Lor’s Blog

Well I am embarrassed to admit I was more than a little curious about scientology.
Yes, I read the Dianetics.
Yes, I took the test.
Yes, I entertained the propaganda.
As a person who tries not to make decisions based on media experience, I gave some research time to give scientology an honest try.

What I found in my travels made my skin crawl.

Doing research on any topic will result in a certain amount of pros and cons. If your looking in earnest, especially in hopes of finding an intellectual stimulus, something to get all excited about, you will even push past the first negative things you hear.
How do I know this?
Because I did the very same thing for the pagan religions, the ones people called devil worshippers, and found the overwhelming majority to be about nature worship and fairness and balance.

I genuinely tried to ignore my first feelings of “this seems inconsistant”.
This evolved into feelings of “this seems like control, inequality”.
Then upon further research, I read things like “its okay to lie if its in the best interest of all involved”.

What?

I think I just heard that its totally acceptable to lie.

Anyone who reads my blog knows that although I am far from perfect (ok, I will rephrase…. I am Perfectly Imperfect  )
 I have very strong feelings where lying with the intent of witholding the truth is involved.
This means I realize that because one person is right,doesnt make the other wrong. Both parties can be correct.

Im talking about lying and knowing you are being decietful, because the ends justifies the means.

Okay, so lets remember that I am in Tampa, not far from scientology headquarters in Clearwater.
You might remember the story about Lisa Mc Pherson, believe it or not I wasnt living here when that transpired, so I am new to the whole story (as opposed to the media version I heard on t.v.).
I only today read the opposition to summary judgement in the trial;
since it is beyond words, I encourage anyone feeling I am being a little hard on scientology to read it :
http://whyaretheydead.net/lisa_mcpherson/legal/summary.htm
I had a hard time believing that they allowed her to be eaten alive in her hotel room by roaches as evidenced by the autopsy pictures which i also viewed, but again I invite everyone to make their own informed decision. Apparently if you have been severly dehydrated and given sedatives, you cannot defend yourself against bugs.
Or people.

Anyway, I was feeling more glass-half-full at this point and started to think Lisa was screwy to begin with allowing scientology to take something like 18,000 $ from her, so maybe she was making bad choices in that situation as well. Maybe it wasnt what it looked like.
Thats when I read she was telling friends and family she wanted OUT.
Maybe that was her bad choice.

I dont want this post to be about her anyway, I wanted to give examples for what I have seen.
In defence of scientology, they have Tom Cruise and John Travolta to show for themselves.
Unfortunately, thats where the positivity ends.

I found this website called Operation Clambake.
Non threatening, benign come-to-your-own-conclusion type of site.
The writer says make your own decisions, dont take my word for anything.
Here is a link to his site, at the point where he has emails going back and forth from actual scientologists given the chance to defend themselves.
I know you will find it as entertaining as I did. Its like sticking out your tongue when you dont have a good come-back; lame.
http://www.xenu.net/cb-faq.html#comm
Thats when I found this delightful video, again I was hoping scientology would redeem itself in my eyes as something with character; I thought, give them a fight!
The video was posted just before this post.
It was the best scientology had to offer in defence of itself.
I was bummed   :(

So I will end this exposure with some final thoughts:

While I still disagree with all organized religion, I find them interesting and delightful, and potentially useful to the few that use them in the ways they were meant to be used.

I agree there should be freedom of speech and religion.
I add to this that there should be freedom from decietfulness.
If you believe in flying rainbow elephants, then say so.
Lying about it until someone pays enough money to prove they are trustworthy enough to confide the truth in is NOT COOL.

I live in an area where scientologist are allowed to have spaces in the mall to propagate.
You are shopping and they try to convert you.
This tells me they think you would never gravitate to them on your own, and there is something creepy about needing to be told what is right for you by strange people other than Tom Cruise or John Travolta .
Some guy at the mall wants to get my life on track?
Lets say it all together now-

WHATS IN IT FOR YOU ????