Paul Haggis vs. Scientology

Richard Dower

Wow!....just happened upon this amazingly detailed, researched and written piece on the church. It took me hours....runs 26 pages but is an utterly engrosing read.

It's not your typical journo piece that only puts one side or starts with "Scientology is evil" and then creates a story to support that. It's extremely well fact checked, puts multiple accounts across, often contrdicatory and has numerous quotes from the churck, 99% of which are denials or calling defectors liars and perverts.

My not so intellectual conculsion about Scientology after reading the piece?

It's a money orientated cult, it relies on control and brainwashing to keep it's members in check. It's completely OBSESSED with image and PR/public perception.

Everything they say in statements is that of a lawyer, they have a rebuttal for everything, anyone who defects is a liar and sexual deviant of sorts.

The sheer level of "auditing"...translation, information gathering on it's members is astounding!, in many ways it reminds methe the Nazi party, members ratting out other members, punishments meeted out.

Moreso the courses and donations very much make it a church based on financial gain, but then again one could argue the Catholic church is the same in some respects.

The astounding list of high paid well known celebrities is staggering!....i fully belive they target the rich and famous for obvious reasons, these so-called "personality audits" are merely code for seeing who is fecked up enough to be brainwashed.

Scientology is NOT unique in regards it's tactics and methods, cults and many mainstream religions have obvious paralells. It's a fascinating albeit very long read but worth it.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright?currentPage=1

frozenfrozen

tl;dr

eth0

I ate a haggis once. Wasn't bad at all now

Mickey H

Tl;dr version: Scientology is a load of w@nk.

galwayrush

eth0 wrote: »

I ate a haggis once. Wasn't bad at all now

I almost ate some once,enjoyed it better that way.

Richard Dower

I tried the Religion section....but there was no subforum for cults......?

Reality_Check1

Its sad that when a new thread is opened in AH regardless of how well constructed or factual the post there always must be a procession of thanks whoring posts clogging up what may be a good discussion. Get a life ffs.

I believe the next step is to pick out something I have said and use that to restart the thanks whore cycle

galwayrush

Richard Dower wrote: »

I tried the Religion section....but there was no subforum for cults......?

Surely there's a section for the cult of the spagetti monster.:eek:
Plenty of places for the cult of celebrity.:mad:

Celebrities would probably have been a better forum, since half of them seem to be Scientologists lately.

frozenfrozen

Reality_Check1 wrote: »

Its sad that when a new thread is opened in AH regardless of how well constructed or factual the post there always must be a procession of thanks whoring posts clogging up what may be a good discussion. Get a life ffs.

I believe the next step is to pick out something I have said and use that to restart the thanks whore cycle

thinly veiled i have a life post




is that what you wanted? your counter-thankswhoring has been denied.

B.A._Baracus

Richard Dower wrote: »

It's a money orientated cult

Certainly is. Some of the stories i've read are just shocking.
But it has to be said L. ron hubbard was arrested for fraud back in the day. I guess the church of scientolgy stills shares his "vision" for making money


But on the subject of so many famous hollywood actors being apart of the group. They must have some control in Hollywood. Makes me think a few people joined the group to advance theirs careers.

Dangerous Man

Reality_Check1 wrote: »

Its sad that when a new thread is opened in AH regardless of how well constructed or factual the post there always must be a procession of thanks whoring posts clogging up what may be a good discussion. Get a life ffs.

I believe the next step is to pick out something I have said and use that to restart the thanks whore cycle

Thinly-veiled thanks whore post. Your one, I mean. Not mine.

housetypeb

[QUOTE=Richard Dower;80677441 It took me HOURS....runs 26 PAGES but is an utterly engrosing read.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright?currentPage=1[/QUOTE]
Wait until you start reading War and Peace,it'l take you the rest of your lip moving reading life to finish.

Richard Dower

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Certainly is. Some of the stories i've read are just shocking.
But it has to be said L. ron hubbard was arrested for fraud back in the day. I guess the church of scientolgy stills shares his "vision" for making money


But on the subject of so many famous hollywood actors being apart of the group. They must have some control in Hollywood. Makes me think a few people joined the group to advance theirs careers.

There is a long section about the famous Hollywood Playhouse....a class that spawned countless actors and celebs, they seemed to have had Scientology people planted to cherry pick the best.

B.A._Baracus

Richard Dower wrote: »

There is a long section about the famous Hollywood Playhouse....a class that spawned countless actors and celebs, they seemed to have had Scientology people planted to cherry pick the best.

Geez.
Is anything what you know instead of who you know in this life?

Reekwind

Depressing thread but great piece and well worth the read. No country, in the English-speaking world at least, can compare to the US when it comes to essays and short stories. This is a good example of the former: well written, informative, superbly researched, topical subject and avoids shrill hyperbole or caricatures

housetypeb wrote: »

Wait until you start reading War and Peace,it'l take you the rest of your lip moving reading life to finish.

How long would it usually take you to read a 25,000 word essay?

housetypeb

Reekwind wrote: »

How long would it usually take you to read a 25,000 word essay?

51 minutes.

Reekwind

That's War and Peace in about 15 hours. Well done to you

eth0

Reality_Check1 wrote: »

Its sad that when a new thread is opened in AH regardless of how well constructed or factual the post there always must be a procession of thanks whoring posts clogging up what may be a good discussion. Get a life ffs.

I believe the next step is to pick out something I have said and use that to restart the thanks whore cycle

Serious forums are elsewhere