Inside Scientology/Dianetics, Hail Xenu.

[SlashFirestorm]

What with Project Chanology and all the recent rebellion against Scientology as of late, I think it's a great time for everyone to get a little homework assignment!

If you've got a few hours (or are a speed reader), give Inside Scientology/Dianetics a read.

It's a book about the Scientology experience by a former member who went up to OT IV---past the Wall of Fire (the now-infamous Xenu story). It's hosted online in its entirety (legally).

When you hear about Scientology from a comedian or South Park, it sounds pretty nuts. Like, funny-nuts.

But when you read that book---or google Lisa McPherson, Operation Freakout, Operation Snow White, R2-45, Fair Game, etc---you stop laughing.

You get downright chilled at the sheer corruption and maliciousness behind the "Church" of Scientology.

So, your reading assignment has been handed out. Educate yourself and fight the power.

[Puddinn64]

*Steps back and barfs*

How, how, how could any human being swallow any of this?

"This little speech and especially the question annoyed me. I didn't need an auditor and an electric box to teach me how to communicate. I had paid $125 for an ability I had always possessed, and was now told I had achieved something great."

This pisses me off.

"BEHAVIOR OF CLEARS AND OTs
Those who have achieved these higher states must be genned in on the tremendous responsibility they face. They have far greater power than a human being and must learn to use it not for selfish purposes but for the betterment of this planet.

I gaped at the next bulletin.

PENALTIES FOR LOWER CONDITIONS
One in Condition of Liability must work 24 hours straight for the organization plus another 8 to get through Condition of Non-Existence.

One in Condition of Doubt must work 48 hours straight, then 24 hours more to get through Condition of Liability, and another 8 to get through Condition of Non-Existence.

During a penalty one is not allowed to sleep, bathe, or leave the premises.

This order applies to everyone at the AO, visitors as well as staff.

I read the next clause over and over, turning back to stare at it several times that night.

One in Condition of Enemy is classified Fair Game; may be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologists without any discipline of the Scientologists. MAY BE TRICKED, SUED, OR LIED TO, OR DESTROYED."


THIS SCARES THE SHIT OUT OF ME

[SlashFirestorm]

You know what's even scarier?

Since that book was written in the early days of Scientology, it's gotten MORE fucked up, not less. More expensive, more intrusive, more vicious against its opponents and more demanding of its adherents.

Shame Anonymous got bored of it. First real chance in a long time to deal a blow to it and they kinda got high and wandered off...hopefully this cult will be taken care of someday before it ruins even more lives or pulls a Jonestown.

[ByteSlinger]

It all reminds me of something my grandfather once told me: "blind faith in anything, even if it sounds noble, will get you killed." Like me, he believes in God, but questions organized religions. He had a very simple view of religions - they were all wrong. How could so many different groups of people feel that only their view was right, yet they all claim the same thing - they are the people of God, and others are outsiders.

We are limited creatures. We only perceive a fraction of the light and audio spectrum; are minds only think at the speed of chemical reactions; we hear only minor range of audio, and we can't function beyond 4 dimensions.

Since, by general consensus, God is omnipotent and eternal and beyond our world, how do we even dare to think that we know what He says, what He wants, or that our primitive minds can comprehend what His plan (if any) truly is. Anyone who claims they know what God wants is either a liar or they just don't know better.

Organized religion is not for God - it is for a group of people to control a bigger group using guilt, fear and the promise of something better in return for being a sheep "in this life". Scientology is just another view, just another way to try to convince people how to live.

I do believe in God; I believe that He has intervened in the lives of humanity before, and will do so again. I believe that He can influence people (if they are receptive) and that, in general, He is a positive force.

Likewise, for every positive, there is a negative. There is His opposite that most have labeled the "Devil". This represents the dark side of mankind - selfish, nasty, greedy - all the things God isn't. And like God, no one really knows the true Devil either.

Every person has the free will to choose their actions and how to live. But at the end of the day - and the end of your life - it all comes down to how you lived your life, and how you are remembered. As for the "reward" or "punishment" when you die, it's not as cut and dried as Heaven and Hell - It's not that neat. I believe our spirit, our soul, our "chi" does move on - but as to what, I am not certain.

I don't have any real answers, other than to quote Buddha: "The one thing that I truly know is that I truly know nothing." I don't fear death - for that is inevitable. I do fear dying slowly and in agony, but who doesn't? And when I do pass on, maybe once I am free of these limited senses, maybe just then I will be able to glimpse upon God and get the truth. Until then, I choose to do good - not because of guilt, but because it's the way I'd like to be treated (do unto others, etc.) . I don't need a self-important group of people who have convinced themselves and countless others that they have all the answers and they know what's right for me.

That's my rant - not just against Scientology, but against all mind-controlling groups that really have no answers - just slaves. Be yourself, be good, love with all your heart, and don't sweat the small stuff. If we all did that, we wouldn't need religion to fill in the gaps. If you get the chance, look up the lyrics to "Imagine", by John Lennon. When he wrote it, he was labeled a communist. But I think he saw back then what many see today - that organized religion (and blind faith in them) cause more problems than they solve.

Sorry if this went a little off-topic - but I wanted to address the "meta-issue" that this thread brought up. Hope you didn't mind...