Anti-Scientology protests go worldwide

Thanks! Goin' to it...

No, I haven't. Hook it up!

angelinah, have you read jubal's paper on gay marriage? pretty damn good content i must say... :)

Jubal, what a group of points! I especially like your comparison with being gay. I didn't see that coming, and I find it to be especially thought provoking... Your point related to Likwid's comments are also interesting. The fact that this "religion" tends to use the weaknesses of it's followers to its advantage, well, that shows you what their motives are. Although, in all fairness, I have seen many, if not most, religions do the same, though in different, primarily emotional, ways. For example, the threat of hell, and the promise of happiness and salvation. That sure is one hell of a way to manipulate men. Again, I will make the point that "LRH" made it a goal to recruit celebrities...Just take a look at the LA/Hollywood locations. WOW. I'd also like to make another point about the Anonymous protesters. Those who are in "staff" are under strict, strict rules. If, for example, they left staff, they would already be under close scrutiny and disapproval. If they were to take it a step further, as in saying anything bad, or talking to the wrong people, they would then be permanently disowned -as it were- from the group. So say, for example, I left the group, but my husband or mother, or father, or daughter, stayed in. Well, if I have any interest in ever talking to them again, I have to watch my step. Sound like a good reason to stay anonymous? I think so. BTW, did you know that those who work as staff are made to sign BILLION year contracts? Why so long? Because they believe in reincarnation. Hmmmmm.... Who wants to be enslaved by their church for all eternity? Form a line!

AngelinaH wrote:
long before I ever heard about Scientology, I was reading L. Ron Hubbard's science fiction novels. I was suprised to learn about his role in Scientology. When I began to learn more about it, I was impressed by a few of his theories related to brain function and memory. I understand that he was a very smart man, with some good ideas, but I would say that he was blinded by his own ego, and anything good that he had to offer has drowned among all the peripheral craziness. That's my take.

I had a very similar experience. I went to a meeting with some Scientologist to get the results of my personality test and during the interview/discussion I realized from what they were telling me that they wanted to charge me for information and services I was already getting for free from AA, Alanon, Adult Children of Alcoholics and Co-Dependents Anonymous.

Thank god for the twelve traditions of AA that states that the spiritual foundation of their program is anonymity, "ever reminding us to place principles before personalities." I had already learned the principles of how the mind works and how to wrest control of it from the steps, such that I was able to recognize that the Scientologist was trying to impress me with their personality and their techniques (monitoring)

If Scientology is a religion then by the same standards that they are a religion, being gay is a religion too. So all you people out there who discriminate against gays on the basis of sexual orientation you are guilty of discriminating against someone's religion. HA HA

Scientology is a choice, being gay is something you are born with. Unless you are Surrey.....poor girls what a nightmare for her living in such an intense spotlight

Likwid wrote:
As for your question about religion.. I believe in FREEDOM so if someone creates a life philosophies that i find compelling at one point and i decide to believe in it i don't want you or anyone else telling me i can't. If i spend my whole life chasing something that ends up being not real.. Well that will be my problem, my choice and my responsibility.

Then these kind of people should keep their religions to themselves and within their group. The problem I have with people like this is when they proselytize and prey on vulnerable people who are suffering; enslaving them in their cult, religion or whatever.

I believe that any organization; philosophical or scriptural based (religions) that do not have women as complete equals in ministry are not true religions at all, they are cults; destructive cults. They are businesses aimed and exploiting and enslaving weak minded people and oppressing and degrading women.

Look at what Katie Holmes has turned into. I saw her the other day on Today show and she was a complete basket case, it was awkward and embarrassing for her. All the hosts were looking at her with puzzled looks on their faces and probably thinking "oh you poor child, what have they done to you?"

I don't really think it's fair to say that anyone can practice whatever they want to dub a religion, but concerned youth shouldn't protest something they feel strongly about. In fact, both of these subjects are covered by the first amendment. You're right, in that people can practice whatever religion they want. But I personally think it's wrong to say that these people should put their energy where YOU think it should go. You can protest anything you want, or nothing at all. I feel that if these students, whatever their background may be, feel a need to protest this organization, then so be it. You should also note that it says none of the "interviewed" had first hand experience. There's a big difference between that, and saying that none in attendance had first hand experience. There are different levels of devotion in any religion, and the same could be said of Scientology, though I don't know how or why it is called a religion. Your friend may be a perfectly normal person, even a great person. But that's not necessarily the whole picture. What about the abuses that children face under Scientology? Being estranged from their parents, and being held out of school? What choice do these children have, when they are born into it? I would say the protests of this group are necessary to bring attention to this organization. People need to know what they are getting into. Scientology is tricky like that. That's MY first hand experience. I went to the ORG once, supposedly for a seminar on nutrition. You see, I was a clinical nutritionist working in a clinic owned by scientologists. So, I went. To my surprise, the first 1.5-2 hours was spent talking SOLEY about Scientology, and NOT nutrition. I was angry that they had tricked me, and I said so, quite frankly, right there in the "seminar". When they FINALLY got around to the nutrition aspect of the seminar (which lasted about 30 minutes) it was basically an infomercial for a book written by L. Ron Hubbard, and a "cleansing" program costing in excess of $1000, which was done at the ORG. In addition to that, I have come across many, many recruiters, in many different places. They do not approach you saying they are from the "church" of Scientology. They say, "would you like a free stress test?", then they hook you up to some stupid contraption, and ask you a bunch of questions. Without fail, they will then tell you that you MUST read dianetics...and attempt to lure you into Scientology. Did you know that L. Ron Hubbard planned, in advance, the recruitment of celebrities and movie stars? That was part of the plan, not simply coincidence. Now, in case you take me for a bigot, I will tell you this. long before I ever heard about Scientology, I was reading L. Ron Hubbard's science fiction novels. I was suprised to learn about his role in Scientology. When I began to learn more about it, I was impressed by a few of his theories related to brain function and memory. I understand that he was a very smart man, with some good ideas, but I would say that he was blinded by his own ego, and anything good that he had to offer has drowned among all the peripheral craziness. That's my take.

AngelinaH.. I maintain my beleif that if someone choses to follow a religion they should. And there are a lot more pressing problems in the world than Scientology that need attention of our youth.

As for your claim that the protesters are or have been damaged by scientology i think we both know that is a falacy. The group Anonymous is comprised mainly of studends who read about subject's online and get wraped up in a movement because it makes them feel like they are part of somthing.

As a persone who has both a friend who went to the protest and a friend who is a scientologist i think i have great perspective on the issue.

As for your question about religion.. I beleive in FREEDOM so if someone creates a life phylosophie that i find compelling at one point and i decide to believe in it i don't want you or anyone else telling me i can't. If i spend my whole life chasing somthing that ends up being not real.. Well that will be my problem, my choice and my responsibility.

Source for my claim that the protesters were mainly students who don't have first hand knowledge of scientology: http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=751f75a9-2f9d-451f-92cc...

What exactly makes an organization a religion? If L. Ron Hubbard can make his own religion, does that mean I can too? Who wants to say hip hip hooray to my portrait? Let me know, and I'll send you a framed print to hang in your living room/shrine. My next question is this, when do you draw the line between religion and cult? And to LIKWID, people have their own reasons for caring about what they do. You don't know why these people are protesting, so why would you condemn it? Perhaps if you had the experiences they have had, you might want to pick up a mask and get to protesting as well. I have known scientologists. I have had experiences at the ORG, and I have read about plenty of psychological damage as well as child abuse that goes on in the name of Scientology. In fact, I even knew a woman who was pregnant, and wouldn't go to the doctor. Even after her son was born, he didn't go to the doctor, and was only fed specific foods. The child looked incredibly ill, pale, and frail. This was all because of her and her husband's beliefs in Scientology. Her husband was rarely even home, because he had classes every night at the ORG. His brother, also a die-hard scientoligst, was constantly being a jerk to everyone (we worked in the same clinic) and was especially cruel to his wife (who also worked in the clinic). He would tell her to lose weight, and that she was fat and ugly, and disgraceful. All the while, he had a very open fling going on with the young receptionist. These guys all had charts on their walls, even at home, showing you different types of personalities, and their related "colors", and personality traits, which they used to judge everyone they met. Now, this is just your "normal" scientoligist, not those who are on STAFF. (Look into it) I don't think it's up to us to tell others what to care about. Perhaps, we should instead learn more about Scientology, and why anyone would want to protest it at these lengths. I'll try to come back later with some (disturbing) links.

I think people should be able to SAY whatever they want as long as they stay peaceful what is the problem?

Cyber terrorists, boy that terrorist label is so freely used these days...

If it is indeed true that the Church of Scientology coerces their members to remain in the fold, and they attack and threaten people who are critical of their ideas, then they could be labeled terrorists by the same standards as they are labeling the people who are critical of their ideas.

I guess the new definition of Terrorist now is anyone whose free speech is strongly opposed or disagreed with. Any critical thinker who is out spoken about their criticisms now can be labeled a terrorist.

And what's with the dust masks, that hardly conceals identity very well, what with facial recognition software that uses the eyes to make a positive identification.

Oh, SxV, there are some videos on YouTube of people being FOLLOWED. That's the creepiest it gets.

The fact that hundered's or thousands of youth are willing to mobilize and organize world wide in order to protest against a religion..

Yet there is war in Iraq genocide and darfur and thousands of children dying every day because of lack of food or water... Disturbs me.

Let people practice what ever religion they want. you do not have to agree with it. And if you are mad and want to fix this world i can name you 100 causes that are worth your time and energy far beyong scientology.

The fact that they are taking pictures of the protesters is really really creepy.