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all 48 comments

[–]H_J_C 16 points17 points ago

watch this, explains it pretty well

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwPMHM3qC9w

[–]sinedup4 22 points23 points ago

This does pretty well in 2 minutes and 59 seconds.

[–]kidl33t 6 points7 points ago

Not in America and using Chrome? If you hear the video playing in the background, click on the black backdrop behind the banner, and click inspect element. Click the high-lighted element text in the box that opens, and select 'Delete Element'. Click the X in the corner of the new elements box, and enjoy.

[–]MeInMyMind 7 points8 points ago

Hearing and seeing this kind of harassment from the church scares the living shit out of me. I don't even care how they can sleep at night while ruining peoples' lives and making their ex-members' lives living hells.

How to do you combat such harassment and intimidation? It seems that any way of fighting back would make matters worse. Do you just ignore them? What happens when seven members come at you (relatives or not), and you cannot simply ignore them?

[–]HipOrLacking 2 points3 points ago

Money makes a soft pillow.

[–]dave256hali 3 points4 points ago

Damnit you just made me watch that whole thing. Great follow up to the last Panorama. Thanks.

[–]donisaac 14 points15 points ago

[–]Enohp119 12 points13 points ago

that was terrifying

[–]piedmontwachau 8 points9 points ago

I don't think terrifying does that justice.

[–]BNDenn 2 points3 points ago

I turned it off after the first three notes of that music and I'm still going to have nightmares.

[–]bronsonbaker 0 points1 point ago

That's crazy.. Is that a reputable site? I mean they listed their sources but I don't know how that shit doesn't get out. The Roman Catholic Church can't hide raping little boys, but they can get away with killing people?

[–]Wubbledaddy 2 points3 points ago

I closed it after the boiling bathwater part, can someone please just put this into text for me so I can see it with out the graphic pictures and creepy music.

[–]tadrinth 7 points8 points ago

It's not only a cult, it's a cult that is obviously profit-oriented. But they'll sue the pants off anyone who says so, and if that doesn't work they have no qualms about breaking laws to discredit anyone who annoys them.

[–]H1deki 30 points31 points ago

ELI5 version:

1.) Ron L. Hubbard, a Sci-Fi novelist essentially made a bet with his friend, saying : "betcha I can start a religion!" Ron won the bet.

2.) It requires the practitioners to pay large sums of money. You rank up within the church, and ranks require money. This is why you hear about people losing their life savings, and See a lot of rich, influential people joining.

3.) It is large, and secretive, with rituals that people would perceive as strange, such as placenta eating.

[–]Keui 77 points78 points ago*

First of all, L. (Lafayette) Ron Hubbard, not Ron L Hubbard.

Second of all, a more precise quote from various sources is "You don't get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion."

Third, indeed, the money is a big issue, another big issue is excommunication, where people are encouraged to leave their families if their families are not fully supportive of their decision to pursue Scientology.

Fourth, several convictions of fraud, Operation Snow White, Fair game practices, and SO SO SO much more.

Finally, exceptionally litigious activities and poor legal ethics (go away or we'll sue you. Oops, didn't realize you were recording me, bye.)

EDIT: Here is perhaps the best explanation, from an earlier iteration of this same question: ELI5 Scientology

[–]Fuqwon 10 points11 points ago

Yeah it's weird to have a "religion" that has litigation as a key practice. They successfully sued the IRS into submission.

They also just believe a lot of insane shit. Evil alien overlords, alien souls, Hubbard defending the planet with his mind powers, etc.

The higher up you are, you're also supposed to gain special powers. Tom Cruise for example should be able to manipulate time, space, matter, and energy with his mind.

Then there's the creepy factor, like Hubbard living on a ship and only being attended to by teenage girls.

[–]thephotoman 2 points3 points ago

Actually, according to CoS docs, Cruise isn't even OTIII.

He doesn't even know about Xenu.

[–]thehollowman84 8 points9 points ago

They also just believe a lot of insane shit. Evil alien overlords, alien souls, Hubbard defending the planet with his mind powers, etc.

To be fair, no more crazy than any other religion.

[–]Mason11987 2 points3 points ago

3) As far as I'm aware that practice "placenta eating" is not exactly a Scientology thing, although I'm sure they do it, other people do too.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

tl;dr he's a thieving bastard who is probably an undiagnosed delusional schizophrenic.

[–]troubleondemand 0 points1 point ago

Um. He's dead.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

I know, which makes it perfectly legal to slander the pedophile bastard.

[–]drinks_at_the_ackbar 17 points18 points ago

Please please PLEASE use the search function. This has been asked many times.

[–]justheretofap 2 points3 points ago

Moneymaking scheme that has disguised itself as a religion.

[–]Hands3 1 point2 points ago

It's a religion about alien spirits living in your body, creates. Y a sci-fi writer in the 50's. Nuff' said!

[–]Beatnik_Soiree 1 point2 points ago

Because it's crazy, and fake, and everyone knows it.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]Wyldnfryd 3 points4 points ago

Well, it's pretty different in that few other religions are founded by science fiction writers who said they'd do it for the money.