FC/OT: 'Going Clear' - anyone watch this on HBO???

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Documentary about Scientology that is just over the top fascinating. I'm about a half hour in, and seeing Tom Cruise's speech at their annual convention just made me cringe. The testimonial from former members is just unbelievable, and the footage of LRH peddling his science fiction as religion is weird as hell. Here's the most published author in the world cherry picking his SF ideas and turning them into a religion. The guy is on record as saying 'the only way to make money is to start a religion,' and that's exactly what he did. And the key to their success and financial influence is their priceless tax exempt status.

You can see why celebrities are so into it though; this is the one religion that is all about YOU, and how to make YOUR LIFE better. And give you super powers. Praise Xenu! Sigh - how did anyone fall for this hokey BS?

This post was edited on 4/2 3:31 PM by Midnighter

 

[WTNuke]

This freaked me out. My wife and I couldn't stop watching this the other night.

 

[rudedude]

Frank Zappa tune from Joe's Garage about L Ron Hoover and the Church of Appliantology!

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/f/frank+zappa/a+token+of+my+extreme_20056730.html

 

[Michael.Felli]

How is this different than any other religion?

Yes, I, too, recently saw the HBO special. Thought it was done well. And, I recommend it for anyone who hasn't seen it to make time to watch it. That being said...

1) seeing Tom Cruise's speech at their annual convention just made me cringe. You ever watch people who have had "visions" of heaven or hell or whatever? Now, that will amke you cringe, too.

2) The testimonial from former members is just unbelievable, and the footage of LRH peddling his science fiction as religion is weird as hell. Again, this pretty much sums up ALL religions. I'm a "former" Catholic. Want me to share with you my views? All religious groups "peddle" their religions - ALL of them.

3) Here's the most published author in the world cherry picking his SF ideas and turning them into a religion. Funny, you using the word "cherry-picking". That is really funny. That describes well over 99% of religious people in the world. Few live by the word and the word alone. That is less than 1%. Too funny what you just wrote.

4) The guy is on record as saying 'the only way to make money is to start a religion,' and that's exactly what he did. And the key to their success and financial influence is their priceless tax exempt status. And this differs from other religions, how?

5) You can see why celebrities are so into it though; this is the one religion that is all about YOU, and how to make YOUR LIFE better. And give you super powers. Praise Xenu! Sigh - how did anyone fall for this hokey BS? Every religion is about YOU. If it were about the other guy, there'd be PEACE ON EARTH!

 

[Rutgers85]

I agree that it's always fascinating watching people with a warped set of beliefs cherry picking ideas to support their belief at any cost. When those beliefs are challenged, the believers lash out by degrading the non-believers and saying the non-believers don't know all the facts of the religion that they are pushing. And what religion wouldn't be complete without the worshiping of an all-knowing perfect being? Ultimately, it is all about YOU and how it makes YOU feel. It really is amazing that anyone would fall for this hokey BS.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

The documentary does a pretty good job of distinguishing Scientology

from other religions. Former long time Scientologists said something like, if you ask any Christian, Muslim, Jew, or Buddhist what it is that their religion teaches or is about, they can tell you in a minute or two. With Scientology, most members cannot do the same without investing thousands of dollars and time into their 'program'.

And I never said it wasn't unlike other religions in some respects (hierarchy, radical beliefs, faith, etc.). I get you're hoping I'm going to disagree with you there, but swing and a miss!

This post was edited on 4/3 11:00 AM by Midnighter

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

You said it better than I did.*

nfm

Originally posted by Nittany Ned2:
A HUGE difference and it was mentioned by the former PR person. I am paraphrasing: if you asked a Muslim, Jew or Christian what the basic tenants of their faith are, 90-95% will hit on the basic tenants within 2 minutes. For Scientologists, the basic tenants are only revealed to you until you have been in for several years and PAID a $100,000.

That's it man.

LRH was a charismatic, anti tax, anti gov, paranoid, scam artist. The whole "religion" angle didn't happen until he had lost his original fortune from the sale of Dianetics which was/is a self help book NOT a religion. LRH, blamed it all on the IRS. Sound familiar?

This post was edited on 4/3 10:37 AM by Nittany Ned2

 

[ClarkstonMark]

Re: You said it better than I did.*

Originally posted by Nittany Ned2:
I left out the best part, after the guy says "several years and $100,000 and you find out that the origins a of life on earth is a BS aliens story..." You can just hear the unspoken comment "SOB!" like he was Ralphie in "A Christmas Story" figuring out that the secret message was a crummy commercial for Ovaltine

I had a roommate that was in the process of getting sucked into something in the late 80's it might have been Scientology. Her fiancée and I spent an entire night fighting both her and the scumbag "counselor" getting this guy to stop harassing her at all hours of the night. It was really, really freaky. In the end, she had paid thousands of dollars for seminars.

was it Landmark?
evolved from EST

 

[mcberman]

I decided to read the book last year because The Looming Tower was such a good book. Going Clear was really incredible. The documentary does a good job summarizing the crazy current situation with Scientology but the book provides more background and even more examples of how the fallen SeaOrg folks really are treated worse than prison inmates. The book also goes more in depth on the nefarious means these people go to to protect their cult.

But I think where the book has much more info than the documentary is the first half of the book which goes way more in depth on L Ron Hubbard. I mean this guy was a total wackadoo and a really bad guy.

I remember reading the book and it was one of those reads that totally consumes you. I was walking around wondering if I was being watched for just reading the book.

It's interesting to consider what will happen to the cult now that it is being increasingly exposed. They are leaking members and not signing up new ones at their attrition rate. However, they have so much $$ in assets that it is hard to see them just going away. As they are weakened, you have to think that the FBI or the IRS will take another run at them. But it is tough to go against something that well funded and organized.