I knew a man when I was a little kid who died of some simple thing, laryngitis or appendicitus or some such, because he was a Christian Scientist. Left three wonderful little boys and a wife behind. My dad was his friend at the time; he's never forgiven the guy or the CSC.
Now, scientology -- I've heard some really bizarre stuff about them and known some pretty weird Scientologists.
Yet come on -- Tom Cruise was talking solid sense about all the psychotropic drugs, as far as I'm concerned, and it has zero to do with Scientology. It has everything to do with gullible people falling for everything the medical establishment tells themand thinking they have a government-given right to force others into believing it too on the premise that not to go with it is criminally irresponsible. It's a moral issue, you see.
I can agree in one area with both cults: one should have the right to refuse medical treatment. It may be a stupid decision some times -- but other times it will be a wise decision. Wise or stupid, it is self-evident that the right lies squarely with the individual and God. As societies move away from religion, they put their faith in flawed men. Doctors, scientists, and health care providers are not gods, but I can see a frame of mind out there that could be willingly duped into passing federal laws to probitit anyone from refusing things like MRI scans or accepted treatments for perceived ailments. John Edwards comes to mind, with his proposal that all Americans be legally reqiured to see a doctor once a year. When that doctor says he finds some potential symptom of ailment and the patient refuses to submit to his prescribed treatment, what then? Must we all submit? (Islamic medicine!)
Nanny-staters in the form of "good" benevolent government are very, very dangerous. The government has ZERO business in individual health choices, and the most innocent-looking, well-meaning steps to involve it now will CERTAINLY result in government tyranny. To be honest with you, I have very high on my list of issues what I believe should be a Republican platform position of fighting and preventing nationalized medicine and health care.
Another good read on the subject is the story of gymnast Shannon Miller from early childhood through her Olympic medals, written by her mother. Shannon and her mother were clearly devout Christian scientists but not fanatics by a long shot. Her father was not a Christian Scientist. When she was already competing at the world class level, Shannon got a bone chip in her elbow she and her mother consulted their Christian Science practitioner, who had her own advice for a Christian Science approach, but also told Shannon that there was nothing wrong with following her doctors’ and father’s advice to have surgery, and that doing so didn’t mean she lacked faith and wouldn’t diminish any effectiveness that the prayer approach would have. She had the surgery.
Scientology is first and foremost and organized crime syndicate, no two ways about it.
And I’m right there with you on how high a priority fighting socialized medicine needs to be. The Canadians and Brits who can’t afford private care after they’ve been taxed to fund their socialized medicine systems would often be much better off pursuing Christian Science healing than what they get from the NHS.