Actress Lee Remini's Series On Scientology. Cult, Religion and/or Why?

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WhatInThe

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I've been watching A&Es series about Scientology from the former member actress Lee Remini's standpoint. I've heard various stories over the years but this series puts it into one package.

Included were stories of ex members being harassed, followed, besmirched, belittled by current church members. Also if one has a transgression of the rules they are 'interrogated'. The main compound is designed to keep people in. People sign away a lot of their rights and money. The 'church' become your life. Family members ignore or berate their own family who speaks poorly of the church let alone ignores them.

I understand people's search for a way or ideal way of life including a belief and philosophical standpoint. It sounds like the church is cult. But if someone is asking me for all of my money and wants me to sign a contract stating as such-ding, ding, ding, buh bye.

I sort of understand many from the church not being happy with the ex members since the church does provide for them. So for many the source of their food, clothing and shelter is being attacked. I see the same reaction in many private organizations and/or companies. But they're defending and practicing the same questionable practices, policies being discussed.

I'm just stunned at the length of time scientology has survived. A lot of 'cults' end when the founding probably charismatic leader dies or leaves the organization.
 

I know this is something near and dear to Leah, but every single time I see her on tv, she's going on and on about Scientology. She needs to cool it some, I find myself avoiding listening to her.
 
Yes, I consider it a dangerous cult and not a church at all. There is a very thorough write up on Wikipedia. I think Leah is very instrumental in shedding light on this subject, although her style might not appeal. Scientologists get very angry when anyone questions their so-called religion and have been instructed to cut off friends and family who object to it.
 

Scientology is a quintessential example of a cult.

As for being a church, that depends on the definition of the word church. In the wider understanding of the word it certainly is not but in the wider meaning of the word which does not include religion it is.
 
I was watching tv last night and there was an add on, about helping each other, etc. At first I thought it was the Mormon Church but it was Scientology. Have never seen that before.
 
aeron said:
Scientology is a quintessential example of a cult.

As for being a church, that depends on the definition of the word church. In the wider understanding of the word it certainly is not but in the wider meaning of the word which does not include religion it is.
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Their 503 tax status should have been yanked a long time ago. I had a old high school buddy that got mixed up with Scientology, they soaked him for thousands of $$; at least he no longer had a drug habit, not that he could have afforded one, after they got done fleecing him.
 
Robusta said:
I have watched some of her series. She may have valid points about this church, but to me she comes across as petty whining and vindictive.
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You have to remember that she was in the cult since early childhood, she didn't join, she was pretty much born into it - and escaped only to be subjected to shunning and criticism from all sides. It is very traumatic to leave and start over. These children are literally prisoners subjected to child labor, abused and without proper schooling or socializing.

Anyone can be sucked into a cult at any time --- read some literature on the subject and learn that their recruitment and indoctrination methods are very sophisticated, using mind control, such as was used on prisoners during the second world war. They don't want poor vulnerables, they want intelligent well functioning members who will bring in money and make the cult more powerful.

This is relevant now because the current terrorist organizations are actually cults using mind control indoctrination methods to recruit kids into killer terrorist groups like ISIS.

http://www.decision-making-confidence.com/mind-control-techniques.html
 
There has been the suggestion....for years....that Scientology started as a bar bet between L.Ron Hubbard, and Robert Heinlein, a noted Science Fiction writer, over Hubbard's ability to create a "religion". One of the things I remember reading about Scientology is that humans came from the planet Zog, and traveled here in a vehicle strongly resembling a Boeing 707. Everything I've read on the subject strongly indicates that this "cult" is a figment of someone's heightened imagination....and supports P.T. Barnum's statement about "A new sucker is born every minute".
 
In the series they pointed out the members are cared for no matter how poor or unethical it may be so could explain the loyalty to 'the church'. But what puzzles me is that what does it purport to promise. What are the tenants that supposedly help people. Is it a moral code? Is it therapeutic?, Is it a way of life? Besides being given the necessities what's the main attraction or benefit. I get there are 'empty' people out there and frequently just about any code or philosophy could fill a void but what attracts new members, not those born into it but new members?
 
WhatInThe, if you want to learn more about cult recruitment strategies and thought control indoctrination, you could try googling 'Cult Retruitment strategies" or Scientology to read up on it, there are many many articles to read, one does not have to be empty inside or looking for anything to be a candidate for cult mind control.
 
I was/am put off by the way they snuck into Clearwater, bought the Ft Harrison hotel under a phony name and made it their HQ.
 
I really do not think that Tom Cruise's religious preference is any of Leah Remini's business.
 
I think Tom Cruise's so called religious preference is everybody's business. I recall him being on a talk show, maybe Larry King, spouting off against the mental health medical community and the use of psychotropic medications. He was literally frothing at the mouth. I also recall him leaping up and down on Ellen's couch. He seems off his rocker to me and not qualified to be giving anyone any kind of advice.
 
I agree with Cookie, he has willingly and very publically talked about his religion and superior knowledge. That opens him up to criticism if he likes it or not. What did he think everyone would say? 'oh Tom you are so smart and so right' Yeah right.
 
Once again, my opinion of my religion is my business. If I want to share it and some talk show wants to give me a platform, fine. If I go bonkers and create a bad impression about me and my religion, fine. But your opinion of my religion is not something for you to air publicly. If you want to call me a whack job based on my actions, fine - stick to that.

I know little about Scientology, I know little about Hinduism. I would not attack either publicly.
 
Sorry, Ray, Scientology is not a religion, its a cult posing as a religion - that's very different, since cults can be dangerous, violent and harmful. I know personally what kind of harm it does because I have lost some friends to Scientology as well as to another cult. So it really does need to be exposed in order to to prevent other victims from falling into their trap.
 
As I admitted, I am not a student of Scientology. I am more of the "you leave me alone and I'll leave you alone" school of thought.

So, please help me, how is one "lost" to Scientology?
 
We lose our friends and families to cults like Scientology because if anyone has any complaints about it or if anyone leaves, they are a considered a subversive person and the all the members must disconnect with them completely, including children, parents, family members and friends. In the past anyone who criticized it was sued. Your attitude of live and let live can be dangerous in situations like this.
http://www.toptentopia.com/2016/03/07/the-10-most-famous-cults-in-united-states-history/
 
I remember many years ago when Scientology was fairly new a radio personality in Colorado said something not too flattering about the cult, not long after that he received a box in his mailbox that had a live rattlesnake in it. He was sure the Scientologists had sent it.
 
I think that if a religion or cult or club or group tells a person that they must disconnect from the people that love them, then there's something wrong with that picture and the best thing is to try and help people see how damaging the group (like Scientology) is. We all need as many folks in our lives, who love us and have our back, to get through whatever life hands you. So I admire Lea Remini for her obvious wish to educate the public on what Scientology is all about.
 
I watched a couple segments the other night and I must say, I thought it was a bit complex at first. They have all these levels and indoctrination is intense. So, they entice you and make you feel good about what you are doing--helping mankind. Then, they begin the controlling and make you feel like dirt and place this awful fear into you that by leaving, you will lose your family. You will leave with nothing as they take all you have. Then once they have your head, they reshape you into a devout member and have you believing that the organization is one that does good. Brainwashing.

This may be effective because they do this over a long period of time and children are born and they can really begin controlling them. They have you ratting each other out for whatever they consider infractions. There is physical and mental abuse involved. Fear.

I listened to her interview several defectors that seemed to have the same story. These people were broken and some will always be scarred emotionally. The most interesting one was his father. Yes, his father defected. What they try to do is take over the parenting roll, even he was to address his son a certain way--couldn't call him by his first name!

It probably is a very good thing this cult is being exposed. They take from people thousands of dollars. They force them to buy and read every book and CD they put out of their nonsense. I don't understand how they can get away with calling themselves a church or religion. It is dangerous IMO. To those who remember Jonestown--it took us a while to understand that
a charismatic leader and mind control can get someone to do almost anything. Scary stuff.
 

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