After doing a search for “dangerous cult” in Google and learning of their horrible methods of intimidation of detractors and how they harassed the IRS/US government into acknowledging them as a church and giving them tax-exempt status I was disgusted. Our government should have the sense to wield power more expertly than a group of lunatics

Every other country monitors them as a menace to their society. Other countries have used their power to shut them down and keep them from getting a foot-hold, not America. They are just as much terrorists as Al Qaida and worse.

The first Blog Carnival dedicated to CoS is being assembled. Blog Carnivals are collections of high-quality content on particular subjects which, through bringing together great content, bring together people of similar interests and help promote those interests more widely. They also help generate traffic from bloggers and blog-readers of given interests.

I’ve posted the info on the carnival, entitled Carnival of the Fraudless, here: http://theframeproblem.wordpress.com/2008/04/20/the-carnival-of-the-fraudless/

Best,

RB

Um, duh.

Could this credibility problem be due to all the ridiculous claims of huge membership numbers by CoS?
Or, maybe, that it has FRAMED people for bomb threats?
Or, maybe that it promises people superpowers and increased IQ?
Or, maybe that it has a vested interest ($$$) in trying to whitewash the truth to appear like a nice, tolerant little religion?

Along the same lines as “Scientology… credibility in question,” I’d also like to note that:
The sun is wicked, wicked hot.
Water is wet.
Grass is generally green.

What’s true for me is that I already have a religion, and don’t want any Scientology, tankyaverramuch. Am I an SP now?

This goes back to the 1970s (Marion Pouw and I married in February 1972 at Saint Hill and were together till about 1976…

well it is not 100% true, she contacted me in the 1980s to get copies of our UK divorce paperwork… anyhow…. I remember the Pouw family in Apeldoorn well - they were all then still involved a bit in Scientology but Marion was the only one in the Sea Org.. Her brother Tony is obviously the one married to this French woman Karin and I can see how he might of spent 10 years in the RPF… nice bloke but a bit dithery…

I was Estates at Saint Hill UK and played drums with Ron Miscavige and Ron Moss in the house band “The Jazz Influence” - we played away from Saint Hill a lot in 1973 and I sort of both drifted off the idea of the Sea Org as a way of life, while Marion worked at various jobs in London… as I got busier at a new job in the just beginning computer world and Marion went back to Saint Hill we sort of moved apart in a quite amicable way…

I never felt any pressure to be in or out of Scientology and even briefly met Ron Moss again when he was over in London with Chick Corea…
I was not ever aware of being “disconnected”… though tales I could tell about certain “goings on” with young David Miscavige’s sister Denise might make a few people blush and rush for their E Meters if they still use that stuff!

John,
Have you ever looked at anything that was critical of the organization? Like Operation Clambake? I know that you’re not allowed to read negative things about your church, that it’s considered entheta. I’m sorry you cannot see the information that would help you be completely apprised of the situation. I understand. Having been a member for 30 years (and yes, there were lots of positive things I gained from it), I am aware of how quickly you must shut down your mind when you encounter something critical. You must realize that you can never do a full “doubt formula.” You will never be able to see the whole picture. Reach out, we can help you. There’s a website for ex-SO, there’s an 800#, there’s a yahoo group. You won’t end up homeless. Really.

Our battle isn’t with you, nor is it with your relegion. The war on the ‘net is against the Church (though most battle against the releigion as well) and the way it is run. If Scientology works for you, it works for you. None are trying to dispute that.

Prehaps you’ve seen pictures of the Feb 10th protest. Notable among the signs are the ones that say “Relegion is free. Scientology isn’t.” This is one the main issues critics of the Church have. The above article says: “‘If somebody goes around giving away Bibles,’ Danos said, ’somebody has to pay for that’” Compare this to Christanity. The Gideons International is a global organization dedicated simply to passing out free bibles. They ensure that the scripture of the releigion is free to all who want it. The Church of Scientology offers their Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health for no less than $35. Similar prices for the vast ammonts of church literature quickly drive up the cost of knowledge. Every major relegion (Judaism, Islam, Christanity, Hinduism, Buddhism) has established organizations that freely distribute their relegious material. Sceintology does not.

Furthermore, The Church of Sceintology charges for it’s services. Does the Catholic Church charge for baptism? Does Buddhism place a price tag on enlightenment? To charge for services is in all ways acceptable, but are the prices that the Church charges nessicary? Islam is a powerfull force on the planet, and it survives wholly on donations. Why doens’t the Church of Sceintology try? Have it’s leaders been caught up by the money? Regaless of the releigous intent, the CHURCH seems to be a church of coinage.

Church officals and and parishioners who have pushed for reform have been expelled. This has occured in all faiths. Martin Luther began the Protestant movement because the Catholic Church turned into a “Cult of Greed and Power.” Today, the Freezone trys to reform the Church of Scientology, and they are silenced by the church just as Martin Luther was silenced.

“You just can’t argue with results!” We’re not. We’re arguing with the way the church is run. Why is it so costly to practice Scientology? Why is reform so suppressed? If it works for you, keep your faith. But ask yourself, why are things the way they are? “If you don’t want to, that’s fine. Your choice. Live and let live.”