Interesting Red, and yet saddening at the same time.
I know it's statin' the obvious but, these guys really are warped in the head, and they truly ruin people's lives. The thing that gets to me most is their abuse (not sure that's strong enough) of the word "science" to create their religion title. The majority of religions (and regrettably even a "true" religion would be guilty of this) defy the methods of science by assuming the existence or truth of something and then, later on, searching for "evidence" to support it. Science operates the other way around. This also serves to illustrate what science really is; many creationists personify science as an opponent in an argument, represented by boffins in white coats. Science is not "scientists", but a methodology. Since no religious person would (surely?) deny basic logic, then they are in no position to deny the "findings" of science. It's tempting to say that evolution, therefore, does not follow the methods of science, but it
truly does, and you should study up on it because it's quite sophisticated nowadays. I doubt our creationists here have studied it because I didn't until I apostatised (I
thought I did, but it was using my own church's little blue evolution book!!).
The scientologists are like a more extreme version of the literalist Christian religion I was in for twenty years. In my religion, the words of the governing class took precedent over even the bible, much like the catholic church. In my old religion, it is forbidden to even begin to question their assertions, and many who have done are now excommunicated. Church members are forbidden even to greet a disfellowshipped person, and can be excommed for doing so!! The "apostates" on the outside are ostracised, and treated as worse than the worst of mankind (literally), unworthy even of a resurrection and more evil than those in Sodom and Gomorrah. Technically, I fall into this category of vermin, although I slipped away quietly to prevent being cut off from my family. This is the true face of religion, and the result of truly obeying what the bible says (and
believe me, the bible gets much worse if anyone cares to debate this with me. I'm ready with gloves on
).
Religion is by definition devisive, and creates an "us and them" mentality that makes the participants feel special. And let's face it, we all want to feel special, or that God loves us. The trick is, in religions such as the above, this love is not assured, but conditional. They start with the traditional "love bombing", but soon the demands get greater and greater until you are cut off from friends and family. The price of leaving the church is then far too high so you are trapped. So ultimately, the fundamentalist/literalist and more extreme religions thrive on control, and are often also flush with cash. My old religion is worth billions and has lots of expensive real estate in New York city. Scientology is very similar.
In fact, it amazes me how many other religions are similar to mine. They had it drilled into me that "we are special", "God's chosen people", "the only one's to survive the end of the world". I soon discovered that my religion was
incredibly similar to the Adventists, Presbiterians, Mormons, Christadelphians, Bible Students, etc etc. (although in truth I left after reading the bible properly). You might be able to hazard a guess at what mine was. They differ somewhat in the level of control exerted; I would say that mine was moderate to strong. Scientology probably falls at the strongest end of the spectrum of control. And the results can be truly miserable for the recipients of such control. Some psychologists even specialise in treating ex-members of the most dodgy religions, because they have highly specific problems. I personally think it's sick to threaten people with hellfire, armageddon, disfellowshipping or ostracism. If we need fear like that to make us moral people, them we have something seriously wrong with us.
