L. Ron Hubbard was born 100 years ago today (vanity)

[Borges]

All I could find in the media was PR garbage issued by his 'church' which I didn't think was worth posting. But it's still a good time to ponder this strange Sci-Fi cult.

[svcw]

My husband and I also attended one of those outreaches. It was billed as a communications class.
After we started asking question after question about where this so called class was going we were asked to leave.
They gave us our money back plus $1 and they told us we would be placed on their enemies list for eternity.
Literally walked us out, with the halls lined with the worker bees and as we passed them they turned their backs to us.
By the time the two us us got to the door we were hysterical with laughter. Got to the door and my husband turned and said in that cartoon voice “that's all folks”. They actual slammed the door and locked it.
What a great day.

[Captain Peter Blood]

Hubbard was a 4th rate Sci-Fi writer who created a religion for the specified reason of getting rich. In that he succeeded.
I am amazed at the people that buy into Scientology and hand over their money to such a scam.

[svcw]

People can be stupid. mohammad, Joseph Smith, Ron L I know there are others but probably not a prominent. Con men all of them.

[Captain Peter Blood]

Robert Heinlein was a lot smarter and a much better writer than Hubbard. he was also very prescient about predicting the future of society as we now know it and see it.
I enjoy reading his work.
Hollywood took his novel “Starship Troopers” and destroyed the original storyline. Terrible movie for that reason alone.

[Borges]

Wiki articles about figures like this are invariably written by quasi-fans. Others don’t care enough.

[SJSAMPLE]

I don’t care what anybody says, “Battlefield Earth” was a GREAT book. Johnny Goodboy Tyler RULES!

[libertarian27]

read them in jail?

I liked that Travolta movie “Battlefield Earth” - don’t ask me why...it could have been better, but, could have been worse too...

[fireman15]

Ron the “War Hero”
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/warhero/battle.htm

I think the chapter “2. L. Ron Hubbard:
his struggle with truth *” is more entertaining.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Cowen/warhero/truth.htm

I love this paragraph, “While escaping from the Japanese on Java, he suffered severe injuries after being machine-gunned in the back (Church of Scientology v. Armstrong, 21 May 1984). Alternatively, he fractured an ankle while evading the Japanese (”Ron The Poet/Lyricist”, 1996). He was flown home in the Secretary of the Navy's private plane as the first US casualty returned from the Far East (Hubbard, “The Story of Dianetics & Scientology”, taped lecture of 1958).”

[Thermalseeker]

Wasn’t Scientology the result of a bet between Hubbard and a college classmate/frat brother?

[tongue-tied]

I had heard once that it was a bar bet between Heinlein and Hubbard: L Ron said he could start a religion out of nothing.

Always wondered if true.

[stboz]

L. Ron Hubbard was born 100 years ago today

What a shame.

[Allegra]

Stan Marsh from South Park is hundred years old who knew LOL!

Easily one of my top five favorite South Park episodes.

[Borges]

I love that movie! It’s a satire. Director Paul Verhoeven specialized in that sort of thing (Robocop, Total Recall)

[mountn man]

[SevenofNine]

They showing that episode last night here in SO CAL LOL! that reason I thought of it

[Thermalseeker]

After we started asking question after question about where this so called class was going we were asked to leave.

The same thing happened to me when I tried to tour the Mormon Tabernacle when I was in Salt Lake. Being musically inclined I wanted to experience the acoustics in the Tabernacle because I'd always heard they were extraordinary. The tour was "free", unless you include the 30 minute dog and pony show given by some starry-eyed Mormon students. They asked at the end of their presentation if anyone had any questions. I asked about the "Mountain Massacre". At first they ignored me. When I pressed I was asked to leave. Never did get to see the Tabernacle.....

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Hubbard was a 4th rate Sci-Fi writer who created a religion for the specified reason of getting rich. In that he succeeded.
I am amazed at the people that buy into Scientology and hand over their money to such a scam. “

What you said for Mormonism, too.

[magslinger]

...no such bet was ever made, it would have been "uncharacteristic of Heinlein"

Probably true most of the time but note the critical "bar bet". I have been known to do things in bars that are uncharacteristic of me.

[KevinDavis]

Never read that book, but I saw that movie.. Crap..

[KevinDavis]

Well when you live in a country that allows people to worship as they please, this what you get..