Former C0$ Members speaking out

[Free in Freeport]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/us/07scientology.html

[DMB]

Of courses nothing there's nothing really new here. The Scis have been operating like this for years. They are right to say that other religious groups ostracise defectors. It's rather similar to the RCC threatening abuse victims with excommunication if they speak out.

One of my cousins married a woman who subsequently converted to scientology. He divorced her after she had given all their money to the Scis. She then took their daughter to a scientology community on the other side of the USA, where she was brought up. This girl used to spend holidays with us. She was an intelligent, engaging child, but in her late teens she was swallowed up by the Scis, started working full time for them and married another one. She is now lost to the whole family and we have no idea where she is.

[Ray Moscow]

I think some members here are committing a logical fallacy of the highest order: the allegations of poor behaviour by some Scientologist officials has no bearing on the truth of Scientologist teachings.

A Scientologist may be in a state of Thetan contamination, but the e-meter analyses and clearing he administers is yet valid because Thetans could very well be real and the source of most of the world's problems.

Similarly, the reputed boast of L. Ron Hubbard that he could simply "make up" a religion in no way indicates that Scientology is in any way "made up". Scientology stands on the strength of the success of its very successful practitioners, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Obviously these people are doing something right, and are thinking something right as well.

[Garnet]

Damn, Ray. Did that hurt?

[lordshipmayhem]

Of courses nothing there's nothing really new here. The Scis have been operating like this for years.

There is at least one new thing here, and it's a fascinating development.

I can't recall articles so critical of Scientology being printed in publications as august as the New York Times. They'd be afraid of being sued into bankruptcy or being the object of intense private detective scrutiny.

I'm seeing more of these now. Maybe the press has grown a backbone?

[Jobar]

I think some members here are committing a logical fallacy of the highest order: the allegations of poor behaviour by some Scientologist officials has no bearing on the truth of Scientologist teachings.

A Scientologist may be in a state of Thetan contamination, but the e-meter analyses and clearing he administers is yet valid because Thetans could very well be real and the source of most of the world's problems.

Similarly, the reputed boast of L. Ron Hubbard that he could simply "make up" a religion in no way indicates that Scientology is in any way "made up". Scientology stands on the strength of the success of its very successful practitioners, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Obviously these people are doing something right, and are thinking something right as well.
:rolling:
Now do it again, and defend the Aztecs tearing the hearts out of tens of thousands of victims a year! :D

[David B]

I think some members here are committing a logical fallacy of the highest order: the allegations of poor behaviour by some Scientologist officials has no bearing on the truth of Scientologist teachings.

A Scientologist may be in a state of Thetan contamination, but the e-meter analyses and clearing he administers is yet valid because Thetans could very well be real and the source of most of the world's problems.

Similarly, the reputed boast of L. Ron Hubbard that he could simply "make up" a religion in no way indicates that Scientology is in any way "made up". Scientology stands on the strength of the success of its very successful practitioners, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Obviously these people are doing something right, and are thinking something right as well.
:rolling:
Now do it again, and defend the Aztecs tearing the hearts out of tens of thousands of victims a year! :D

The Aztecs had a long and successful history as a civilisation.

Their problem - obviously - was that they offended their gods.

Best guess is that 'progressive' forces within the culture suggested, in the good times, as the civilisation grew old and complacent, that animal sacrifices would do instead, and hence displeased the gods:dunno:

David

[rog]

OOh, do 2012 next :)

[David B]

OOh, do 2012 next :)

Come on, Rog, you are the competition winner:D

Your turn:p

David