BbwCanaDomme
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My film school was across the street from the church of scientology, at which point I found out that they actively pursue people in the film industry (whether they're makeup artists, production assistants, or actors/directors, it doesn't really matter. More than one told me that it was a great way to make contacts haha, unfortunately for them, I had already heard the Spielberg/Cruise awesome scientology story). Anyways, I didn't want to make a blanket judgement without getting to know what their belief system was, so I bought a copy of Dianetics, and attended quite a few information nights, as well as taking the iq and personality tests/e-meter readings. This is what I learned about Scientology;
1. Regardless of what you may think, Scientologists are not bad people. They're very adament about their belief system, and get really passionate when you tell them you disagree with their theology, but for the most part they are nice. Much like Jehovah's Witnesses and Evangelical Christians, they're annoying, but harmless. Individual members make an effort to recruit because they genuinely want to help people, not to make money for the church.
2. Dianetics is partially written in trance inducing text. the instructions at the beginning of the book are (and I'm paraphrasing), "if you don't understand something, re-read it until it makes sense." One of the first paragraphs is 5 sentences long and uses the term Scientific fact 7 times. I have no idea what that paragraph was about, but when I think back to it, I automatically associate it with being a scientific fact. It's a mild form of brainwashing.
3. Many many many Scientologists are gay. A large chunk of the actors you have heard about who are Scientologists are gay. One way the church attracts members is by promising to "cure" homosexuality.
4. Many suffer from mental illness. It's easier for a lot of people to accept that there's an alien spirit inside of them making them sad/act out, than it is to accept that it's something wrong with them.
5. They're pretty much the same as the other religions out there, only newer, and with a better grasp of capitalism. Think Catholicism, only with better business sense and aliens instead of zombies. Like all religions, it's pretty much just a self help program (and some of their programs I personally think are a lot better for people than those promoted by other churches. People who implement Scientology practices without being involved with the religious aspect seem to do really well).
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RE: What's the real skinny on Scientology? - 
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