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 ...
People are trapped by these nuts!
Just do a Google of "Lisa McPherson" and you will know more than you ever wanted to know about $cientology.
More from L Ron Hubbard's invented religion.
I am continually amazed at the similarity between S-tology and satanism/occultism.
(I'm amazed at the similarity between it and the shallow unimaginative plot lines from the rest of Hubbards silly books)
Bump for later.
Uh oh, they're in big, big trouble now!
If you want to bash a religion, everyone knows the only one your allowed to bash is Christianity...unless you're talking about the one with the homo "bishop", that one's off-limits!
Oh, and have at Orthodox Judaism, too, 'cause they have the gaul to say that homosexuality is bad!
Founded by two satanists, Hubbard and Jack Parsons, followers of Crowley
Hollywood actors have signed up for this idiocy left and right (ala Tom Cruise) - then they wonder why red-states refuse to be enlightened by their political views - pathetic.
I wonder if this publication has good lawyers. I can't say I'll be sorry if they go bankrupt.
They are sooo sued!
I have zero use for $cientology, but lest anyone on this thread cites Rick Ross as a source of information (as sometimes happens), I'll just mention that I'll take my chances with a mailbox rattler as opposed to a Ross/Reno Texas Barbeque.
Sorry, but Scientology is not a religion. Not sure what you would call it, but not religion.
interesting, ping.
According to the IRS, they have tax free religion status.
Here is how the RS story ends, its chilling:
During the time I was researching this piece, I received a number of e-mails from several of the Scientologists I had interviewed. Most were still technically members of the church in good standing; privately they had grown disillusioned and have spoken about their feelings for the first time in this article. All of the young people mentioned in this story, save Natalie, are considered by the church hierarchy to be Potential Trouble Sources. But many have begun to worry they will be declared Suppressive Persons.
Their e-mails expressed their second thoughts and their fears.
"PLEASE, let me know what you will be writing in the story," wrote one young woman. "I just want to make sure that people won't be able to read it and figure out who I am. I know my mom will be reading."
"The church is a big, scary deal," wrote another. "My [initial] attitude was if this information could save just one person the money, heartache and mind-bending control, then all would be worth it. [But] I'm frightened of what could happen."
"I'm about two seconds away from losing my whole family, and if that story comes out with my stuff in it, I will," wrote a third. "I'm terrified. Please, please, please . . . if it's not too late . . . help me keep my family."
One particularly frantic e-mail arrived shortly before this story was published. It came from a young Scientologist with whom I had corresponded several times in the course of three or four months. When we first met, she spoke passionately and angrily about the impact of the church on herself and those close to her.
"Please forgive me," she wrote. "The huge majority of things I told you were lies. Perhaps I don't like Scientology. True. But what I do know is that I was born with the family I was born with, and I love them. Don't ask me to tear down the foundation of their lives." Like almost every young person mentioned in this piece, this woman was given a pseudonym to protect her identity, and her family's. But it wasn't enough, she decided. "This is my life . . . Accept what I tell you now for fact: I will not corroborate or back up a single thing I said.
"I'm so sorry," she concluded. "I hope you understand that everyone I love is terribly important to me, and I am willing to look beyond their beliefs in order to keep them around. I will explain in further detail, perhaps, some other day."
"...followers of Crowley"
Well, that would certainly explain it!
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