Show Scientology the Money.

June 19, 2003 8:27 AM

Tom Cruise is lobbying politicians for money. Will the story ofXenu be taught in schools? Will our govenrment fund it? Will the Thetans ever recover their god-like powers?

What does The Church of Scientology need money from the Government for? Is the most expensive religion in the world running out of money from Suing and Harrassing everyone who speaks out against Scientology?
posted by da5id (29 comments total)

Operation Clambake.
posted by the fire you left me at 8:41 AM on June 19, 2003

I hate scientologists as much as the next guy, but this seems a little slim - a couple paragraphs in a gossip column with no named source?

But OK, I'll play: When is Tom Cruise gonna make his Battlefield Earth? After a blockbuster like that, his church'll have plenty of money.
posted by soyjoy at 8:46 AM on June 19, 2003

See? I shouldn't have played. Damn you, Xenu!
posted by soyjoy at 8:47 AM on June 19, 2003

Are there any $cientology rules on metafilter? Like, for instance, the Daily Show has a rule where you can't even mention them. What about MeFi?

If not, how long before mathowie gets sued for having links to xenu.net?
posted by taumeson at 8:47 AM on June 19, 2003

Taumeson: I've not heard that about the Daily Show before. Do you know of a link to more information? I'm curious as to their motives. Do they ignore Scientology because they don't wish to give the 'church' even the slightest bit of publicity, or is it because they worry about being sued?

Or perhaps Jon Stewart has a secret hoard of L. Ron books hidden beneath his desk . . .

Returning to the topic of the post: Any religion that requires large sums of money from its followers should not be recognized as a religious institution by the government. That, I believe, should be the acid test. Otherwise, Bush's faith based initiative should be applied equally to UFO cults and organized religious.

Which would go a long way toward illustrating why government involvement with religious matters - in any form - is to be avoided.
posted by aladfar at 9:01 AM on June 19, 2003

I hate Scientology, but good for them. They're just as entitled as any other denomination to abuse the Bush's Faith Based initiatives.
posted by substrate at 9:30 AM on June 19, 2003

"[Cruise] met with a few White House officials to discuss his concern about the state of human rights in the world today."

Wow, talk about a hypocrite. He's so concerned about human rights in the world but he'll sue anyone who insinuates he's gay because that would just be the worst thing, for people to think he's gay.

I'm endlessly appalled at the amount of hypocrisy in the world. But I guess I shouldn't expecy anything else from someone who follows a religion that demonizes homosexuality.
posted by archimago at 9:37 AM on June 19, 2003

soyjoy,
Sadly, Battlefield Earth: The TV series is in production.

As far as the politics, sadly I expect this from these trogs. Let's hope some reason prevails in D.C..
posted by effer27 at 10:13 AM on June 19, 2003

posted by shadow45 at 10:36 AM on June 19, 2003

If I saw that chick I'd shake her hand. Preferably, her stick hand.

That said, the second story was more intresting.
posted by delmoi at 10:45 AM on June 19, 2003

Wow, talk about a hypocrite. He's so concerned about human rights in the world but he'll sue anyone who insinuates he's gay because that would just be the worst thing, for people to think he's gay.


Being gay is a big no-no with the $cientologists. It's almost as bad as having no money.
posted by salmacis at 10:56 AM on June 19, 2003

I would like to take this time to personally challenge Xenu to a fist fight.
posted by sharksandwich at 11:17 AM on June 19, 2003

I've not heard that about the Daily Show before. Do you know of a link to more information? I'm curious as to their motives.

Daily show writer Alison Silverman on things they won't do jokes about. Scientology is avoided because of "lawsuit potential". This is from April 2001 so no idea if it's still current practice, or even if it was ever show policy or just something Alison claimed.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 11:22 AM on June 19, 2003

I'm endlessly appalled at the amount of hypocrisy in the world.

Wow, I stopped caring two thousand years ago. :-)
posted by angry modem at 11:22 AM on June 19, 2003

I still remember three years ago when my old site's logs showed tons of hits from Scientology.org. =/

Effer27 - You can't be serious about that? Why does TV have on a bad sci-fi kick?
posted by Darke at 11:35 AM on June 19, 2003

Fifty-odd years ago Robert Heinlein described a religious cult, the Fosterites, who held their turf by mobbing any town that tried to shut them down.

Obviously, the $cientologists have come up with a far more efficient solution. Why waste the thugs when lawyers work just fine?
posted by tspae at 12:27 PM on June 19, 2003

My mom works at the State Department, and Mr. Cruise/Cruz sauntered into her office last week to meet with some of the higher-ups there. Seems he had his picture taken with pretty much everyone there, including my (smitten) mom.
posted by laz-e-boy at 1:37 PM on June 19, 2003

Any religion that requires large sums of money from its followers should not be recognized as a religious institution by the government.

You mean Christians?

preemptive defensive: yeah, I know, not in your denomination.
posted by ook at 1:47 PM on June 19, 2003

Personally I hope he and CoS recieves some money. No make that lots of money. It'll help shore up the foolishness of the faith based double speak.
posted by Mitheral at 2:28 PM on June 19, 2003

I just read through the "Xenu Story" introduction to Clambake.net. I'd never send my kids to any school that taught crap like that. An evil alien emperor enslaved mankind millions of years ago? The "messiah" L. Ron Hubbard chose to leave his body and merge into another dimension? Gimme a break.
posted by tomorama at 3:01 PM on June 19, 2003

i enjoy poking fun at scientology as much as the next person, but why is it okay to say stuff like "i hate scientologists"? if you said the same thing of mormons or jews or muslims, you'd get a tongue lashing. i think scientology itself is somehwat dubious, but i've never encountered a scientologist i felt any antipathy towards -- at least not on account of their religion. jeez.
posted by donkeyschlong at 4:20 PM on June 19, 2003

donkeyschlong, one way to distinguish between a "religion" and a "cult" is that a cult will demand your money before they tell you the central aspects of their belief; in the case of Scientology they will actually lie and say they don't believe in it, until you've paid many thousands of dollars. They don't like to scare people off with all that alien nonsense, before they've sucked them in slowly with the sensible-sounding Dianetics stuff. It's very reasonable to hate people who harmfully and deliberately lie for money.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 5:14 PM on June 19, 2003

This really pisses me off. Everyone knows that our Faith-Based Initiative tax dollars are only supposed to go to Christian groups.
posted by Dirjy at 5:38 PM on June 19, 2003

jeez indeed, donkeyschlong, let me clarify: When I said "I hate scientologists (as much as the next etc." I meant, "I hate the phenomenon of scientologists" not "individual scientologists." After all, love the sinner, hate the sin, right?

On the other hand, Tom Cruise - I can't stand that guy.
posted by soyjoy at 7:18 PM on June 19, 2003

I was afraid of this. I wonder if Benny Hinn and the Trinity broadcasting network also qualify?
posted by Akuinnen at 7:39 PM on June 19, 2003

Yeah, of course I don't hate the vast majority of them. Just the leaders. Most I pity.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 3:22 AM on June 20, 2003

ook, churches may ask for money, but they never require a donation. Also, in nearly all churches, when the collection plate's passed around, you just drop your envelope with the donation in. Unless you wrote a check, no one will ever know how much you gave. And you frequently see people not putting anything in at all. No one glares at them or tells them they're a bad Christian. Also, although the church encourages people to give money, it doesn't ask for any amount in particular, and it certainly doesn't deny you religious advancement, as the Scientologists do.
posted by unreason at 6:17 AM on June 20, 2003

unreason -- yes, yes, not in your denomination. I said already. But go read some of my links and tell me how optional the tithe is for those particular groups:

"Anyone who claims Jesus as their Lord and does not give Him at least ten percent of their money should face the truth: money is their Ruler, not Jesus."

My point is not that Christianity as a whole is as bad as Scientology (and I agree 100% that Scientology is a farce, a cult, and a shakedown scheme all rolled into one shiny package). My point is that there are plenty of shakedown schemes wrapped in the guise of Christianity (and, no doubt, every other religion) -- and it can be very difficult to know where to draw the line.
posted by ook at 7:02 AM on June 20, 2003

On the other hand, Tom Cruise - I can't stand that guy.

It's the teeth--am I right?
posted by y2karl at 3:17 PM on June 20, 2003