Anyone else watch Going Clear on HBO? Wow. I didn't know a lot of that stuff. What a messed up society (I will not call it a religion)

Anonymous wrote:Just say NO.

There's not a Religion out there that doesn't want to take your money from you. Even so called Christian churches will have policies requesting you donate 10-20% of your income to the church. There all pretty much a scam. My advice, just go join some club that is involved in a hobby you enjoy.

+1

Should I or Shouldn't I?

You should not. Next question.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Scientology, like most all Religions, can not be fully known from reading media propaganda. Take any Religion and you can find material to support or chastise it. The only way to truly know what any Religion is to YOU, is to fully immerse yourself into it. In short, if you feel Scientology might be for you, the only way to know is to give it a try.

Hi, token scientologist!

As a logical person, I'll point out a couple of your mistaken assumptions:

1. Scientology is a religion. It is not. It's a scam. The only reason they are even designated a nonprofit by the IRS is that they engineered attack campaigns against the individual IRS agents who were investigating the scam, doing things like posting flyers accusing the agents of being pedophiles all over their neighborhood. IRS eventually "settled" with Scientology on terms that let it become a nonprofit.

2. "Media propaganda." There is no propaganda campaign against Scientology. Rather, people have just learned what a scam it is. It's often useful to read what objective investigative reporters and people who have been inside a religion have to say about it.

I was just going to post this but PP beat me to it. It is not a religion. Most Europeans countries have outlawed it which is why Hubbard started Sea Org because he wasn't welcome in any port. There were warrants for his arrest outstanding in most european countries. Read "Going Clear".

Just say NO.

There's not a Religion out there that doesn't want to take your money from you. Even so called Christian churches will have policies requesting you donate 10-20% of your income to the church. There all pretty much a scam. My advice, just go join some club that is involved in a hobby you enjoy.

Anonymous wrote:Scientology, like most all Religions, can not be fully known from reading media propaganda. Take any Religion and you can find material to support or chastise it. The only way to truly know what any Religion is to YOU, is to fully immerse yourself into it. In short, if you feel Scientology might be for you, the only way to know is to give it a try.

bad advice, not just for Scientology, but any religion. No need to immerse yourself -- just do some reading on any religion to learn about it - there's lots out there.

Immersion takes a lot of time and commitment, which does not make sense if you haven't decided on something.

It does seem that only a scientologist trying to lure you in would make such a statement. I can't imagine any other religious group - even the fundamentalists - being so forceful.

Anonymous wrote:Scientology, like most all Religions, can not be fully known from reading media propaganda. Take any Religion and you can find material to support or chastise it. The only way to truly know what any Religion is to YOU, is to fully immerse yourself into it. In short, if you feel Scientology might be for you, the only way to know is to give it a try.

Hi, token scientologist!

As a logical person, I'll point out a couple of your mistaken assumptions:

1. Scientology is a religion. It is not. It's a scam. The only reason they are even designated a nonprofit by the IRS is that they engineered attack campaigns against the individual IRS agents who were investigating the scam, doing things like posting flyers accusing the agents of being pedophiles all over their neighborhood. IRS eventually "settled" with Scientology on terms that let it become a nonprofit.

2. "Media propaganda." There is no propaganda campaign against Scientology. Rather, people have just learned what a scam it is. It's often useful to read what objective investigative reporters and people who have been inside a religion have to say about it.

Scientology, like most all Religions, can not be fully known from reading media propaganda. Take any Religion and you can find material to support or chastise it. The only way to truly know what any Religion is to YOU, is to fully immerse yourself into it. In short, if you feel Scientology might be for you, the only way to know is to give it a try.

Anonymous wrote:I'm finding myself lured by Scientology but hesitant due to negative media coverage. What to do?

Why on Earth, if you are a very logical person like you said, would you fall for Scientology exactly?! I am stunned O_o

^^ meant to quote another post not this one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about it appeals to you?

I'm a very logical thinking person. Which makes it hard for me to make the leap of faith required for traditional Religions.

Sorry, that may be a reason to stay away from Christianity, but it certainly seems Scientology is asking for an enormous, if not silly leap. Aliens, truth revealed by a science fiction writer? Crazy celebrity emembers? Secrecy?

For my money, I find "son of god says turn the other cheek" much easier to swallow.

This.

It is just multi-level marketing with pretty steep financial, emotional and mental consequences. Seriously, Amway is better and you might actually make money for a bit. Or one of those self-improvement pyramid schemes/courses.

Anonymous wrote:I'm finding myself lured by Scientology but hesitant due to negative media coverage. What to do?

Read "Going Clear" and "Beyond Belief" for other perspectives on the organization.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm finding myself lured by Scientology but hesitant due to negative media coverage. What to do?

Your use of the word "lured" says it all...

Trying anything for the first time is almost always due to it's lure or temptation. Is there any other reason?

Yeah - different desires can be behind the lure -- for instance, happiness, relief from pain, shock value, surrender, standing out in the crowd, rebellion, redemption, guilt, fitting in, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You consider yourself a "logically thinking person" and you're considering this nonsense? Please.

They concentrate more on applying their religion rather than requiring conversion to it. And the way they apply their religion is like science rather than theology. As an example, they will come up with a hypothesis for self improvement, an action plan for the hypothesis, carry out the action, measure the result, and then adjust the actions accordingly. So they are not set on one solution for all.

They do have their unprovable beliefs like other Religions, but these beliefs are not the driving force of what each individual does.

Oh, if you're interested in that sort of stuff you might want to look into Neuro-Linguistic Programming. You'll annoy your friends, but it might give you the avenue you seem to be looking for regarding self-improvement, without the religious overtones.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm finding myself lured by Scientology but hesitant due to negative media coverage. What to do?

Your use of the word "lured" says it all...

Trying anything for the first time is almost always due to it's lure or temptation. Is there any other reason?