[.OrgOwner]

Does anyone know why so many high profile people appear to be drawn to this particular faith?

[River-pirate]

I believe its because of all the self help shyte that he has provided for the stars. He has been a screenwriter, poet, lyrisist, teacher, author etc. There were a few high profile celebrities that read his poop and live buy it. Since then it`s been chiche for the wealthy to follow it.

I think its a money grab myself.

[.OrgOwner]

Yeah I was just reading about James Packer's links with scientology, thats one pretty serious money connection right there, he's worth an estimated 7 billion... Australia's richest man.

[Sprinter]

If Tom Cruise it for it Im agin' it!

James Packer...his money comes from his (now dead) Dad. Will be interesting to see how long it lasts.He already lost a bundle on a bad telco deal here

[nedro]

Originally Posted by .OrgOwner

Does anyone know why so many high profile people appear to be drawn to this particular faith?

Same reason they all turned lezbian in the 90's. It's just a fad. Wait a few years and they'll be bathing in poopoo.

[dattaway]

From what I have seen, churches support families. Scientology appears to be nothing more than an adhoc support group for the entertainment industry. If you were a professional actor bored with the public life and wanted to have some fun, why not make a bad science fiction novel your cult religion?

[Quick 26]

because they can i guess. seems a bit out there to me

[Surffrog]

You know, that's what p*sses me off about it. It's giving science fiction a really bad name! When Tom et al go and do a Philip K. Dick novel/movie those stories get tarred with the same brush. It's bad enough that Dick made no money when he was alive and now he's dead, they get the movie rights cheap and further advertise their so-called "religion".

[dattaway]

Every other science fiction genre has a cult following. Star Trek, Star Wars, Space Balls... Scientology just happens to have the business model directly applied to the religion. The others enforce the rights to media and physical goods only. Its all about the money.

[Surffrog]

Dattaway, while I agree with what you have written, the rumours (true or otherwise - I'm not qualified say) surrounding this particular cult leave a rather unpleasant taste. And, unfortunately, many will and do directly associate one with the other.
Star trek's and Star Wars' cults, for example, are just seen as a little goofy and as an after thought, while Scientology has (apparently) a much darker side and is measured with almost as much significance as the movies it's connected to.

[solorsix]

I have my own "beliefs", I am not into scientology or anything but from what I do know about it... it is not that far fetched compared to any other religion.
And money seems to be a big part of other religions also. The whole thing is a little wierd, but really not much diff as any other imo.

[steingar]

While most religions require one to swallow a good sized load (you're going to cut what off?) Scientology seems more than most. Its founder was an honest to god nutcase, and was institutionalized. Its cannon reads like bad science fiction, which its founder wrote.

At least with most religions their principle architects are sufficiently ancient as to not show their warts.

[solorsix]

yeah, I honestly think L Ron started that to somehow avoid taxes or somehow get "religion" status tax creds.

[analogbear]

If I may, I would like to weigh in. I have read Dianetics...I read it right after Battlefield earth, and I had one of those copies with the cover cut off as a return to the publisher as unsold...I didn't know it was an attempt at being serious until about 35 pages in, and I decided to finish it as a lark. The reason so many high-profile types and successful folks are drawn to it is that it places your individual successes squarely on yourself. That means, unlike most monotheistic religions or even polythiestic religions with their various aspects and "fates," you need not look to a higher power to explain the good things in your life...Look only at how good you are. You then will "draw to you" all the good things...Of course, you must also work on your latent-homosexuality, the assumptions here twofold: that EVERYONE is a latent homosexual; and that homosexuality is BAD...I am certainly not qualified to pass j-ment on either of those propositions...Additionally, one must work on (by use of a primitive bio-feedback machine from the 1930's) other "latent" issues that stand in the way of your success...Very scary/seductive stuff for people of a certain mindset.

I happened to like Battlefield Earth, so I disagree with Steingar on that, but I get his point...The idea that aliens came millions of years ago and populated the planet with their genes...Boy, that is wierd...Almost as wierd as some superbeing cloaked in white on an ephemeral throne, sending a human son who wasn't human to die because of the interference of the local temple collecting prayer-duties...Hmmmnnnn...Lots of science fiction and fantasy in religion, don't ya know...

[steingar]

I said most religions make you swallow a big load, didn't I?

You read Battlefield Earth? Don't you have anything better to do?

[analogbear]

Originally Posted by steingar

I said most religions make you swallow a big load, didn't I?

You read Battlefield Earth? Don't you have anything better to do?

I read it on deployment...And, I read really fast. Really. I can read fiction to the tune of 300+ pages an hour[edit: I mistyped that...it's 100+ pg per hr], so that book didn't take me too long.

[jaim]

Because it is a major tax dodge. Although the latent homosexuality angle is interesting.

[Surffrog]

Oh, Bear, and I was gonna pick you up on that. Damn, you beat me to it!

[lanbrown]

Originally Posted by analogbear

If I may, I would like to weigh in. I have read Dianetics...I read it right after Battlefield earth, and I had one of those copies with the cover cut off as a return to the publisher as unsold...I didn't know it was an attempt at being serious until about 35 pages in, and I decided to finish it as a lark. The reason so many high-profile types and successful folks are drawn to it is that it places your individual successes squarely on yourself. That means, unlike most monotheistic religions or even polythiestic religions with their various aspects and "fates," you need not look to a higher power to explain the good things in your life...Look only at how good you are. You then will "draw to you" all the good things...Of course, you must also work on your latent-homosexuality, the assumptions here twofold: that EVERYONE is a latent homosexual; and that homosexuality is BAD...I am certainly not qualified to pass j-ment on either of those propositions...Additionally, one must work on (by use of a primitive bio-feedback machine from the 1930's) other "latent" issues that stand in the way of your success...Very scary/seductive stuff for people of a certain mindset.

I happened to like Battlefield Earth, so I disagree with Steingar on that, but I get his point...The idea that aliens came millions of years ago and populated the planet with their genes...Boy, that is wierd...Almost as wierd as some superbeing cloaked in white on an ephemeral throne, sending a human son who wasn't human to die because of the interference of the local temple collecting prayer-duties...Hmmmnnnn...Lots of science fiction and fantasy in religion, don't ya know...

Success can come when someone is an absolute idiot. I have witnessed a company getting rid of people because they are perceived as a non-valuable asset to the company. They upper management has said to cut jobs so they pick those people. Later management finds out that some of the people that were let go were the ones that knew what they were doing and helping those that didn’t. They kept the ones that didn’t because they looked like they were the workhorses but only because others were basically doing the job.

Take Tom Cruise. He has no talent and he claim to fame was because the females thought he was cute and saw him in his underwear.
Scientology is popular with the stars because It makes them feel better about their wealth. It helps them justify it in their mind.

[analogbear]

Originally Posted by lanbrown

Scientology is popular with the stars because It makes them feel better about their wealth. It helps them justify it in their mind.

That's what I said. They can allow for the right-ness of that success, and take the responsibility for creating the conditions that allowed for that success to be bestowed upon them. Obviously, all "successful" people are not smart ones, depending of course on your working definition of "successful," nor are all smart people successful in some famous or economically robust fashion. But, I included "high profile" in my description too, and that would apply even in the microcosm of a corporation, a family, school, local or professional sports team, etc.

All of that said, it might be more interesting to note that the majority of economically or famously successful people are NOT scientologists...

[bettingpython]

I read Battlefield Earth thought it was a good piece of science fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed his Invaders Plan as well. Never could read dianetics. Hubbards fiction was great. There have been several exposes on the supposed lies, and half truths concerning his military records and his drug usage recently. I think that in an age of lesser information and research capabilities scientology would not be so controversial. After all how long does one have to be deceased before cannonization into sainthood by the Catholic church? If it survives the next hundred or so years and the records and controversial points of his life fade into darkness Hubbard may well be seen as a saint like founder of a religious order.

[trippd]

What can these 'intellectual giants' be thinking by latching on to a science fiction author to grasp on spectually truth & reality?

[bettingpython]

What about St. Francis of Asissi? He was a wealthy born want to be poet and a troubador a businessman and warrior who spent a year as a POW.

Why would the Catholics latch on to such an individual as a spiritual leader?

Religion and faith are found in many strange places, I don't agree or disagree with the Dogma of Catholicsm or Scientology.

[BALDGONZO]

I'ts Sunday morning. Aren't you people supposed to be in church instead of starting a year old thead back up again?

But since you are, I'll watch.

[sheepofblue]

Lots of weak minded people in Hollyweird that are great at pretending to be something else. That is why many have drug, marriage and other moral issues. It might be related but I have no idea as they are proportionately a small number of the total, just the ones the media focus on. Much easier to follow a freak show and take notes than gather actual news.

[ffmedicgerbs]

ok, i have to say something on this subject, especially because i live in clearwater FL (for those who dont know.. its scientology headquarters)

they took over almost all of down town clearwater, and its actually fun to ride on the way to the beach and yell out things about zenu (one of there god like figures) and jesus, just because.

but i believe the big thing behind it is money.

soem of you may not be aware but a group of hackers (they call themselves anonomos ... i think) hacked there databases and bank accounts and all other forms of stored information.

they are planning a war against the religion and they promise to expose their lies and scandals that us common people are un-aware of.

they have a few videos of there messages on the internet, youtube being one of the sites, but its actually a bit creepy.

i believe they already planned a date for the attack

they said no-violence but the damage will be much worse than any type of violence could possibly casue..

idk... it will be interesting

[lanbrown]

Actually anonymous is not a group. There are several groups that are waging a way on Scientology. Anonymous is just that it could be any of the groups; hence anonymous.

[ffmedicgerbs]

lol ok.. i stand corrected.. at least im not the only one who knows about this