms in any religious group, as well as people who, upon leaving their faith, decide to "purge" themselves of their experiences.
The Bard alludes to this phenomenon:
...the heresies that men do leave
Are hated most of those they did deceive;Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act II, Scene II
Who took over control of our government in 1993?
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