In a nutshell; what is Scientology?

[tinfoilinfor2005]

The literature on it is confusing and the more I read about it the hokier it sounds, so I think I may be missing the logic. So what makes it so compelling to some people?

[Kelvin Mace]

1. From operation clambake

The Church of Scientology is a vicious and dangerous cult that masquerades as a religion. Its purpose is to make money. It practices a variety of mind-control techniques on people lured into its midst to gain control over their money and their lives. Its aim is to take from them every penny that they have and can ever borrow and to also enslave them to further its wicked ends.

It was started in the 1950s by a science fiction writer named L. Ron Hubbard in fulfilment to his declared aim to start a religion to make money. It is an offshoot to a method of psychotherapy he concocted from various sources which he named "Dianetics". Dianetics is a form of regression therapy. It was then further expanded to appear more like a religion in order to enjoy tax benefits. He called it "Scientology".

Scientology is a confused concoction of crackpot, dangerously applied psychotherapy, oversimplified, idiotic and inapplicable rules and ideas and science-fiction drivel that is presented to its members (at the "advanced" levels) as profound spiritual truth.

http://www.xenu.com/roland-intro.html

[tinfoilinfor2005]

8. Oh, that "Splains a lot, Lucy!"

Pretty strange stuff!

[Kelvin Mace]

2. The illustrated "gospel" can be found

here: http://www.xenu.com/archive/scientology_illustrated/

[tinfoilinfor2005]

10. Very clever presentation. I noticed a cross on one of the churches

in the pictures, perhaps in LA? Is it affiliated with Christianity? I find that hard to believe but the cross threw me off. Like I said, I'm totally ignorant about this stuff.

[Kelvin Mace]

26. Nope

and they have animosity towards Catholicism and most "mainstream" religions.

[Taxloss]

3. A very efficient way of making money

at the cost of innocents' mental health.

[Locut0s]

4. An exert from wikipedia should give you an idea of just how crazy it is...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientology

"
Most famously, all of those who reach OT level III will learn about Xenu, the galactic tyrant who stacked hundreds of billions of his frozen victims around Earth's volcanoes 75 million years ago before blowing them up with hydrogen bombs and brainwashing them with a "three-D, super colossal motion picture" for 36 days. The traumatised thetans subsequently clustered around human bodies, in effect acting as invisible spiritual parasites that can only be removed using advanced Scientology techniques. Reportedly, the cost of reaching OT III approaches $360,000<4>.
"

[LoZoccolo]

5. Ha! I was just reading that parts of that. My favorite part is...

These included incidents such as being "deceived into a love affair with a robot decked out as a beautiful red-haired girl", being run over by a Martian bishop driving a steamroller, being transformed into an intergalactic walrus which perished after falling out of a flying saucer and being "a very happy being who strayed to the planet Nostra 23,064,000,000 years ago".

[tinfoilinfor2005]

12. No way. Martians too?

I can understand maybe Tom Cruise because he doesn't seem to be a genius, but I watched an interview with John Travolta once and he came off as pretty bright. I don't get it (scratching head).

[K-W]

16. You go through levels of programming, making you more vulnerable.

By the time you learn the crazy alien shit youve already been through an extensive psychological program.

At the beginning its basically sold as a scientific/spiritual self help routine.

Which is why they hate psychiatrists.

[LoZoccolo]

18. And then I remember that L. Ron Hubbard was a science fiction writer.

Which is really strange to me, seeing as these stories from the article seem pretty cartoonish and amateur, at least in the abstract.

[lovuian]

6. Its a intricate philosophy of how emotions can be used to

manipulate people or to motivate people.

It does have some interesting points

It has an emotional scale
and how people react!!!

I can see why its involved in Hollywood cause it shows how film can manipulate people's emotions and motivate them to do things!!!

They analyze but it doesn't have God in it at all!!!from what I can tell!!!

[DRoseDARs]

7. Star Wars without the Star Wars....

They believe in Metaclorians. 'Nuff said.

Edit: Metaclorians are "magical fairies" that live in your blood and give you power over The Force.

[Hippo_Tron]

9. It's like being a Jedi but you don't get to do cool shit

[tinfoilinfor2005]

11. Oh no! You mean like buying the Jedi sword at the dollar store?

No lights, no buzz?

[Hippo_Tron]

13. And you don't get to lift shit with your mind, jump 60 feet into the air..

Use mindtricks, etc.

[K-W]

15. Ohh, but if you keep auditing, someday, oh someday you will. EOM

[blondeatlast]

21. Best. Explanation. Ever.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: MAO!

[K-W]

14. You wanted a nutshell: You pay out your ass to get mind fucked.

Thats scientology in a nutshell.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

17. There you go sugar coating it!

:)

[blondeatlast]

23. Best. Explanation. Ever. Pt 2.

In fact, I think yours takes #1--too bad it's so true, otherwise it would be funny.

[Chichiri]

19. Objectivism for the theistic-minded.

Basically.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

20. Freedom and achievement for those who view themselves as

philosophers?

Pretty high minded. But I don't see the theory behind it, especially if they are being led around by the nose by a ten cent science fiction writer.

[karlrschneider]

22. A bunch of nuts....in their shells.

:D

[blondeatlast]

24. If only they wouldn't keep cracking up--

especially in public (ala Tom Cruise).

[countingbluecars]

25. It sounds pretty wacky,

but at least no wars have been fought in the name of Scientology.