Out of curiosity...

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-01-23 05:32am

What, exactly, pray tell, is Scientology?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-01-23 05:35am

It's a religion invented by the deceased Sci-Fi author L. Ron Hubbard. It's basically a religious version of his earlier Dianetics. Its sole purpose was to make him rich and powerful.

You basically keep paying shitload after shitload to have your "Thetan" (soul) cleansed of evil aspects, using a device that does nothing.

EDIT: deleted incorrect information regarding OT levels. OT VIII is the level that John Travolta is at, and he is convinced that he can levitate. It's rumored that OT levels might go as high as OT XV (possible "Total Freedom"), but everything after New OT VIII is incomplete, as LRH died around that time (1986).

Here's a site that explains all the evils of Scientology:
http://www.xenu.net/

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-01-23 05:38am

A bunch of kooks after your money. They believe some truly crazy shit (like Spanky said, check out xenu), but only reveal it once they've beat your brain down to enough mush that you'd actually accept it when they tell you.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-01-23 05:42am

They're also insanely obsessed with keeping their practices (particularly financial and legal practices) from being revealed to the public, and they sue over everything.

Shit, I'm surprised Operation Clambake is even still online...

EDIT: If I disappear in the next few days, or if SD.Net is shut down, you know what happened. Don't post any links or quotes from OC, as the Clams could be watching...

Faram · Post by **Faram** » 2003-01-23 07:25am

This pic says it all

It is the scientology attorney Helena Kobrin auditing a tomato!

Edited/ Moved the pic to my isp

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-01-23 07:57am

o O

I was just curious because some dipwad was handing out flyers for some Scientology fair yesterday...

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-01-23 09:45am

Vympel wrote:A bunch of kooks after your money. They believe some truly crazy shit (like Spanky said, check out xenu), but only reveal it once they've beat your brain down to enough mush that you'd actually accept it when they tell you.

And how is this different than any other religion?

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-01-23 09:46am

Darth Wong wrote:
Vympel wrote:A bunch of kooks after your money. They believe some truly crazy shit (like Spanky said, check out xenu), but only reveal it once they've beat your brain down to enough mush that you'd actually accept it when they tell you.

And how is this different than any other religion?[/quote

Not all religions are after your money?

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2003-01-23 09:48am

verilon wrote:Not all religions are after your money?

All religions go for money! Every one of them. Find me a faith that doesn't use money, have money, recieve money, need money, or give money away.

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-01-23 09:53am

Lagmonster wrote:
verilon wrote:Not all religions are after your money?
All religions go for money! Every one of them. Find me a faith that doesn't use money, have money, recieve money, need money, or give money away.

Find one of those tribes in the Amazon that have had no contact with the outside world. Their spirit-based religions use no money. I think that's about it though.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-01-23 10:18am

Darth Wong wrote:
Vympel wrote:A bunch of kooks after your money. They believe some truly crazy shit (like Spanky said, check out xenu), but only reveal it once they've beat your brain down to enough mush that you'd actually accept it when they tell you.
And how is this different than any other religion?

The "prophet" didn't even try to disguise the fact he was simply out to make money?

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2003-01-23 10:41am

Darth Wong wrote:
Vympel wrote:A bunch of kooks after your money. They believe some truly crazy shit (like Spanky said, check out xenu), but only reveal it once they've beat your brain down to enough mush that you'd actually accept it when they tell you.
And how is this different than any other religion?

Because $cientology has Travolta convinced he's the "Anti-Religion" or some shit.

I mean, how fucked up is that? Does Christianity ever convince people that they're godly messengers that can do magic tricks? (oh wait, wait... Shit, nevermind.)

Post by **haas mark** » 2003-01-23 10:42am

Lagmonster wrote:
verilon wrote:Not all religions are after your money?
All religions go for money! Every one of them. Find me a faith that doesn't use money, have money, recieve money, need money, or give money away.

You mistook that, Lag. Not every single religion is out to get your money and solely that.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2003-01-23 10:45am

They're social institutions. If they weren't trying to chrun out a profit, they wouldn't be institutionalized.

Millhouse: "But why would they lie, Bart? What would they have to gain?"
Rev. Lovejoy: (Emptying large collection plate into change counter) "I don't hear scrubbing!"

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-01-23 10:49am

Hmm. If the money were flowing the other way....

I, Zoink, will go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life if you give me $25 million CDN.

Isn't that cheap considering you'd be saving my soul? How can you put a price on that?

------

Of course, I don't think that economic model would hold up for long.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-01-23 10:50am

Do churches and temples run for free? Do the charities that they administer run on hope? The priests, rabbis, Imams, etc work for free? How does the church pay for the food they eat, the clothes they wear, the buildings they maintain?

C'mon, you guys may hate religion but let's get off the high horse on the reason why they need money. EVRYTHING needs money to run since the dawn of time, why should religious institutions be any different.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-01-23 11:00am

Stravo wrote:Do churches and temples run for free? Do the charities that they administer run on hope? The priests, rabbis, Imams, etc work for free? How does the church pay for the food they eat, the clothes they wear, the buildings they maintain?

C'mon, you guys may hate religion but let's get off the high horse on the reason why they need money. EVRYTHING needs money to run since the dawn of time, why should religious institutions be any different.

I have to agree with that, a lot of churches are charities too that help out people. I may find their ideals a bit dated and generally avoid religion organised or otherwise, but some of it makes sense.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2003-01-23 11:14am

Except that they make rediculous amounts of profit, which they use to build tons more churches around the country (some in my area have been building six-figure additions at a rate of one every year or two, serriously).

And yet time and time again they will try to weasel out of paying for them. Attempts to ignore late fees, last-second, several-thousand-dollar additions to blueprints, even trying to short-change the interior decorators (they're one of the only groups my mother has consistent problems trying to get pay for drapes, framed pictures, and shit in the same month the bill's due.

).
They're not 'just getting by like the rest of us', they are serriously trying to reap the rewards from fucking us over. And Utsanomiko doesn't bend over and grin when someone tries to fuck him over in his town. Not telecommunication companies, not Local Option Sales Taxes, and not churches.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-01-23 11:16am

Darth Utsanomiko wrote:Except that they make rediculous amounts of profit, which they use to build tons more churches around the country (some in my area have been building six-figure additions at a rate of one every year or two, serriously).

And yet time and time again they will try to weasel out of paying for them. Attempts to ignore late fees, last-second, several-thousand-dollar additions to blueprints, even trying to short-change the interior decorators (they're one of the only groups my mother has consistent problems trying to get pay for drapes, framed pictures, and shit in the same month the bill's due. ).
They're not 'just getting by like the rest of us', they are serriously trying to reap the rewards from fucking us over. And Utsanomiko doesn't bend over and grin when someone tries to fuck him over in his town. Not telecommunication companies, not Local Option Sales Taxes, and not churches.

Hey I never said they didn't overcharge, just that they did need some money.

Besides, everyone rips you off nowadays.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2003-01-23 11:19am

Oh sure, everyone has to overcharge in this day and age, but I still say they shouldn't be asking for that kind of money from us workin' folks when they won't give it back to us when they say they will. They're two-faced slimy bastards, in character and in pocketbook.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-01-23 12:34pm

Everyone needs money, but only the church will look you in the eye while taking your money and pretend that it's not for them.

Churches need money in the same sense that Microsoft needs money: operating costs of running their business. The only difference is that Microsoft pays taxes.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-01-23 12:37pm

Yeah but the money is for the good of your soul. Don't you get it? Not only does God need you to be squeaky clean in every aspect of life, he also wants the priests to charge you.

The Church is a spiritual banking agency. The Pearly Gates have one hell of a toll.

Utsanomiko · Post by **Utsanomiko** » 2003-01-23 01:07pm

What the fuck does Jesus need our money for?

Can't a bearded, robe-wearing bum buy his own fucking weed in Heaven?!

Post by **Zaia** » 2003-01-23 02:36pm

I would love to know how much money the Catholic religion brings in in terms of profits and how that directly contrasts to the monetary figure needed to keeping the nuns & priests fed and housed, the buildings maintained, etc. Part of the reason I'm an ex-Catholic now is because attending mass in a chapel decked out in gold-plated this, that and the other thing literally made my stomach churn. Is that needed? Will everyone go to hell if they sit their lazy asses on folding chairs instead of fancy wooden pews with real gold trim? Of course not. We could have worshiped in a sewer if we had to, if we had our priorities straight. How much money does that waste? Money they could have donated for any number of things.... Ah, I don't even want to think about it.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2003-01-23 03:09pm

Darth Wong wrote:
Vympel wrote:A bunch of kooks after your money. They believe some truly crazy shit (like Spanky said, check out xenu), but only reveal it once they've beat your brain down to enough mush that you'd actually accept it when they tell you.
And how is this different than any other religion?

lmao. thats brilliant.