Scientology

[CdnCarrie]

Anyone else following Leah Remini's documentary series on Scientology?
I read her biography last year and now I'm reading Jenna Miscavage Hill's biography about growing up in Scientology.

The documentary is fascinating. And holy cow the child abuse. I don't understand how they can get away with child labour and not educating those kids. Some really sad stories coming out.

I think Leah is super brave doing these exposes. The statements that the "Church" is putting out about former members are so vile.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

There is an HBO documentary too but I can't remember the name. It was interesting to me because not only did it out the wrong doings and horrors of the organization, but the people who were interviewed also gave some insight into how they got involved. That's always been a question to me since the beliefs seem so far fetched IMO.

 

[Kae]

did you see 20/20 last night? I Enjoy Leah's show on A & E, I watch the HBO series too.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Yup saw the 20/20 show. Loved the "church"'s statement about Leah being an out of work sit-com actress.
Man they can't even be say something diplomatic like "we are sorry that x felt blahblah. Deny deny deny. Wish they well." It's statements like "bitter, revengefull blah blah blah.Only wanting money. We hate this person" statements. It's laughable.

 

[disneygrl704]

I've been watching and saw the 20/20 episode. I didn't know there was an HBO series. I'll have to check it out. I'm fascinated by the whole thing and how these people went through all this and believed it for so long.

 

[low-key]

Everyone has a spiritual hole inside them, and some rich and famous feel that they are above from feeling it with traditional beliefs, and they fall into something really crazy

 

[Mizzoufan]

I'm glad she bringing speaking out against them.

 

[missbrooke06]

The HBO doc is called Going Clear, based off a book with a similar name. Very interesting watch.

I also recommend reading the newspaper series archived online that the then St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times) did called Truth Rundown. The man Leah interviewed this week mentioned it as a contributing factor to him leaving the church. Very long but excellent reporting.

 

[usnuzuloose]

no

 

[Uncranky Donald]

She had a show on TLC called "It's All Relative" for 2 seasons. Im hoping it comes back, but I think she's doing so much work w/her documentary now, but if you like her I recommend it. Its about her and her family and its hilarious, they're all such wonderful people. It gives you a good back story into her home/famliy life and how she was feeling when she first left the church, plus, oh yeah, its hilarious.

 

[Poohlove]

I watched part of the 20/20 special last night and I don't remember the guys name who was on there but he was brought in to scientology as a young child and grew up with it. The things he was describing were terrible. He was talking about how they teach them to "audit" members and then there were some kind of confessionals I think they were called. It sounds more like a cult to me with all the brainwashing. It is awful to think about what these kids endure , it's one thing when a grown adult makes the decision for themselves but kids can't.

 

[Kae]

The Lawyer lady for Scientology was so bad and her eyes were like crazy. No way could she have ever been a trail lawyer she could barely speak.

 

[Malibustyle23]

She had a show on TLC called "It's All Relative" for 2 seasons. Im hoping it comes back

Some time last year she put out the statement that the show wasn't coming back. I think she may have said atleast next season but I can't remember.

I assume she is too busy working on the exposés for now. Hopefully it will return I did enjoy it.

 

[DisAuntie]

I watched part of the 20/20 special last night and I don't remember the guys name who was on there but he was brought in to scientology as a young child and grew up with it. The things he was describing were terrible. He was talking about how they teach them to "audit" members and then there were some kind of confessionals I think they were called. It sounds more like a cult to me with all the brainwashing. It is awful to think about what these kids endure , it's one thing when a grown adult makes the decision for themselves but kids can't.

It is a cult.

 

[CdnCarrie]

She had a show on TLC called "It's All Relative" for 2 seasons. Im hoping it comes back, but I think she's doing so much work w/her documentary now, but if you like her I recommend it. Its about her and her family and its hilarious, they're all such wonderful people. It gives you a good back story into her home/famliy life and how she was feeling when she first left the church, plus, oh yeah, its hilarious.

Saw it. Miss it. Great family dynamics.

 

[lorimay]

We have been watching the show, it is crazy how this people stay, the cost alone to be a member is astronomical.
Leah says its $250,000 minimum, and people mortgage their houses in order to pay for it.

IMO, this is why Katie Holmes ran from Tom Cruise, she didn't want her daughter to ba any part of this cult. I believe they start "auditing" kids at 6 or 7.
I want to know if Leah's daughter was ever audited before they left.

Leah's TLC show was cancelled.

 

[bcla]

We have been watching the show, it is crazy how this people stay, the cost alone to be a member is astronomical.
Leah says its $250,000 minimum, and people mortgage their houses in order to pay for it.

IMO, this is why Katie Holmes ran from Tom Cruise, she didn't want her daughter to ba any part of this cult. I believe they start "auditing" kids at 6 or 7.
I want to know if Leah's daughter was ever audited before they left.

Leah's TLC show was cancelled.

I think the cost depends on the person. Certainly those with money look like big dollar signs, especially celebrities who then spread the message.

 

[rastahomie]

I want to know if Leah's daughter was ever audited before they left.

Leah left the organization in 2013. Sofia was born in 2004. Ergo, it's quite possible that she was "audited." However, Leah had been questioning the church since 2006, so it's quite likely that she never exposed Sofia to it.

 

[disney4us2002]

I'm completely enthralled and hooked on this show on A&E. I almost posted a thread last week but I wasn't sure if it fell under the whole "religion" topics are a no-no. I can't afford more points, lol. I think it's a stretch to call Scientology a religion when it's clear to most that it's a cult.... I can't wrap my head around the fact that some of these people remained for 20+ years. The guy's story about his twin brother and his separation and then untimely death had me in tears. Wow. Soooo freaking sad that families are disconnected and torn apart. I vascillate between being very sad and totally pissed.

 

[bookgirl]

I believe that everyone has a right to thier own belief system. If someone chooses to be a Scientologist then go ahead.

My personal belief however is that any organization that encourages families to separate or disavowal loved ones is not respectable or on the up and up. A religion that costs for your membership is a business not a church. It's total bull.

I however blame the followers more than the organization for a lot of the abuse and shady practices. The organization my be screwed up but it's followers allow it.

The fact that Tom Cruise allowed his 'religion' to step in between his children and their mother (Nicole Kidman) and then cut ties from his daughter (w/Katie Holmes) tells me everything I need to know about Tom as a man and a human being.

Does Scientology count as a religious discussion? If so then I expect this to close soon.