Another one leaves the flock... Death Pool odds just went up considerably.

[LMNO]

'Crash' director Paul Haggis quits Scientology
Oscar-winner leaves church after 35 years due to its stance on gay marriage

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33484589/ns/entertainment/

So, you know that whole "Prop 8" thing in California, and everyone was blaming the Mormons?

Guess who else was contributing big bucks.... 


THE CHURCH OF ELRON.



Amazingly enough, the guy who won an Oscar for screenwriting "Crash" (not the JG Ballard remake, sadly) decided he'd had enough of Scientology because of this, and because the church once again publicly denied the policy of "disassociation" (cutting all ties to family and friends if they disagree with your beliefs).


So, my guess is that he'll be like the ShamWow guy in about three months.  Or, he'll be dead.

[Igor]

Scientologists aren't having a good time recently. They were just convicted of organised fraud in France. They were ordered to pay €600,000 for "preying financially on its followers in the 1990s."

The latest case follows a complaint from two women, one of whom says she was manipulated into handing over 20,000 euros for costly products, including an "electrometer" to measure mental energy.

She was approached in the street by a Scientologist in 1998 who offered a free personality test, at a time when she was feeling psychologically fragile.

After being told her test results were poor, the woman was sold a series of life-improvement courses, vitamins and other products she could ill afford, landing her in debt.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iB4zZrgJt9_M4ltYiwOwQxcAnMmQ

But then, apparently they've been classified as a cult in France since 1995.

[Cain]

'Crash' director Paul Haggis quits Scientology
Oscar-winner leaves church after 35 years due to its stance on gay marriage

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33484589/ns/entertainment/

So, you know that whole "Prop 8" thing in California, and everyone was blaming the Mormons?

Guess who else was contributing big bucks.... 


THE CHURCH OF ELROND.

[Suu]

They're classified as a cult in the state of Rhode Island and aren't allowed to set up shop here. Which is why they have a missionary somewhere near New Bedford that all the Newportese can flock to.

[Cain]

There is a Scientology centre about 30 miles from me.

However, they're in a kinda turf war with the Pentecostals, who are way more popular than them in the town.

[Eater of Clowns]

They're classified as a cult in the state of Rhode Island and aren't allowed to set up shop here. Which is why they have a missionary somewhere near New Bedford that all the Newportese can flock to.

Near NB?  There must be something I can do about this.   

[Darth Cupcake]

'Crash' director Paul Haggis quits Scientology
Oscar-winner leaves church after 35 years due to its stance on gay marriage

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33484589/ns/entertainment/

So, you know that whole "Prop 8" thing in California, and everyone was blaming the Mormons?

Guess who else was contributing big bucks.... 


THE CHURCH OF ELROND.

I'm really glad I'm not the only person who had that flash before their eyes.

Scientologists aren't having a good time recently. They were just convicted of organised fraud in France. They were ordered to pay €600,000 for "preying financially on its followers in the 1990s."

The latest case follows a complaint from two women, one of whom says she was manipulated into handing over 20,000 euros for costly products, including an "electrometer" to measure mental energy.

She was approached in the street by a Scientologist in 1998 who offered a free personality test, at a time when she was feeling psychologically fragile.

After being told her test results were poor, the woman was sold a series of life-improvement courses, vitamins and other products she could ill afford, landing her in debt.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iB4zZrgJt9_M4ltYiwOwQxcAnMmQ

But then, apparently they've been classified as a cult in France since 1995.

So I don't really feel sorry for the person who was stupid enough to fall for it in the first place, but... NYAH NYAH SCIENTOLOGY IS GETTING THE SHIT END OF THE STICK

[BabylonHoruv]

They're classified as a cult in the state of Rhode Island and aren't allowed to set up shop here. Which is why they have a missionary somewhere near New Bedford that all the Newportese can flock to.

Wait what?  Don't cultists have the same right to freedom of religion as everyone else?

[Voodoo Chile]

I was wondering how badly has Scientology been hit with the Recession what with people having to choose between food or audit counseling. They must be seeing a drop off in members and "donations" right? (Perhaps optimistic, "You see the recession is the god seed telling you you need more audit counseling")

[Richter]

They're classified as a cult in the state of Rhode Island and aren't allowed to set up shop here. Which is why they have a missionary somewhere near New Bedford that all the Newportese can flock to.

Wait what?  Don't cultists have the same right to freedom of religion as everyone else?

What about the rights of the people they recruit, extort, or swindle, and the families thereof? Did their right not to be messed around with by people with a weird, catchy philosophy ever get considered?

[P3nT4gR4m]

They're classified as a cult in the state of Rhode Island and aren't allowed to set up shop here. Which is why they have a missionary somewhere near New Bedford that all the Newportese can flock to.

Wait what?  Don't cultists have the same right to freedom of religion as everyone else?

Only Christian and Muslim cultists need apply.

(hindu at a push)

[LMNO]

I was wondering how badly has Scientology been hit with the Recession what with people having to choose between food or audit counseling. They must be seeing a drop off in members and "donations" right? (Perhaps optimistic, "You see the recession is the god seed telling you you need more audit counseling")

There has been more "Volunteering" to pay off "loans".

In other words, labor without pay.

[BabylonHoruv]

They're classified as a cult in the state of Rhode Island and aren't allowed to set up shop here. Which is why they have a missionary somewhere near New Bedford that all the Newportese can flock to.

Wait what?  Don't cultists have the same right to freedom of religion as everyone else?

What about the rights of the people they recruit, extort, or swindle, and the families thereof? Did their right not to be messed around with by people with a weird, catchy philosophy ever get considered?

Seriously?  As someone with a weird, catchy philosophy, which includes messing people around as one of it's core tenants I have to say.  NO lets not consider that imaginary right.

[Richter]

They're classified as a cult in the state of Rhode Island and aren't allowed to set up shop here. Which is why they have a missionary somewhere near New Bedford that all the Newportese can flock to.

Wait what?  Don't cultists have the same right to freedom of religion as everyone else?

What about the rights of the people they recruit, extort, or swindle, and the families thereof? Did their right not to be messed around with by people with a weird, catchy philosophy ever get considered?

Seriously?  As someone with a weird, catchy philosophy, which includes messing people around as one of it's core tenants I have to say.  NO lets not consider that imaginary right.

So...you're bouncing from freedom of religion being an important right, to rights being imaginary.   
You're correct that they are, just ideas humans stick to because they think they're nice, but your chameleon like shift of colors makes it very easy to disregard you.

I'm happy that you're so well versed in what I consider my beliefs to be, too.  You fuckup, look up exactly how Scientology has "messed with" people, hang around until you get a sense for how people here do things, and you'll find a few differences.
Stop trying to put words into other people's mouths while your own is still full from eating the menu. 

[The Good Reverend Roger]

They're classified as a cult in the state of Rhode Island and aren't allowed to set up shop here. Which is why they have a missionary somewhere near New Bedford that all the Newportese can flock to.

Wait what?  Don't cultists have the same right to freedom of religion as everyone else?

What about the rights of the people they recruit, extort, or swindle, and the families thereof? Did their right not to be messed around with by people with a weird, catchy philosophy ever get considered?

You also have the right to fuck your life up entirely.

I don't want anyone "protecting" me from "bad ideas".  Even ideas as bad as Scientology.