re: New Scientology Documentary HBO 7pm

for me, becoming somewhat obsessed with the topic started with tom cruise jumping on a couch. Everyone heard he was a scientologist, but I didn't know what that was because publications wouldn't go into for fear of being sued. I just always assumed it was some kind of blend between science and Christianity. A church that recognized science as the how in explaining god's creation

then I saw him jumping on a couch, and thought "wow, he's insane. what the frick is scientology?"

then when I was stationed in the Puget sound there must have been some kind of center there because I saw some sea org (I thought they were some weird navy dudes) on the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle. They were weird and creepy as shite.

I've read a lot about it, but I guess the most simplistic understanding of it is a first world north korea organized somewhat like a pyramid scheme.

so I watched the documentary last night and they really did an ok job. 2 hours and it's not really in depth, but I guess it's for people who don't know anything about scientology

anyway, I just kept getting annoyed at these people who have left the church (I actually didn't know they had left, I saw some one of them on the Sweeney bbc segment)

I get that they're victims, all of them, but none of them have taken personal responsibility for the many lives they helped ruin. none of them. they even asked what they regret and still not one of them could cop to participating in the same fricked up shite, and apologizing for it

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I get that they're victims, all of them, but none of them have taken personal responsibility for the many lives they helped ruin. none of them. they even asked what they regret and still not one of them could cop to participating in the same fricked up shite, and apologizing for it

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Especially the the bald headed guy that went to jail. On an interview with the today show, he said he was responsible for setting up the operations arm of the intel group. Could you imagine the stuff that guy did and he only briefly talked about tapping peoples phones. I thought it was telling when the four wives were being interviewed on AC360 and the four husbands were obviously pissed off because the tactics were now being used against them.

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I think John Travolta is the closest of the famous people to come clean about the corruption.

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Paul Haggis is pretty fricking famous and was the main interviewee in the film. He has 2 Academy Awards.

ETA:


Wrote and directed Crash and In The Valley of Elah

Also helped write Casino Royale, Million Dollar Baby, etc.



(and Walker Texas Ranger )

I'm curious if Tom Cruise has come out in support of gay marriage. being in hollywood and a Democrat, i'd just assumed he did, but Scientology is against it

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so I watched the documentary last night and they really did an ok job. 2 hours and it's not really in depth, but I guess it's for people who don't know anything about scientology

anyway, I just kept getting annoyed at these people who have left the church (I actually didn't know they had left, I saw some one of them on the Sweeney bbc segment)

I get that they're victims, all of them, but none of them have taken personal responsibility for the many lives they helped ruin. none of them. they even asked what they regret and still not one of them could cop to participating in the same fricked up shite, and apologizing for it

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I enjoyed the documentary. My biggest surprise is how none of these people really said that Scientology is a bunch of quacks... Instead they say stuff like "I left because of the abuse".

None of them said "I left because they told me Xenu dropped me into a volcano and my spirit escaped into some clams and then eventually some people".

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Haggis is seems like a pretty bright guy and doesn't seem to be played as easily as John travolta. Travolta had always come across as a pretty dumb guy, even without his strange beliefs. It's understandble how he got sucked in but some of the other I just don't understand

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Totally agree.

Just like any cult, it preys on those that are less intelligent, easily manipulated and lack ability of original thought.

Haggis doesn't seem to fit any of that, which is why he said he just started laughing when he heard the Xenu story and stuff.

I don't think Miscavige believes any of that shite. He is just making money and abusing power.

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I'm pretty sure no one said that's why they left. Maybe I missed that part

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they literally talk about discovering the docuements that alluded to xenu and all that stuff and how it was all a WTF moment for them that led them to leaving

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Haggis is seems like a pretty bright guy and doesn't seem to be played as easily as John travolta. Travolta had always come across as a pretty dumb guy, even without his strange beliefs. It's understandble how he got sucked in but some of the other I just don't understand

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I gained a ton of respect for Haggis when he told a number of his friends to "frick off, I'm done with this nonsense."

It's pretty creepy that a number of the former high ups in Scientology are now being followed. I forgot the ladies name. But, I'm curious how her lawsuit against David Miscavige is going.

Watched the replay of this last night and it was a big WTF moment. I had always thought Scientology was some cross between Chrisitianity and Science (look at the buildings they showed in the doc, they have crosses on the top of them). This "religion" is nothing more than a fricked up cult. I'm actually pretty pissed after watching it. Pissed at our government. How could the IRS have ever recognized this "religion" and granted them non-profit status? I hope this documentary blows this thing open and not only does their non-profit status get revoked but they go after them for the billion dollars in back taxes they never paid. Sieze all their assets and shut that cult down then start throwing people in jail for false imprisonment, abuse, and other crimes against humanity.

I felt kinda bad for the lady at the end who was labeled a (whatever that term is they have for troublemaker) along with her son and her daughter disassociated from her and now she can't see her or her grandaughter. I guess it is the daughter's "choice" and it's a free country but the whole thing is sick and manipulative.

These people destroy lives. And do it with tax exemption. As for wanting to know more about them and other things to read, I know enough already.