Church of Scientology opening on Merrion Square

I suggest a mass gatecrash of proceedings on Saturday.
Canapes and personality tests for all!!

Where can you buy anonymous masks in Dublin?

orubiru wrote: »

Hahahaha. You have got to be kidding?

Why are you so Scientolophobic?

I'm just jealous of Tom Cruise, ok? Gimme a break.

I I'm setting up my own religion. Blackjack and hookers.

On the first day the lord said hit me

Boom_Bap wrote: »

Can I get a Large LRH Latte with a Sea Org cookie please?

Yes, but you can't get it to go

orubiru wrote: »

It's the same with any cult (it's even the same with Trump). They appeal to people who are struggling, or who feel like they are struggling, with life and they offer acceptance and understanding through quick and snappy concepts.

Imagine shuffling into a Scientology branch on the worst day of your life or the lowest point of your year or whatever and then a week later you are feeling like the centre of the universe with all your problems accounted for and answered. They give you hope and encouragement and love and that's gotta be appealing.

It kind of just grows from that. A few celebrity endorsements here and there don't do any harm either.

Agreed. Some use it as a means of self improvement, personal development etc.
Nothing at all wrong with that.

But the cult part of Scientology and the trap so to speak is their auditing sessions. You begin to reveal personal or private feelings, thoughts and experiences. It is all written down and documented. When people expose their inner beliefs in such a way, then toxic cults like that use it as a means of control. You start to fear that if you want to leave they might (and do) publicise these private feelings. You feel compelled to stay to prevent that from happening. They can then ask for anything they want. They are particularly fond of tax free 'donations' from uber wealthy members.

My mother was (thankfully) part of a sect in the Catholic Church which does something similar.

It's the neocathechumenate way. It's where you have these groups of people called 'communities' who meet weekly to pray and have mass. You read the gospels, talk about what it means to you personally and sing and dance. So far so good. The whole idea is that you are following the way of Christ, which is the way to be a christian according to the founder. You are made to feel unique, special. When you've become inculcated over the course of a year or so, then to complete your indoctrination you are asked to reveal what your cross in life is. If you are reticent then you are repeatedly told that this is necessary. They insinuate that you are not special and are not part of God's way etc if you fail to reveal the truth in the eyes of Christ. Guilt tripped on a divine scale so to speak.

This is usually a private and very personal thing. They don't accept anything like 'I got a speeding fine last week and my wife doesn't know'.
It must be your biggest sin. And the juicier the better for them, particularly anything sexual from what I've read.

It could be that you were sexually abused as a child, are an alcoholic or drug addict, you beat your wife, you cheated on your husband, you get the idea.

That is the trap. When you reveal to a group something like that then it has a profound effect. You are far more likely to remain in case such information was made public. After this is done, the time taken up in activities within the sect really ramp up and it get's to the point where you feel that your life is taken over by activities within the Way.

It's toxic dangerous stuff and Scientology with it's bull**** auditing sessions using similar techniques of control. Approach with caution.

RayCon wrote: »

They've a bloody nice pad beside Herbert Park in Ballsbridge .... if I didn't know better I reckon there's some serious cash to be made in this whole religion thingy ....

Have you a google maps link for that place? Be interested to see it!!

Their new offices in Merrion Square - expensive part of town.