Celebrities & Scientology

[heyjude]

I got that over at the Jedi Council Boards-I said, "Nothing good ever comes from Scientology." Someone pointed out, "Well, they're no worse than Christianity, what with the Inquisition and the Crusades!" I pointed out that good things have come from Christianity (and whether or not Jesus existed, he was generally a nice guy, you know, love your neighbor, do unto others, help the poor, peace, all that) too. I was told that there are practicing clams on the boards so I shouldn't say that. I understand, but it makes me so mad. Yes, Christianity has done a lot of fucked up shit.

Here's a big difference - Christianity tells you what it's based on, right up front. You don't have to take special classes costing thousands of dollars to learn about the holy trinity, immaculate conception, etc. The "truths" of the religion are right there. Go to a church service, read the Bible - you'll get it. Whether you believe in christianity or not, you can find out about the religion.

Scientologists have certain 'truths" which are not told to the general membership. You have to be trained, you have to pay, you have to move up the ranks, before you're told about Xenu and body invasions and all that crap. Non-scientologists are finding out about this from websites that the scientologists try to shut down. they don't want people to know that their religion is based on an alien invasion theory.

Most people I've met, when I tell them what scientology is based on, think I'm joking. they've heard it's a 'cult" but never heard all the weird stuff.

[monsterzero]

Heyjude is right: while I'm not a fan of religion altogether, Christianity has had quite a number of years and different people writing about it, all of which you can find at your local library and online. Hell, most priests will tell you anything you want to know about it if you ask enough. Clams on the other hand keep you in the dark to serve a purpose which is that the whole thing is a scam to rip people out of money and isn't considered a religion everywhere. Go to Germany or France and see what their opinion is. Or rather, the multiple lawsuits still pending for most of the 'founders.'

[huntergrayson]

All good points and I think that makes a major difference, anyone can get their hands on a Bible or a book on the saint and examine the teachings of christianity in-depth. Church is free, donation plate notwithstanding, and (hopefully) open to all.

But that's not how it works with CO$ -- you have to go through an extensive screening/brain-washing/godknows process of auditing before you can even start at the most basic level. Salon estimated the cost of advancing to the higher OT levels to be anywhere from $30k to hundreds of thousands of dollars, which would explain why so many rich celebs are recruited.

I haven't read it in -depth yet, but love this gem in the hypnosis article, which I think Guinastasia linked to in the Princess Hot Mess thread:

Frequently a preclear who in auditing has experienced hallucinations concerning murder, rape, homosexuality and other criminal and disgraceful behaviour comes to believe that such behaviour actually occurred during his present lifetime.

Because imagining kissing a dude is exactly on par with thinking you killed someone.

Limey says:

That is one of the bigger things that bug me about CLAMland. They make these organizations such as CCHR and Narnacon or whatever.Just to promote their own propoganda.

Especially because many of them seem like legitimate organizations on the surface level, at least to most people. "Hey, a campaign for Human Rights is good!" "Let's get people off drugs!" Both of which are genuine concerns that get completely screwed by having the agenda distort the charity work that should be done.

Sad example -- the much crushed on Jason Dohring*, from Veronica Mars was doing some charity hockey event and the poster listed the proceeds as going to Narcanon, an anti-drug charity, etc. -- someone pointed out the Co$ connection and now the fangirls couldn't go without contributing to "Silence of The Clams."

"It puts the e-meter on it's skin or else it or else it gets a body thetan."

*I think he was born into CO$. Neil Gaiman, of The Sandman fame, was as well and thankfully has left it behind.

[quickychick]

guinastasia said:

quickychick said:

I've now been told to shut up on the other board regarding $cieno, because hey, nobody is supposed be bashing a 'religion' like that, yo.

I got that over at the Jedi Council Boards-I said, "Nothing good ever comes from Scientology." Someone pointed out, "Well, they're no worse than Christianity, what with the Inquisition and the Crusades!" I pointed out that good things have come from Christianity (and whether or not Jesus existed, he was generally a nice guy, you know, love your neighbor, do unto others, help the poor, peace, all that) too. I was told that there are practicing clams on the boards so I shouldn't say that. I understand, but it makes me so mad. Yes, Christianity has done a lot of fucked up shit. And yes, I admit I'm more worried about the influence of the Christian right in our society than I am the clams, if only because they're so fringe. But I don't think people should take the Scientologists seriously.

Get outta my head. The people on this other board used the same quote almost exactly about Christianity being based on odd things! and the Crusades! and Eee!

I responded that (like someone on here said once, I believe) the vast majority of religions today do not require hundreds of thousands of dollars to achieve a state of grace, and that most simply require faith and the occasional tithing.

And, they weren't made up by science fiction writers for kicks. Some on that board think I'm intolerant of 'other religions' but I'm not--I just don't want anyone to fall into the $cieno trap and be harmed by them. Thankfully a gal from Clearwater is backing up all the links I've posted with personal stories of her own.

But what really kills me is the thread started with people being angry at Tom Cruise for his remarks about psychiatry and drugs during the Lauer interview. They were all up in arms about that--but when I pointed out that it's a major tenet of the $cieno club, they got all bowed up about thou shalt not insult any lurking clams.

[spider]

Plus most other religions are at least technically supposed to be about love, helping others and world peace: community type things. Scientology is only about making yourself better and personal wealth and success as far as I can tell. Perfect for movies stars I guess.

[Deleted]

Topher, Those sites are spooky. Leah Remini has one, so do the Mastersons. They all look the same. Same graphics, same robotic spiel. And if you try to contact any celeb at the "contact me" info provided by the site... you'll instead be opening yourself up to contact from a friendly local Scientologist. I imagine it's the same website software that comes with the Scieno Sitter.

[Deleted]

From the review Guin posted:

Travolta's performance sucked so badly, there were times he was on camera that the TV screen would dent inward.

Hee! That's brilliant.

"It puts the e-meter on it's skin or else it or else it gets a body thetan."

I can't wait to use that in the TWoP PC challenge somehow.

[LurkerNan]

In hunting around for CTC's education level (IMDB says hig school dropout, no mention of a GED), I see that CTC used to be a "14 year old Franciscan seminary student". I'm starting to see a correlation between being a young Catholic and becoming a Scientologist. Katie Holmes was supposedly raised as a Catholic, and so was Nicole Kidman.

I wonder if there's some specific rational they use on Catholics to convert them to Clams... or perhaps they find folks that are used to a certain religious indoctrination easier to swing over?

Re: the Corin Nemec site, if you backtrack to Our Sites you go straight to Scientology On Line, so I guess that's where all the lesser known celebrities keep their official personal websites. Creepy.

[mardigras]

Petition to take away Scientology's tax-exempt status in the US.

[Malle Babbe]

I wonder if there's some specific rational they use on Catholics to convert them to Clams... or perhaps they find folks that are used to a certain religious indoctrination easier to swing over?

Guilt. If certain sources are correct, during those auditing sessions (where you cough up your deepest darkest secrets), everything is recorded so they can blackmail you should you decide to leave. Sheesh, even the priests in the confessional are obligated to keep their mouths shut!