Church of Scientology

FTA69

Has anyone ever had an experience with this crowd?

A buddy of mine is writing an article on cults and booked himself into a tour of their head office in London. He asked me to come along with him yesterday and being a bit of a voyeuristic bastard, I agreed. Their building is on Blackfriars Bridge and is worth about £30m. Inside, the décor is a mix of ultra-modern (all-glass cubicles, chrome etc) mixed with this medieval-type aspect (stone columns, Templaresque imagery, gothic writing). All the staff there are dressed identically and look like the porters in Las Vegas hotels. Our 'unguided' tour consisted of a guy introducing us to these touch-screen information panels while he sat behind us. Basically the videos were a load of ****e about how great it is to be a Scientologist, how they've helped people and how we're shaped by the negative instances in our pasts which have damaged our psyche. The guy talking to us was a friendly enough lad, but there was this weird vibe off everyone in there, something that was just slightly odd about them.

After that we did a "personality test" which consisted of 200 questions; some of which include:

- Could you adapt well to strict discipline?
- Could you be prepared to make a whole new start in your life?
- Are you comfortable inflicting pain on small animals while hunting or fishing?
- Would you strike a disobedient 10-year old?
- Do you sometimes hear negative voices preventing you from achieving your goals?
- Do you find it difficult to make friends? etc etc

All in all, it was a pretty weird experience. To get your 'results' you then have to have a one-to-one consultation with a senior Scientologist and then you can rectify yourself by taking the first of their courses; which by the way, costs around £800.

They have card machines on literally every floor in every room, the whole thing is pretty clearly a money-making scam but that having been said, if you were in a fragile state of mind (job loss, bereavement, break up etc) I can see how some of the sh*t they come out with would gain traction in your head.

FatherLen

oh! you are so sued!

gerrybbadd

There wasn't any questions about "would you jump on a couch on a talk show to display love"? was there???

smash

Did you see Tom Cruise?

FatherLen

smash wrote: »

Did you see Tom Cruise?

Sure he is in the packing part of the fudge factory?

AnonoBoy

Na-na-na-na-na-na-na LEADER!

smash

FatherLen wrote: »

Sure he is in the packing part of the fudge factory?

No, he's in the closet where you hang your coat.

tritium

Careful now, these guys have more lawyers than an Israeli embassy....

nelly17

FatherLen wrote: »

oh! you are so sued!

Notice any strange cars tailing you lately OP?

Duggy747

I did their online quiz for shíts and giggles a few years back, some really silly questions like "Do you ever find that you hum a song to yourself when alone?" which would be rephrased 5 or 6 times, always in a really confusing way so it's easy to jumble up the answers to essentially the same question.

At the end the test gave me a graph result that I was very low in confidence and self-esteem :pac:

Got others to do the quiz and I did it again with different answers but we were all told the same about having low confidence and self-esteem.

An email was sent to me a short while later by a rep who wanted to meet me in Dublin and I was told to bring money with me for the one-to-one consultation and course to give me the improvements my life needed :pac:

x43r0

The BBC's Panorama covered this group in two really interesting documentaries

Original

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFRSt_viosc

and the follow-up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJkQdLTJWwo

FTA69

My neighbour is a miserable b*tch who has refused to accept an important package for me in the past despite me doing umpteen favours for her. It might be a bit petty, but I put my address down as hers and told them to direct any correspondence there. Everything else was done under a fake name etc. They are a strange bunch to say the least.

AnonoBoy

I'm heading off to make myself some lunch. I fully expect there to be lots of new accounts posting in this thread by the time I return.

Scientologists Assemble!

Birneybau

You're free to leave whenever you want.

Uncle Ruckus

I can't believe people still get suckered in by these parasites considering all the terrible publicity they've had.

Irishcrx

Ohhhhh tell me why Tom Cruise in the closet!!

SO I PULL OUT MY GUN!!! , One - I'm gonna shoot you both Two I'm gonna cap some bitch...

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Yeah one convinced me to do a personality assessment test, while I was in Toronto. It was basically a million questions, then he came back and told me I was a bad person but not to worry if I went to meetings and bought some DVDs, I'd be okay. Anyway, I put my address down as Ireland anyway so he lost interest, when he noticed I wouldn't be around.

My name is URL

Look at how they harass people that have left the 'church'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG70fhg0wL4

Listen to how they speak and what they say. That's actually what they're trained to do in such situations.

Freaks

AnonoBoy

Uncle Ruckus wrote: »

I can't believe people still get suckered in by these parasites considering all the terrible publicity they've had.

And why are people still getting addicted to heroin?

Haven't they heard that it can be a moreish?

JC01

Out of curiosity I did some research on them a while back, absolutly bat-sh!t crazy space cadets but at the same time a terrifyingly powerful and wealthy organisation. Look at some of the people who tried to leave, plenty had there entire lives ruined and a couple kinda em "vanished". That actress off King of Queens had a horrible ordeal leaving and had to endure hell over it.

looksee

I just watched the Panorama documentary. I have no time for Scientology or any other religion. But if they did not do all the spying and drama about not leaving the church there would not be a lot to say about it.

So they are a money making racket, ok, but people spend their money on gambling, holidays, whatever they want (if they have enough to make a choice) and its accepted. They have weird beliefs in extra terrestrials, show me a religion that does not have a supernatural being. They tell people how to live their lives, most religions do much the same. They invest in very expensive property - I can think of another faith that does that. The people who do get sucked in - according to the documentary - live comfortable lives, little freedom, but if they are prepared to forfeit freedom for security, well, its their decision.

Yes it is abusive, intrusive, domineering, a power trip for a good few of the top people...does that sound at all familiar?

Right I will head back to A&A.:D

MattD1349

Hubbard has been quoted as telling a science fiction convention in 1948: "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion."

Nuff said. Always though Hubbard had a bit of Barnum & Bailey about him. Having read about him recently I don't know whether to consider him a charlatan or a genius.

maximoose

looksee wrote: »

So they are a money making racket, ok, but people spend their money on gambling, holidays, whatever they want (if they have enough to make a choice) and its accepted.

How is gambling or going on holidays in any way comparable?

Berserker

looksee wrote: »

I have no time for Scientology or any other religion. But if they did not do all the spying and drama about not leaving the church there would not be a lot to say about it.

The Church of Scientology is not classified as a religious institution in the UK or Ireland. I was under the impression the everyone was well aware of the negatives associated with them, as a result of the wide range of documentaries dealing with them. I used to come across them outside their offices and book store off Times Square. I have also passed by the 'Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Centre' on Tottenham Court Road in London but I have never ventured into either.

looksee wrote: »

So they are a money making racket, ok, but people spend their money on gambling, holidays, whatever they want (if they have enough to make a choice) and its accepted.

Not comparable in any way, shape or form. Scientology promotes and enforces detachment for those who do not support your new belief system for starters. Families have been destroyed by Scientology. They aggressively pursue ex-members and those who speak out against their church. They are deceitful in the manner in which they recruit new members. They tend to disguise their entrance exam as a stress test. There is tonnes of information available, video and document form, to support this. If you want to see what a cult is then read up on them. They tick every single box.

branie2

Ever read Dianetics?

My name is URL

looksee wrote: »

I just watched the Panorama documentary. I have no time for Scientology or any other religion. But if they did not do all the spying and drama about not leaving the church there would not be a lot to say about it

Bit more than just a bit of auld spying in fairness. They're responsible for the biggest infiltration of the US government and its agencies in history!

This project included a series of infiltrations and thefts from 136 government agencies, foreign embassies and consulates, as well as private organizations critical of Scientology, carried out by Church members, in more than 30 countries. It was the single largest infiltration of the United States government in history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Snow_White

crazygeryy

this is a good book if your looking for a peek into the lunacy that is scientology.

Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, was raised as a Scientologist but left the controversial religion in 2005. In Beyond Belief, she shares her true story of life inside the upper ranks of the sect, details her experiences as a member Sea Org—the church's highest ministry, speaks of her "disconnection" from family outside of the organization,

Berserker

crazygeryy wrote: »

this is a good book if your looking for a peek into the lunacy that is scientology.

Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, was raised as a Scientologist but left the controversial religion in 2005. In Beyond Belief, she shares her true story of life inside the upper ranks of the sect, details her experiences as a member Sea Org—the church's highest ministry, speaks of her "disconnection" from family outside of the organization,

Will get this. I read John Sweeney's book on it and whilst it was a good read, it lacked insight that the person above would have.

BlaasForRafa

Uncle Ruckus wrote: »

I can't believe people still get suckered in by these parasites considering all the terrible publicity they've had.

hundreds of thousands of people still go to mass every week despite all the bad publicity the catholic church has had. Many people seem to need to fill some kind of void in their life with makey-uppy crap.

crazygeryy

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

hundreds of thousands of people still go to mass every week despite all the bad publicity the catholic church has had. Many people seem to need to fill some kind of void in their life with makey-uppy crap.

yea but the catholic church dont follow you around in blacked out cars and harrass you when you dont go to mass,but i see your point.

Saipanne

FTA69 wrote: »

Has anyone ever had an experience with this crowd?

A buddy of mine is writing an article on cults and booked himself into a tour of their head office in London. He asked me to come along with him yesterday and being a bit of a voyeuristic bastard, I agreed. Their building is on Blackfriars Bridge and is worth about £30m. Inside, the décor is a mix of ultra-modern (all-glass cubicles, chrome etc) mixed with this medieval-type aspect (stone columns, Templaresque imagery, gothic writing). All the staff there are dressed identically and look like the porters in Las Vegas hotels. Our 'unguided' tour consisted of a guy introducing us to these touch-screen information panels while he sat behind us. Basically the videos were a load of ****e about how great it is to be a Scientologist, how they've helped people and how we're shaped by the negative instances in our pasts which have damaged our psyche. The guy talking to us was a friendly enough lad, but there was this weird vibe off everyone in there, something that was just slightly odd about them.

After that we did a "personality test" which consisted of 200 questions; some of which include:

- Could you adapt well to strict discipline?
- Could you be prepared to make a whole new start in your life?
- Are you comfortable inflicting pain on small animals while hunting or fishing?
- Would you strike a disobedient 10-year old?
- Do you sometimes hear negative voices preventing you from achieving your goals?
- Do you find it difficult to make friends? etc etc

All in all, it was a pretty weird experience. To get your 'results' you then have to have a one-to-one consultation with a senior Scientologist and then you can rectify yourself by taking the first of their courses; which by the way, costs around £800.

They have card machines on literally every floor in every room, the whole thing is pretty clearly a money-making scam but that having been said, if you were in a fragile state of mind (job loss, bereavement, break up etc) I can see how some of the sh*t they come out with would gain traction in your head.

Very interesting. But there is no way I would ever take their tests or be left alone with them. I mean, their business is brainwashing. They are good at it. I wouldn't risk it.

Berserker

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

hundreds of thousands of people still go to mass every week despite all the bad publicity the catholic church has had. Many people seem to need to fill some kind of void in their life with makey-uppy crap.

Yes but the RCC don't meet you on the street, tell you that they are bringing you in for a stress or personality test and then spring their doctrine on you when they have you under their control. They also don't force you to disconnect from your family and friends when they refuse to accept your new lifestyle. The RCC has it's faults, without doubt but comparing it to the CoS is not right.

suicide_circus

crazygeryy wrote: »

yea but the catholic church dont follow you around in blacked out cars and harrass you when you dont go to mass,but i see your point.

Now obviously if you tried to renounce the Church back in the day you were gonna have a bad time but we're not judging scientology by 1500s standards because it didnt exist then but it is fair to judge it by today's standards and by that measure they are a sinister cult.

Lapin

L. Ron Hubbard.

University drop out who's dabbling in writing bad science fiction got him nowhere until he figured out a way to cash in on it by inventing a religion out of the rubbish and duping millions of gullable gobshítes out of their cash in the process.

He was worth some $600 million by the time he died despite a criminal conviction for fraud and three marriages.


The man was obviously a fucking genius.

BlaasForRafa

Berserker wrote: »

Yes but the RCC don't meet you on the street, tell you that they are bringing you in for a stress or personality test and then spring their doctrine on you when they have you under their control. They also don't force you to disconnect from your family and friends when they refuse to accept your new lifestyle. The RCC has it's faults, without doubt but comparing it to the CoS is not right.

No, the RCC already has the parents and family so you are forced into the cult from birth. They also have the schools so the indocrination goes on daily while growing up. That's every bit as insidious as the scientology cult imo.

Saipanne

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

No, the RCC already has the parents and family so you are forced into the cult from birth. They also have the schools so the indocrination goes on daily while growing up. That's every bit as insidious as the scientology cult imo.

What a load of bollocks.

My name is URL

Saipanne wrote: »

What a load of bollocks.

As him what he thinks about Judaism :P

Gbear

I was listening to Giovanni Ribisi being interviewed on Marc Maron's podcast recently.

Knowing what we do about scientology, it made his comments a bit weird.

You'd hope that, coming from a family of scientologists rather than being recruited, he just had a good experience but it did feel like he was trying to promote them by making them out to be normal - not life-alteringly amazing - just disarmingly ordinary.

In a world that seems to be getting progressively more secular, it felt like he was making them out to be "just a philosophy that works for me, but what do I know (*he said humbly*)" or something like that.

With the whole "Xenu", "Thetans" and "nuclear bomb in volcano" things out in the open, they can't really start with dogma.

YFlyer

What is brainwashing?

Saipanne

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

No, the RCC already has the parents and family so you are forced into the cult from birth. They also have the schools so the indocrination goes on daily while growing up. That's every bit as insidious as the scientology cult imo.

What do you think about Judaism?

My name is URL

I didn't mean to literally ask him, but let's see how it pans out :pac:

Capt'n Midnight

The German Government does not recognise Scientology as a religion.

If this was board.de I'd be insisting that the word "Church" be removed from the thread title , unless the discussion was about a building.

Any argument about then has to be tempered by the fact they've lawyered up and IIRC our defamation laws means you can't rely on the truth , if that truth would damage a reputation.

Saipanne

My name is URL wrote: »

I didn't mean to literally ask him, but let's see how it pans out :pac:

Its Monday, innit?

BlaasForRafa

Saipanne wrote: »

What do you think about Judaism?

What do you think of Judaism?

Saipanne

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

What do you think of Judaism?

I love it.

My name is URL

Well.. that was uneventful

BlaasForRafa

My name is URL wrote: »

Well.. that was uneventful

Heh. Ok, what's the difference between a cult and a religion?

Dr Turk Turkelton

YFlyer wrote: »

What is brainwashing?

Not really sure myself.

The leader is good...
The leader is great...
All hail the leader.

baaba maal

I remember them stopping me outside the Dianetics place on Abbey St in Dublin, and me in me school uniform an' all. I agreed to do the test and after about five questions realised it was a crock. Very pushy guy though, kept putting the book (about £20 iirc) in my hands as if I somehow owned it and now had to pay for it. I managed to get to my bus stop unaided, in spite of my apparently crippling low self esteem:rolleyes:

branie2

The film The Master is supposedly loosely based on L. Ron Hubbard

Greyfox

baaba maal wrote: »

I remember them stopping me outside the Dianetics place on Abbey St in Dublin, and me in me school uniform an' all. I agreed to do the test and after about five questions realised it was a crock. Very pushy guy though, kept putting the book (about £20 iirc) in my hands as if I somehow owned it and now had to pay for it. I managed to get to my bus stop unaided, in spite of my apparently crippling low self esteem:rolleyes:

Yeah they got me at the same place, the guy asked me 3 questions and on the 3rd answer said follow me and me been the gullible eejit I did so...I ended up buying the book I done the questionaire like someone else mentioned and my feedback was that I have low confidence etc... it was when they gave me a thing to sign I realised it was time to run, it went on for pages and pages :eek: I eventually interrupted the guys waffle and just asked the guy where's the toilet, he pointed one way and I ran the other way!