Do you think Scientology sells anyone on its belief?

[Sweden83]

So from South Park, what i could guess is.

We are basically living a lie based upon some ancient alien that tricks us, to think of stuff that isnt actually real. So what we percieve as real isnt actually real.

Thats the basic understanding i can see what this religion is about

[Rev. Rye]

Yeah, if they were up front about this, they wouldn’t have gained any headway outside of the terminally strange. Thing is, they put it behind a paywall of a bit over $150,000 in accumulated course fees. And only about 10% of Scientologists reach that point, or are even invited to (and, yes, unless you’re willing to seek out the info on your own on Wikileaks, it’s technically invite-only.)

For insight into how they actually get members, here’s a post I wrote three years ago.

Well, for just one insight into why people would be dumb enough to join the Co$, consider the case of Ron Miscaviage. He was just a normal Pennsylvania man in the late Sixties who had to deal with headaches and struggled to help his real estate job. Then he overheard someone talking about Scientology at a conference and he learned about some odd techiques, including "the next time you get a headache, look into the mirror and give it to that guy." Crazily enough, it worked. He then ended up going to meetings and learned some techniques to help him with his job, like acknowledging people when they talk to you, making sure they know you understand them. That also helped him. Then he sent his son David in to see if they could help with his Asthma.

Twenty years later, Davey-Boy became the grand Pooh-Bah of the whole goddam enterprise and, by this point, he had become entrenched in the church, and even though he was in the Sea Org working with little pay (for all Miscaviage's faults, nepotism is not one of them), he remained loyal to the church. Eventually, he left and, despite all of the shit he had to endure under his Tyrannical son, he still practices Scientology (outside the CoS, naturally).

How did it retain such a hold on him? Simple: they started with the thin end of the wedge. Start with a little exercise to help with some personal problem, and then, if it works, then the path is cleared for them to get into the stranger things.

I know what you're thinking "everyone knows about the crazy shit Scientology does to people. Why bother? Well, in addition to that, the Church emphatically denies anything that could potentially be embarassing, and given how bizarre both the official doctrine (OT 3) and the abuses David Miscaviage inflicts on his underlings (North Korea-like POW camps in double wides in California?) can be, it can be easy to assume that it's all exaggerated if you don't look too closely into it. It's not too hard to see that, if one's curious, but willing to trust the Church, it's certainly not hard to see how one can believe it.

It’s also worth noting that when the Miscaviages were getting into it, LRH was working on the Xenu story.

[Apollo]

Scientology is one of those ideas that I tried to give a fuck about few times but failed every time—I realized my time and brain cells were a lot more important than knowing anything about this cuckoo idea so i just stopped.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

So from South Park, what i could guess is.

We are basically living a lie based upon some ancient alien that tricks us, to think of stuff that isnt actually real. So what we percieve as real isnt actually real.

Thats the basic understanding i can see what this religion is about

Do you think South Park is good source material for topics about science and religion?  Are you really an idiot or just playing at it?

Boru

[Sweden83]

So from South Park, what i could guess is.

We are basically living a lie based upon some ancient alien that tricks us, to think of stuff that isnt actually real. So what we percieve as real isnt actually real.

Thats the basic understanding i can see what this religion is about

Do you think South Park is good source material for topics about science and religion?  Are you really an idiot or just playing at it?

Boru

Season 1-3 i think was good. But it became way more its own show after that. But its why i am asking here. I dont go to scientology church

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Do you think South Park is good source material for topics about science and religion?  Are you really an idiot or just playing at it?

Boru

Season 1-3 i think was good. But it became way more its own show after that. But its why i am asking here. I dont go to scientology church

So, you don't go to 'scientology church' is the reason why you ask on an atheist message board if a cartoon interpretation of a religious cult is correct.

This sort of thing is making it hard for me to decide if you're genuinely stupid in a general sense, or just bad at trolling.

Boru

[Sweden83]

Season 1-3 i think was good. But it became way more its own show after that. But its why i am asking here. I dont go to scientology church

So, you don't go to 'scientology church' is the reason why you ask on an atheist message board if a cartoon interpretation of a religious cult is correct.

This sort of thing is making it hard for me to decide if you're genuinely stupid in a general sense, or just bad at trolling.

Boru

I mean i do have hobbies, if you mean if i am intelectually stupid?
I am doing audiobooks usually. 4th sunnah collection on sunnah dot com website.. Its to make people more informed and not buy into politicians who say one or the other.
But what do you do outside the forums?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

So, you don't go to 'scientology church' is the reason why you ask on an atheist message board if a cartoon interpretation of a religious cult is correct.

This sort of thing is making it hard for me to decide if you're genuinely stupid in a general sense, or just bad at trolling.

Boru

I mean i do have hobbies, if you mean if i am intelectually stupid?
I am doing audiobooks usually. 4th sunnah collection on sunnah dot com website.. Its to make people more informed and not buy into politicians who say one or the other.
But what do you do outside the forums?

Mostly fighting crime and punishing evil doers.  I trained for it ever since my parents were murdered leaving the theatre.  Fortunately, they were able to leave me a substantial sum of money to support my activities, as well as leaving me in the care of a trusted family retainer.

Boru

[Sweden83]

I mean i do have hobbies, if you mean if i am intelectually stupid?
I am doing audiobooks usually. 4th sunnah collection on sunnah dot com website.. Its to make people more informed and not buy into politicians who say one or the other.
But what do you do outside the forums?

Mostly fighting crime and punishing evil doers.  I trained for it ever since my parents were murdered leaving the theatre.  Fortunately, they were able to leave me a substantial sum of money to support my activities, as well as leaving me in the care of a trusted family retainer.

Boru

Sounds like you like reading comics. But thats cool to hear!

[Nay_Sayer]

Are Oranges too feathery to be 22 cup?