Comments on: Show Scientology the Money.

Show Scientology the Money.

da5id — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 08:27:35 -0800

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?

By: the fire you left me

the fire you left me — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 08:41:27 -0800

Operation Clambake.

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 08:46:24 -0800

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.

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 08:47:22 -0800

See? I shouldn't have played. Damn you, Xenu!

By: taumeson

taumeson — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 08:47:43 -0800

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?

By: XQUZYPHYR

XQUZYPHYR — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 08:51:47 -0800

I think Get Your War On is still a much better use of clipart.

By: aladfar

aladfar — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 09:01:19 -0800

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.

By: substrate

substrate — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 09:30:52 -0800

I hate Scientology, but good for them. They're just as entitled as any other denomination to abuse the Bush's Faith Based initiatives.

By: archimago

archimago — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 09:37:43 -0800

"[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.

By: effer27

effer27 — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 10:13:15 -0800

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..

By: shadow45

shadow45 — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 10:36:45 -0800

By: delmoi

delmoi — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 10:45:53 -0800

If I saw that chick I'd shake her hand. Preferably, her stick hand. That said, the second story was more intresting.

By: salmacis

salmacis — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 10:56:18 -0800

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.

By: sharksandwich

sharksandwich — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 11:17:06 -0800

I would like to take this time to personally challenge Xenu to a fist fight.

By: PinkStainlessTail

PinkStainlessTail — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 11:22:49 -0800

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.

By: angry modem

angry modem — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 11:22:57 -0800

I'm endlessly appalled at the amount of hypocrisy in the world. Wow, I stopped caring two thousand years ago. :-)

By: Darke

Darke — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 11:35:06 -0800

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?

By: tspae

tspae — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 12:27:36 -0800

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?

By: laz-e-boy

laz-e-boy — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 13:37:31 -0800

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.

By: ook

ook — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 13:47:04 -0800

Any religion that requires large sums of money from its followers should not be recognized as a religious institution by the government. You mean Ch ri st ia ns ? preemptive defensive: yeah, I know, not in your denomination.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 14:28:03 -0800

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.

By: tomorama

tomorama — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 15:01:55 -0800

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.

By: donkeyschlong

donkeyschlong — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 16:20:10 -0800

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.

By: Pretty_Generic

Pretty_Generic — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 17:14:08 -0800

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.

By: Dirjy

Dirjy — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 17:38:11 -0800

This really pisses me off. Everyone knows that our Faith-Based Initiative tax dollars are only supposed to go to Christian groups.

By: soyjoy

soyjoy — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 19:18:46 -0800

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.

By: Akuinnen

Akuinnen — Thu, 19 Jun 2003 19:39:04 -0800

I was afraid of this. I wonder if Benny Hinn and the Trinity broadcasting network also qualify?

By: Pretty_Generic

Pretty_Generic — Fri, 20 Jun 2003 03:22:48 -0800

Yeah, of course I don't hate the vast majority of them. Just the leaders. Most I pity.

By: unreason

unreason — Fri, 20 Jun 2003 06:17:15 -0800

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.

By: ook

ook — Fri, 20 Jun 2003 07:02:00 -0800

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.

By: y2karl

y2karl — Fri, 20 Jun 2003 15:17:27 -0800

On the other hand, Tom Cruise - I can't stand that guy. It's the teeth--am I right?