Alright, you people kept me up WAY past my bedtime last night and I have the feeling that I won't get much accomplished today
Following links, and then following links on sites you all linked. . . it's a lot of work!
I have so many thoughts on this whole "thing" (in quotes - I can't even figure out WHAT it is, LOL) that I can't even begin to organize them. It's just so disturbing. Religion, it certainly isn't. More like a group of like-minded individuals who choose to turn their "beliefs" into a way of life. If that's all it takes, maybe we should start an organization called "Disneyology" where we can receive tax exept status to spread pixie dust around the world.
I live near a pretty radical group of Krishnas. I remember when I was younger, hearing all the stories and the things I'm reading really remind me of them. Some stories seem to outdo them! These people (the Krishnas) are so bad that others don't "claim" them. Many years ago we were in Orlando, stopped at a redlight on I-Drive. A guy came up to our car window and before he could get into his spiel my aunt asked if he was a Krishna. He was taken aback and asked how she knew and she pointed to the beads he had tucked into his shirt and told him where we were from so we recognized the beads. He got a little self-conscious and said, "we don't associate with them, they're in a class by themselves." I remember in school there was a girl a few years behind me. Her parents left the, I guess a commune would describe it? Since their daughter was born while they were there, they considered her THEIR property, not the parents' and threatened to kidnap her. The parents had to walk her to school and pick her up every day at the door - they were terrified of losing sight of her for even a moment because they'd been threatened that as soon as they weren't watching, they'd take the girl back. Their "leader" (sorry, trying to stay away from specifics so I'm not posting his name) was jailed - they'd brought many partners over for him who mysteriously ended up missing. . . at least one was found dead over the side of a hill, I remember. The kids all went to public school - I didn't go to the same school til high school though. So coming from this background and being even MORE freaked out by these stories says something, LOL!
As I was reading though, I started thinking. They've been focusing on the power of celebrities and the influence that brings to the organization (I refuse to call it religion). It's only a matter of time before they turn the focus on political influence. Maybe it's been discussed, I haven't made it through the whole thread, but are there any signs yet of them trying to work their way into office? It seems like it'd be such a natural step for them... and a scary step for us.
The old Communication Studies major in me is completely fascinated. I'd imagine that most of the people who call themselves Scientologists started out as at least somewhat rational humans. I'm fascinated that someone can convince so many to believe such bizarre stories, turn over all control and give up free will. There are just SO many red flags, I wonder just how beaten down these people have gotten that they refuse to see or question them. I mean really, what religion makes you literally sign your life away to it? The fact that they handle every confrontation through litigation instead of attempting to prove their side is a HUGE red flag. If you truly believe in what you're doing, you shouldn't feel the need to silence everyone who questions.
I don't know, maybe they're onto something though. Anytime I tick someone off, I'll just blame it on the little aliens. Maybe on my next Disney trip I'll ride Buzz over and over til the little aliens get so offended that I'm shooting their brothers that they just leave. Seems a lot easier and much more fun than signing my life over to Tom Cruise.
Anyway, I'll prob. see most of you in Hell for posting on this thread alone. You know if Tom's going to own Heaven (b/c he's such a high thetan), then he won't let us in just b/c of this thread!!!! Hey ... at least we won't have to endure him and we can all talk Disney, right?!
Doesn't know what he's talking about, and equally useless if you need anything from him.
