Damned Christians

[Angrboda]

Scientology is beyond the pale.  I've never understood how they conned any government into recognising them as a religion with tax exemption. On reflection, no ta long way down the street from Mormons. Seems to me that a great many Mormons have simply put all their eggs into one basket. Problem is, it's the wrong fucking basket. I can understand gullible, under educated 19th century people falling for the  shit. But I find it hard to believe a reasonable person in the 21st century would fall for it.

I think it took a while for governments and the general public to see the true nature of the Scientologists' organization. After all, "a bunch of kooky beliefs" is common among nearly all religions.

As for the Mormons, they have a cultural foothold. Stronger in Utah than elsewhere. If their numbers are dwindling, they'll likely stabilize around that "cultural core" in Utah and nearby. They might have overextended themselves with their evangelical projects.

The story of how the church got the IRS to give them tax free status is a whole chapter unto itself. The story in some quarters is that the church of Scientology pressured individual IRS officials through following, intimidation, and lawsuits until they finally gave in.