Flat Earthers, a group of people who believe that the Earth is a flat disk surrounded by an impenetrable ring of ice called Antarctica, have been circulating since the Middle Ages. This belief has been linked to conspiracy theories such as Bill Gates microchips and the cabal that created vaccines for world domination. In a nationwide U.S. survey, around 10% of respondents agreed with conspiracy claims that the Earth is flat, NASA faked the Moon landings, or COVID-19 vaccinations implant tracking microchips.
The Flat Earth movement emerged in the middle of the post-truth era, with scientific distrust, conspiracy theories, and religious beliefs. A nationwide U.S. survey found that around 10% of respondents agreed with conspiracy claims that the Earth is flat, NASA faked the Moon landings, or COVID-19 vaccinations implant tracking microchips.
The Flat Earth movement is subdivided into Scientology, a set of beliefs and practices invented by American author L. Ron Hubbard, and the Church of Scientology, which maintains a wide variety of beliefs and practices. The core belief holds that humans are immortal, spiritual beings (thetan).
Flat Earthers claim YouTube was key in helping them spread their message, and Google-owned company Google is taking action to prevent conspiracy videos from being shared. While it’s fun to laugh at flat earth theory and similar conspiracist nonsense, it’s less fun to consider the implications of the movement’s rise in prevalence. Anti-vaxxers are only staggeringly ignorant about one aspect of science (immunology), whereas Flat Earthers are flat out about the whole issue.
📹 What Do Scientologists Actually Believe?
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📹 The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories: What Attracts People to Believe in Conspiracies?
Why do people believe in conspiracy theories? Is there a benefit, or is it only detrimental? I go over some of the psychological …
A friend of mine is a devout Scientologist. A few years before meeting her, I’d read “Dianetics” and couldn’t believe anyone actually believed this stuff. She tried to get me to join but did finally desist when I told her I was happy in my faith. However, back about 20 years ago, she told me that she was saving up to take a course that would enable her to levitate and walk through walls (the cost at the time was about $18,000-$19,000). It all sounds like a huge money-making thing to me.
I had a friend who lived in LA for a while. She told me about apartment complex owners having to be weary of renting to Scientologists because they’re known to pull a scheme where one member moves in and behaves like a model tenant. That person then keeps their ears peeled for vacancies and will then notify the church, who will then send other members to move in, who get their foot in the door through the recommendations of the original “model tenant” and are provided glowing references by the church. The Scientologists will then methodically repeat this process one-by-one until they have a enough members in the building in order to take the property. All of these tenants will simultaneously stop paying their rent and the church will then move in with an offer to buy the building. The offer will be much lower than the value of the property, but it’s more cost-effective to simply sell it than to evict all of the Scientologists. Dirty pool, thetans… dirty pool!
the guys behind “south park” did an episode about scientology, and at the bottom of the screen, they had the caption, “this is what scientologists actually believe”. cuz, you know, what with “south park” being so fantastically out-rageous and realistically impossible as each episode generally is, guess they wanted to make absolutely sure that people knew they weren’t making it all up and that it was all true. which it is.
I’ll tell you a story if you have the time for it. A friend of mine set himself up to rescue people from religious cults in the 1980’s. His was not a non-profit organisation and he openly charged princely sums for his operations. He had been a victim of the Moonies himself and knew how easily a person can be enticed into such groups and how difficult it was to get out of them. He always told me that the one group he feared most was the Scientologists. He said that they were the most tenacious, the most vengeful and the most dangerous. And he dealt with all the cults, so I believe his words.
Those who want to hear more about what Scientology is actually like, I would highly recommend the podcast “Scientology: Fair Game” with Mike Rinder and Leah Remini. Mike was a high ranking Scientologist and Leah was one of their celebrities. They talk a lot about day to day life as practicing Scientologists and the hypocrisy between what the doctrines say to the public vs what is actually practiced. Scientologists are taught they are allowed to lie to anyone not in Scientology if it makes Scientology look better. So anything Scientology tells the public is dubious at best.
I once went with a Scientologist friend to their British headquarters in East Grinstead, outside London, to see what Scientology was all about. There was a huge mansion in the middle of a forest clearing, and inside were very elaborate rooms full of statues, paintings, chandeliers, expensive desks, chairs, sofas, etc, but it had a very sinister feel to it. I was half expecting one of the leather chairs to swivel round, and a villain stroking a white cat, saying “We’ve been expecting you. Mr Bond!”
I live by Clearwater FL, the biggest hub of Scientology in the US and when I moved here 20 years ago we would see them all walking in the hundreds with the same clothes and same backpacks. Had their own apartment complexes and busses. We called them worker ants and they looked like swarms around lunchtime. So wierd. And they own a ton of prime real estate all tax free
I have only ever met one, what you might loosely call a ‘ normal/average ‘ scientologist, I did not know this at the start, it wasn’t till we ended up at a BBQ & everyone who spoke to me was asking very odd questions about my beliefs, financial stability & if I was tired of the way things were run etc. The penny dropped when a guy got up to do a speech & ‘ welcomed new friends ‘, I had some Amway people try the same crap on me, the key give away is when someone who isn’t your friend starts calling you that & laced with how much money & shiny things you want in your life. I was out of there so quick, luckily there was a bus on the corner & got on the 1st one to arrive & made my way home, I have never spoken to that person again, never trust a religion/cult that hides behind lies, nothing good will come of it.
You said it ALMOST perfectly with your use of the word “nebulous”…..I would venture that “black hole ” may be more accurate! In 1978,I was 18,and there was a definite “push” on L.Ron Hubbard’s book “Dianetics”,newly out in paperback..The t.v. commercials were rampant and often.Being curious I bought a copy of the nearly 4″ thick book and quickly realized I wasnt wasting any of my time on this garbage that made no sense.
I tried scientology when I was in California. I noticed the whole conformity when two people walked into the class looking like the double mint twin. The standing up and clapping to the nearest picture of L. Ron. The you must disassociate from your family. I started off just doing it, then I’d push some button. I packed my stuff up in one class and wanted to leave they tried to stop me. I powered past them. I walked toward home, some them followed me. Tried to convince me to go back to the class. Waited at my door. I made a joke to my girlfriend about not having a religion of my own, yet I have followers. Took a further walk and they followed. I started back home, they followed till we got a couple of block from my place. They said they’d check on me the next time I went to their build, they never checked on me or even spoke to me. A few weeks later I decided I’d had enough and quit them, then moved away.
The Church of Scientology has its own specialized film studio located in Hemet, CA (approx. 100 miles east of Los Angeles,) where I was hired several times as an actor for documentary style film re-enactments. The relatively secluded studio covers several acres of ground and includes a large pond which holds a nearly full-sized replica of a sailing ship (for filming purposes) as well as a full sized medieval European style castle which houses the main studio sound stages. In fact, the general appearance of the studio grounds are reminiscent of a medieval European village surrounding the castle. As I was repeatedly hired to work in their films, I was also increasingly pressed to join the church which I just could not do. Eventually I would no longer be hired to work at the studio.
One thing people forget about L. Ron Hubbard was that he was a Naval Officer during WWII. According to the church, he was a decorated war hero who was crucial in victory. According to his records, he was put in command of an obsolete ship patrolling southern California until he almost started a war with Mexico and, from what I understand, was removed and discharged. From the Military, in WWII. I should say all this is “Allegedly”.
I’ve always found Scientology’s raging against psychiatry hilarious. This comes directly from Hubbard himself, and it’s transparently obvious why he hated psychiatrists: he wanted the money that people would otherwise pay to psychiatrists. Also, the thought of ever being forced to get a psychiatric diagnosis would have been a terrifying prospect for Hubbard. He knew he was a fraud and a habitual liar with delusions of grandeur.
When I was a freshman in highschool I started toying around with my spiritual beliefs and trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to believe in. To that end, I ultimately came up with a broad definition of personal beliefs and how they might interact with the world around me. I decided to formalize these ideas and… basically started my own personal religion. I would’ve been 14 at the time… And my 14 year old self came up with a belief system substantially less asinine and convoluted than Hubbard. Ultimately it didn’t matter anyway; as I decided religion wasn’t really for me; and that it wasn’t a necessary part of my personal philosophy. Had I known how much money was in it… Maybe I should’ve given it go for longer.
Definitely worth reading Russell Miller’s Bare Faced Messiah. It’s a great biography of Hubbard. Not sure it can be got in America as there were lawsuits to stop publication, not sure if that was ever resolved, But available elsewhere as UK, Canada etc the courts took a different legal view when the church tried to stop distribution. There are some wild stories in it.
What I, as a native Floridian, most begrudge is the Scientologist’s overwhelming and nefarious takeover of my beloved Clearwater Beach. Though outsiders may know of it from Spring Break highlight reels, the rest of the year it was a laid-back beach with a gorgeous shoreline, and delicious local eateries right on the boardwalk. Now, it is a commercially-dominated expanse of hostile security and unfriendly elitists. And don’t get me started on how they’ve corrupted the local police force and city council… truly threatening at times, frighteningly so..
Jeez, these a holes. See that big blue building? I’ve lived within a few block of that thing (used to be a hospital) my whole life. These scammers are always at the bus station a few blocks away, looking to get their hooks into anyone who looks gullible. They have to go there because NOBODY in the area will give them the time of day. We all know about them and they ain’t fooling us. Creepy AF. (Creepiest thing about that building? Every single shade in every window is ALWAYS pulled down. Not a ray of sunlight ever gets in and no one can see anything inside.)
Just a heads up, one evening I researched Scientology using Google, specifically which public figures where Scientologists. Soon after that evening I started receiving postcard invitations to introductory Scientology events in my area. The infuriating thing is I never volunteered any personal information on any site during my night of research. It’s been a couple of years and I still occasionally receive Scientology invitations in the mail, because of this I stopped using Chrome as my default browser or doing searches with Google.
For 5 years I sat between a disgruntled mormon and a dissolution scientologist. They played this game kind of like “yo mama” but but it was bustin on their former affiliations. The only rule was, the statement had to be true. They used humor and a well earned cynicism to combat what those organizations were putting them through. They each had a reason to hate their former religious advisors. Both were fighting their spouses for custody of their kids and their spouses had lawyers provided by the organizations. Both were being bled dry to get their kids out of the “cult hell”. They had to depend on the sympathy of the front desk person to let them know when a lunch meeting was over and there were leftovers in the break room. I felt so bad for the one guy whose Ex stated the reason that the guy was an unfit parent was because he was living in his buddies garage. This guy made 6 figures! The reason he was so broke was all of his money was going to lawyer to try and get custody. It turned out bad for both the exmormon lost custody. The scientologist got shared custody but the mom took off and he hasn’t seen his lids in 8 years. We need freedom of religion but freedom from it too. I realize their information was bitter. My opinion though, is based on the very just reason of their bitterness.
I once got a hold of a copy of the Operating Thetan manual. It was an interesting read. It is hand written and starts off with quite nice penmanship. But, as you get further in, the quality of penmanship declines until it is barely legible. I suspect the church’s dislike of psychiatry stems from the idea that L Ron Hubbard may have been suffering a decline in mental health while writing the manual which would put him in poor light as one of the founders.
L. Ron Hubbard was an acolyte of Aleister Crowley. One is tempted to dismiss them as world class cranks. But they were just a product of their times, when supernatural nonsense had greater acceptance. That having been said, Hubbard, author of ‘Battlefield Earth’, is known to have quipped that the best way to get rich is to invent your own religion. Indeed.
So I was walking down across from the grandma‘s Chinese theater with my religious friend who happened to be a fundamentalist Christian and I was no of no religious belief at the time so we’re walking in front of the 20 story Scientology building which I knew nothing about and we’re walking past and my religious friend starts to avoid go across the sidewalk and I just keep right on walking because I don’t know what’s going on unless somebody comes up to me apparently it’s a Scientology guy and he says “do you want to take our personality test” I was totally naïve I wasn’t familiar with Scientology but I’m familiar with Haxter‘s and con persons so I simply said ” i’m sorry I don’t have a personality” And walked away. My fundamentalist Christian friend thought that was hilariously funny that I defused a situation that I didn’t even know I diffused…. Later on I found out about Scientology Which I personally think is insane because Elron Hubbard said before or after Dianetics anybody could invent a religion and that’s exactly what he did
The Routine 2-45 is Scientology speak för shooting someone with a pistol in .45 calibre. As for being able to continue with own religion, forget it. You are being pushed to be on course as much as ever possible. Other than that one is also being asked (i.e. pushed) to contribute with (more) money all the time. The reply you get when asking things like did Zenu exist, is an acceptable truth – not the truth.
I was in Scientology for over a decade. they have very interesting helpful classes which is why the get so many followers. I was pathologically shy and they helped with that. But as you have what they call “gains” and “wins”, you keep wanting more. I finally got to the point where I realized that the cost of the next step was more stressful than the condition I was trying to handle so I quit.
Scientology is honestly terrifyingly I did a in depth research into it for a school paper and it really is scary. It’s a cult not a religion and the way it exists in the open is really scary. While doing research it was really scary when finding research and evidence the amount of people that won’t say anything because they fear for their life. It’s a scary world and I can only hope this does get sorted out at some point. Great article as always, your content is always top notch.
They don’t respect other religious even if it’s written in their website. They regularly torment and torture their parishioners. If you want to learn more. Watch the website growing up in scientology and there’s loads of books. Troublemaker by leah remini and scythe telleppo my Nathan rich, both are great books if you want to know more.xx
1942, Hubbard was sent to Sub-Chasing School, then assigned to Oregon where he would take command of a sub-chasing vessel (which was commissioned in April of 1943). However, after a series or incredible mishaps and just plain stupidity through May and June of that year, Hubbard was relieved of that command (effective July 7, 1943). Following an investigation by senior officers, a fitness report stated the following: “consider(ed) this officer lacking in the essential qualities of judgment, leadership and cooperation. He acts without forethought as to probable results. He is believed to have been sincere in his efforts to make his ship efficient and ready. Not considered qualified for command or promotion at this time. Recommend duty on a large vessel where he can be properly supervised.”— Rear Admiral Frank A. Braisted
I caught a hint of this while reading the “Battlefield Earth” series in my much younger self. While enjoyable, it was rather one dimensional, the problem arose when I brought it up with my mother. While not being TV perusal people, we did have an affinity for books, I mentioned the premise and author, not knowing of any previous connection, who went to school with Hubbard’s kids. Those kids didn’t particularly like him according to my mother, and considered him a complete crackpot (yes, his kids). She also described her mother as the quintessential Little Old Lady from Pasadena (Beach Boys) who drove a Maserati (she really did have one at one point). I dunno, the Rutan family name had some definite stars for sure.
Yikes! I got at least three things out of this. One: I, personally, am almost certainly more tolerant of the abuses that go on in long-established religions than I realized, thanks to having grown up Christian (which I no longer am, but have the benefit/detriment of having been exposed to probably the most tolerant parts of it in a fairly liberal branch of Protestantism). perusal this article, which leaves out just about everything important about Scientology — perhaps most notably reputable quotes from Hubbard about why and how Scientology was founded — made me look at my own perception of religion and wonder about it. Two: Very much in the vein of One: “Religion” and “church,” being applied to Scientology seem… correct solely for the sake of being technically correct. I could refer to my son as The Church of Small ETZool, and, if you were inclined to be technically correct, you could refer to him as a church, and the following of his teachings as religious. This, again, brings out my own predisposition to consider old ridiculous things more credible as “religions” or “churches” than new ridiculous things. Again: That’s my failing, but I can’t help looking at this and thinking it lends more credibility than is deserved. Three: Meta analysis of Scientology is the only useful analysis. “He was accused of raping fifty women, but only convicted of raping two; he was kicked out of seven countries, but twelve others didn’t kick him out; he was accused of ten murders, but most of them never even went to court.
Thank you for this article. I’m impressed at the objectivity and non-sensationalism and research done on this topic. I’m so tired of how others have attempted this subject. I’d say the facts presented are mostly correct here. I’m a former Scientologist. All my life. The theoretical stuff in the basic literature is good and helpful though the impression in being part of that group is that you aren’t freely allowed to seek other truths in other religions or sciences, you can but it’s frowned upon. Quotes from LRH literature are taken out of context and pedantic besides for sure there is hypocrisy/ ambiguity in the literature because of ongoing research and human errors in explanation. If Scientology had remained a study like psychology there would be less issues but it became a religion. I also believe it’s for tax and income purposes. But truly the staff earn so little and most goes up the pyramid or to assets accounts. The basic principles of Scientology are sound but the broader practise and how people in general interpret and use and abuse what they like to and the crusader mentality just messes it all up. I’m no longer staff there. Long hours and frustration with idiots for nearly no pay and straight up hypocrisy, and grandiose image to what end? They did help me a bit but in the end asked too much of me. I’m don’t subscribe to any organized religion now. They just want your money and power over you .
I first heard about it in the late 70s. Geraldo Rivera did the first exposé of it for the ABC news show 20/20. Back then it was still mostly referred to as ‘Dianetics’. Rivera’s story made it incredibly simple. Hubbard was indeed a failed science fiction writer who bragged to his friends that the way to become rich was to invent a religion. So that’s what he did. Really as simple as that. As far as the specifics, it is the dictionary definition of a ‘cult’. One thing I’d like to know, if they’re not based on Christianity then why do they use a gleaming cross as their symbol?
Just like a cult, separating someone from a usual support structure is common with them. Any naysayers should be cut off, and that includes members’ family and friends. I once called their main number as a prank of curiosity, but was honest to some feelings about uncertainty to my future (dreams of being a vet had gone up in smoke when I had to admit to myself that I didn’t have the intellect and aptitude to be one and I didn’t have a plan B). Everything I said, the woman brought it back around somehow to make it as though my family didn’t approve of my decisions or were restricting me…it was very odd. I already was braced for it, but hearing someone try to manipulate you just sends shivers down your spine. I had to keep correcting her (I was still polite though) that my family supported anything I wanted to do, but I on my own was having doubts on my abilities and future. She…didn’t seem to quite get that. It was strange but I could see how someone with their guard down or maybe facing some issues with their family could be lead astray, have their family demonized and the church made to look like the good guys that have all the answers, instead of advice that mends and heals divides with families. Separating them from their family can leave them bitter and resentful of the past because a reaolution for their family problesm was never attempted, the family is just labeled as being bad. You now have this person lead away from their family and thus begins the Us versus Them mentality cults are infamous for to keep the person in the group.
Seems like a good example of how religions crop up to fill generational needs for answers and directions in morals and life in general (along with the legitemisation of personal beliefs to opress others who do not hold to them). There’ll be another new one trying to fill a perceived gap before this century is over, considering how the world is going now.
I’ve been a subscriber for many years. Yet there are SO many misinformed/incorrect/unsubstantiated declarative statements given, I am compelled to unsubscribe. How can I rely on anything presented on things I know little about, when such atrocious inaccuracies presented on something I DO know much about are dangerously wrong? I have been betrayed be a website I thought I could depend would be informed by truth. Shame on you.
I used to live in Hemet California. They have their Meca between San Jacinto and Moreno valley. Gilman hot springs rd from hwy 79 to I 60 New era productions. They have “sniper” outposts in the hills surrounding the compound. Stumbled across them will dirt bike riding in the area. (Common riding area) if you drive by it a few times within an hour in your vehicle they send a little k-car from Japan out to follow you.
So what I’m understanding from this is, Scientologist don’t actually believe the whole thing about Xenus, but it’s just Hubbards comic he wrote, and it’s kind of used as a beloved piece of memorabilia that represents Hubbard. Similar to say, an when an actor signs something, or gives away a personal item to a fan. It’s not important, doesn’t mean anything, but it represents the person who it belonged too. And hubbards idea of a church has nothing to do with his comic, it’s just a place where he wanted everyone to come together and practice their own religion and do their own thing without the confines of traditional values of said religions? Sounds pretty good to me actually. It’s just a common worship area and Hubbards past as a comic writer is just some silly that they like to bring up?
There is a giant Church of Scientology cross under the Statue of Liberty — also goes by the name the tree of life, the Metatron. There is a film franchise called Tron with the technology of steganography TRON turns to L.RON. (Note: The Tron 2 logo; turn the T to the side and see it turn to an L for LRON/TRON) The Scientology cross can also be seen upside down as the rebel insignia in an unknown film franchise called “Star Wars.” Thoth of Atlantis & Thoth of Egypt are on record for writing over 35,000 books. L. Ron Hubbard is on record as the human being with the most writings attributed to one individual. Egyptology… the ankh symbol an OT symbol? Egyptology/Scientology… for who can connect dots. _________________________________________________ Note: Love the raging case of John Dewey’s “Sight Reading Program” on this commentator/You Tuber’s face. 🤣 John Dewey’s “Sight Reading Program.” 1921-2021 ☠️🧠☠️ _____________________________________________________ Most people will never get how Scientology connects to Egyptology. Just like your average humanoid will never why there are POLES everywhere. What is the primary weapon used by those who are suppressing/holding down the human race? THE POLE. NOTE: There is a subject called epigenetics where they will as an example grow chickens in an isolated environment (let’s say for 12 generations) and those chickens in this isolated environment have NEVER seen one of their main predators/enemies like a hawk. The scientists running the experiment will one day just cast a shadow of a hawk across the isolated environment and the chickens will FULLY REACT due to genetic imprinting from their ancestors.
I had to us CC to understand at Simon was saying at 11:55, when he simply said…. “Controversy” They way he pronounces & enunciates it, I thought he was saying some sophisticated word I had no clue about! NOPE! Just an odd way of saying “Controversy”…at least it’s a bit odd, for us Americans. I’ve never heard it spoken, in such a way. So, I just ask my friends across the Pond: Is this s widely-used way of saying this particular word? Is it part of an accent, or sorts, from a certain region of the UK? I’m legit curious. I’m intrigued, by this, now.
My take on Scientology is this: if you HAVE TO pay for all the literature and practices (I forget what they’re called. Those readings members get.), if everything involved requires money, your “religion” is bullshit. I could be Catholic, Buddhist, Muslim, Pastafarian, or Mormon for free by the end of the day. Many religions ask that their flock give alms, but it isn’t 100% required. Unless someone gifts you their copy of Dianetics (or maybe you get one from a library), you’re gonna be out $29.99. And that’s just the beginning.
Okay. The issue of the Deity-or-no-Deity in Scientology is slippery. Once one goes through the Wall of Fire in OT3, you begin to be nudged into the belief that their Deity/Supreme Being is none other than good ole Hubbard himself, who is the Buddha, apparently. They don’t come out and say Hubbard is their God, but as you move up the bridge, it becomes more apparent that this is what they truly believe. You are told in the lower grades, prior to the Bridge (OT levels), that you can worship as you wish. Once you get saddled up on the bridge, that’s no longer true.
Having read Battlefield Earth as a teen I added L.R.H. A to my list of favored authors. I even had a copy of Dianetics. About the same time I learned of his forming a religion, I noticed that another author I favored William W. Johnstone, had around the same time, appeared to have began slipping mentally. I just chalked it up to sniffing ink or something. I had the Dianetics book for many years, saved for a more leisurely future. However, after hearing of the religion thing I began reading it. NOPE! I prefer my science fiction authors to write entertaining stories.
You said ‘allegedly’ far too many times, this stuff isn’t hearsay it’s testified to, corroborated and on film! The church leader beats his staff you forgot to mention that. Also once you progress up the bridge it’s made gradually more apparent to you that you CAN’T be a Scientologist and a Christian/Sikh/Jew etc. they believe biblical events are false memories implanted by Xenu. You can do better than this Simon.
I don’t know, I’m kinda wary about that Scientology stuff. To “join” and become a member of the church, you have to sign a “1 Billion year” contract. Uh, do they really need that much help for that long of a time? It’s kinda cool they are so optimistic to think they, and you will live so long. But hate to tell ya, ain’t gonna happen. L.Ron Hubbard was a science fiction writer who took too many drugs during the “summers of love” in So. Cal. and started believing his own books as “real” instead of fiction. It certainly wasn’t an idea to make himself rich by starting a church (to avoid paying taxes) and get into the pocketbooks of the rich and famous. Oh no, he certainly wouldn’t do that.
Either Simon is a member…or thinking of becoming one. With this love letter I’m sure they’ll grant him Tom cruise status. Honestly this is the first time I’ve seen Simon tip toe around a subject. They must be litigious as he says in the intro. But if that’s the case…don’t do the episode if you’re not going to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly. Instead this sounds like an infomercial with a few crumbs of “well everything has a downside to it” sprinkled in.
Hello Hello dear fellow mortals! The most fascinating aspect of the human condition is that every single belief is just an invention, created by someone to serve their ego. We are basically born into a myriad of beliefs within which our poor souls have to navigate, while repelling or attracting that which we find most suitable for the situation we may find ourselves in. That’s called selfishness. Humanity is the best example of the worst possible example mother earth has ever encountered. Every single religion is a far-fetched pathetic attempt to fill the uncertainty of the void, that which our brains cannot comprehend. We have created a world of make-belief, within which merely a fraction can be proved. I am fully aware that the following statement will attract negative comments but I will not shy away from the simple fact that anyone/everyone who believes in any sort of “God” is just plain stupid, a futile infantile. Take care and live well!😇❤
1. The actual teachings are not known by outsiders. There is a legal. and group pressure guards in place. 2. They respect all the other religions and recommend that people of other religions continue to practice. But the image of Crist in the cross is a movie, and all the other creations myths are too. If that does not tell you that there is something funny with the public information you are blind (I believe it’s called propaganda) 3. Liberals: it could be that now they are, but we know they weren’t. So maybe they changed because it was good business, maybe they did not or maybe they actually change. It’s difficult ot know with the levels of secrecy.
Why don’t the Scientologist merely call themselves Atheists? It seems to me that their beliefs are so broad that anything goes. From what I have heard perhaps even Ayanism is acceptable. It seems that all manner of sexual deviance might me might be acceptable when creatures like Charles Manson can be allowed in. Has anyone read the book “Bare Faced Messaiah” about the life of L Ron? This is not a religion- it is a billion dollar racket and doesn’t deserve its tax exception.
Compared my faith, Quakerism, which actually delivers on the whole “no creeds worship as you wish” thing. We also have equity for people of all gender and sexual orientations and are anti-hierarchical and anti-war. I mean, we’re everything the scientologists claim to be and much much more, and we’ve been doing it for centuries!
Dont believe “Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. Don’t even believe that i say. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” Buddha quotes (Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)
South Park nailed this. I can’t believe people actually believe this dumb s**. It’s more sad than anything. Their belief system is MIND BLOWING…🤯🤯🤯 Brainwashing is CLEARLY still prevalent to this day. 🐑 🐑 🐑 Conformist 🪼. The weak-minded are easily controlled. They just add s** daily, as it suits their needs. Come to think of it…I think I’ll base a religion on Gene Rodenberry. Not a big fan of Star Trek per se, however the relevance is basically the same. How can we, as people, be SO DAMN DUMB? I mean, why not? L. Ron was no better, so it would have to be a great idea for a new religion, right? Smh. I can get a whole bunch of idiots to follow me. Wow… I’m finally important…ugh. WAIT. I love Star wars! I’ll base a religion around that! People will have to believe me then, right? Oh but damn! I like the Smurfs too! Oh….this is a pickle
Wow! This would make a supreme Sci-Fi series! Zenu versus the Thetans! 1950s low budget B movie gold! What sort of idiot thinks this is actually real???? OHHHH errrr Please don’t have me killed Tom! Love your movies and stunt work sir… not such a big fan of the pay to unlock the “next level” of a “true” “religion” though. But that’s probably just me! 😉
Judaism: Here are our teachings. They’re yours for free. Also, we don’t ask you to believe anything we’ve said, we don’t ask you to join, and all we ask is that you don’t murder us, please. Christianity: Here are our teachings. They’re yours for free. Please believe us, please join us, but if you don’t then we’ll be OK. You’ll burn in Hell, but we’ll be OK. It’s fine. Really. Islam: Here are our teachings. They’re yours for free. Please believe us, please join us, or some of us might kill you, but we promise we aren’t with them really. They’re the outlying values. Still, yes, please respect us or there will be trouble. Scientology: Here’s our free book. Oh, look at that! You’re all f***ed up.You need help. Only we can help. That’ll be $100,000 please. Atheism: Go to college. You’re welcome.
I first started studying $cientology years ago. There is a very good book called “Fads and Fallacies In the Name of Science” that had a chapter on Hubbard and his insane ideas. I am convinced that Hubbard got the whole scientology mythology from the “Superman” comic books. The whole pile of nonsense reads like a 1930s SCience Fiction story (of the kind that Hubbard churned out constantly). If you can find some of Hubbard’s novels (you local library might have them) you will immediately catch the childish nature of these books. The sad thing is people spend over $100,000 to learn this crap.
It’s amazing how many uninformed people bad mouth Scientology, which has done nothing but good for mankind. “Science” is practically in the name. LRH’s tech is incredible and nothing to scoff at. From his study tech to the Hubbard Space Telescope, scientology is revolutionizing the way the world works.
the Universe unlocked the secrets of the world to me….imma charge Scientology a low payment of 500k a course for my knowledge of the Universe that the Universe has given me….yall charge 1k a course but yall r still lacking BIG TIME n yalls knowledge….yall take my course & yalls knowledge of scientology will expand BIG TIME!!!!….if scientology ever wanna upgrade there knowledge they will be wise to take my courses…if not…they will stay left n the drk….nvr knowing there full potiential….until then…they will nvr be one w/the universe has i am…i am infinite degree master….& only through me will scientology ever be up2 speed w/the universe & its secrets….soooo @ a low rate of 500k a course for all scientology masters….ill teach em the meaning of the universe….thats was given to me by the universe itself….
Scientologists actually are NOT allowed to “practice in their own unique ways.” One of the first things you tead when you join is called “KSW” Keeping Scientology Working, in that they are told that Hubbard’s way is the ONLY way and if it isnt working then it’s because youre doing it wrong. Everyone must practice in exactly the same way, because thats how L Ron said to do it in the 1960s. Just wanted to clear that up.
I’ve followed you for years, Simon and always loved and respected you. I must say I’m very disappointed in your research here. The errors are too numerous to list but save it to say, I recommend you take this article off-line and start over. More research is needed to give this topic fare justice. Listen to people like Mike Rinder, Leah Remini, Aaron Smith-Levin, Claire Headley who were all in Scientology for years, and you will quickly find out you’ve many facts wrong. I hate having to criticize your work here, Simon, but I must, as this has to be corrected. ❤️Sent with love.❤️
Simon! Q!! Who does every country actually own trillions? and why them? Like USA is sooo deep in debt to be a “rich country”, so what econecronomicon is used here? To take money only from what might benefit a human? okay, that one went far, but ‘def an episode, maybe at Decoding the Truth? I mean you made almost few hours of Eppstein story w dignity, humor and horror so that that Sh!t was digestible! You can do Economic unfairness! KEVIN! You have a heart and a soul” Make Simon! or vice versa
I’m done. …start my own church now with the focus of science and psychological morality as accepted by peers of the current time period. Our motto “everything is accepted, nothing is forbiden”. Our church is the universe and our opinions don’t matter. Believe what you want just keep it to yourself (because your the only one who cares about your opinion) and we give sermons on new scientific discoveries when they happen. No special day for church, science doesn’t sleep or care about conspiracy and conjecture, neither should we. The church of reality? Actually let’s not even call it a church. Let’s call it a method of understanding science, yes! Scientific method!!! science is real, we can prove it….that’s kinda the entire point of it. knowledge and understanding of fact over fiction. So who wants to go from conspiracy thoerist to the scientific method first. We have t shirts and hats, wednesday bbq at Jims by-weekly and please don’t bring tofu, it upsets the biologists. Well more acccurate to say they will experiment on it and debate….it’s a whole thing, just no tofu!
Is A-Aron in the house 🤔🤣🤣 *So after he’s thrown them in the volcano he still felt like it was necessary to throw a hydrogen bomb at them …. Seems a bit like overkill to me …… *There’s a guy who has a website called growing up in Scientology I believe … Very interesting . He tears through them like poop through a goose . And I believe he was a member of the Sea org and all that if I’m not mistaken.
Im heavily convinced that this guy is Thoughty 2’s Dad, Uncle, or higher generational older brother lol. His much more refined, sophisticated version. Just pay attention, it’s all there. Oh and as far as the content of this particular article Seems like a nice hot steaming croc of shit with chunks of corn and areas of turds being popeyes spinach green
Meh, even as an atheist i am used to people worshipping a god, perhaps gods. Can you really have a religion without those? Some would say Buddhism is not a religion for many reasons. One of them would be because of the fact that they have no deity. But what do I know. I don’t believe in deities either. Hail all mighty Xenu.
Interesting that there are so many followers in scientology and I did not read one positive comment! I’ve been in Scientology for many years and the spiritual gains I have made because of the technologies are miraculous! It is sad to see such a misrepresentation of an incredibly valuable subject promoted so heavily. If you want to know about Scientology you should read a book by L.R.H. not listen to innuendo’s, hearsay and outright lies about the subject.
They actually don’t let members practice other religions, they just say that to get people in but once they get their hooks in them and they want to get deeper into Scientology like go up into higher levels then they change their tune on that. Ex members have exposed this like, “Although there is no policy or Scriptural mandate expressly requiring Scientologists to renounce other religious beliefs or membership in other churches, as a practical matter, Scientologists are expected to and do become fully devoted to Scientology to the exclusion of other faiths. As Scientologists, they are required to look only to Scientology Scriptures for the answers to the fundamental questions of their existence and to seek enlightenment only from Scientology.” Oh I hate that I said “other religions”, cause this isn’t a religion it’s a cult that’s pretending to be one for the tax break and money cause it’s more of a business then then religion. Like u gotta buy every book, pay for auditing and any other “Church”-related courses required for advancing through the ranks of Scientology. These programs can run to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and they will make people redo courses so they gotta pay thousands to do it again. You will get further in Scientology if ur rich
Point of order. What the church (or any church, or even political party) believes is not debatable. The church has beliefs. These beliefs are church dogma. The membership professes a collective belief in this dogma. The individual members/parishioners or even sects and parishes as a whole may doubt and eschew some or nearly all (though at that point, why?) of these beliefs. But the beliefs of the faith are sacrosanct and have not changed.
I always see the Scientology building when I drive around LA it always gives me an Erry scary feeling like how it’s all one color it looks like an insane asylum. It creeps me out SOO much and then I never see windows open.. tbh if I did see a window open I would probably be scared shitless because the building itself looks creepy for so much people to believe this one way pyramid scam is even crazier. Thank god I never have drove directly on the road it’s on because if I did and I saw people trying to get me in there I probably would die😂
Surprisingly pretty accurate -why don’t you publish their wedding ceremony – it is ridiculous. Check out the Fair Game Policy. They say anything as long as a gay person pays good money they will be served but they are not concerned with their well-being or the well-being of any of their members for that matter of none but the self.
Out of everything else he did, I’ll give Hubbard this: he used to write some good sci-fi and horror. “Final Blackout”, “Fear”, and “Death’s Deputy” aren’t astounding, but they’re good. Out of everything past that, he nearly ended the career of Edgar Winter with one atrocious album. So really, whatever good there was does not even it out.
What is your source of reasearch you have based this article on? And to be honest I feel sorry for anyone in the comments who is not trying to find out true information in regards to Scientology to make actual valid opinions – This is also what the religion is teaching btw. The base teachings of the religion is just common sense, however LHR has actually made his own research and developed ideas how to help people. Like a lot of people consider themselves spiritual, believing manifestations and law of attraction – How can you say that this isn’t crazy? This only makes you not being present. The religion itself is not forcing anyone to do what they don’t want to and the fact of Thetan being this supernatural thing you mention, nah be real mate. Thetan is a spirit/soul, source of life, based on Greek word theta, which any other religion also believe in. If people would actually observe better the fact that anything we do is to survive; would observe the actions they make within themselves; be less ignorant and actually confront what is in front of them – I think it this all would make better sense and we would be in a better society. Don’t forget that psychology used lobotomy believing that an ice pick poked inside your brain would help, oh yeah before that they would electrocute you brain dead … So there’s that
How is any of this less sane than any current or historical theology? Just because a theology is mainstream doesn’t make it ‘correct’. They all, mostly, profess that their religion is the correct one and if they are all correct then perhaps none of them are. In my opinion the truest and best theology is one where its followers practice morals that wont or do not impinge on a person’s sexual preference or their choice to live how they will all under the umbrella of the tenet: Do no harm to anyone including yourself. Harm being defined as physical, emotional, psychological and financial. NO religion should, in my opinion have anything that could be defined as an asset. This promotes corruption and perverse ideas to alter the basic belief. The religion should not promote or support personal gain in any form, only spiritual gain, again with the core of DO NO HARM.
I was in Hollywood on vacation visiting my sister. Walking along the star road, i saw a huge bust statue that said L Ron Hubbard under it. I thought i remembered he was a writer like Tolkien, so i thought it was a library or something and wanted a picture of the bust. I went in to take a picture, and some ladies came up and offered us a tour…tour of a library? Ok. Well, that was when we were sucked into an hour long pitch for scientology. Took me anout 5 minutes into it before i remembered who Hubbard actually was and my focus became we need to get tf out of there (my little brother was with me, but he had no idea about scientology at the time). It was sooooo creepy. I felt so bad for the lady giving us the tour because it was clear she was in deep.
Scientologists believe that while the body is mortal, the soul known as thetan in scientology is an immortal being. And thetans basically have a certain level of goodness or badness and it’s the job of a scientologist to improve the level of your own thetan and also to improve the thetans all over the world. To do that you just have to attend and follow scientology courses, do auditing sessions and monitor your improvement with an e-meter. Zenu isn’t relevant or even known on the basic levels of scientology. But if you do additional courses to climb up the ladder, you also gain more knowledge about the backstory of scientology and their world(eg Zenu and other stuff). Harmful is that scientology also believe that a thetan is not only responsible for the things his body does, but also for the things his body experiences. Punching somebody is bad, but being punched is also bad. And the reason for both is connected to your thetan. No matter if you’re the victim or the perpetrator, what have you done to deserve this bad experience. And is the reason for this in this life or in an earlier life of your thetan? Scientology can help to answer these questions for just a few hundred dollars per session and if you can spend a few thousand dollars they can improve your thetan-level.
In 1985 there was a legal case in Portland Oregon which would set a legal precedent depending on how it was ruled. A member of the “church” claimed they were brainwashed by the church and fleeced for millions of dollars. If the scientologists lost this case, then others who felt the same as the plaintiff could follow suit and that would be very bad for the “church”. They descended on Portland en masse with many of the high leaders of the “church” and scio celebrities, (Travolta, Chick Corea are the only ones I can remember), attending. The celebs were only there for a day or two. There is a park in the center of downtown Portland, which is a strip which runs for several blocks, and in front of the courthouse, they set up camp there. They would have gatherings called “musters” which would be like a church service, (looking this name up before I could remember it, I learned they no longer call them that). They would play music with their celebrity musicians and have a “muster”. They needed a sound system, so they rented one locally. The sound rental company they used in the park had a prior commitment; they needed another rental. At the same time the weather turned, and it started to rain. They rented the Masonic Temple right next to the park. This is where I came in. I worked for a music company, and they approached us for the rental. Cash only and pay us every day. It was good money, so I was up for it. We set up and prepared for the first “muster”. I represented the company and dealt with some mid-level scio management.
Religion in whatever form you like was created to control weak minded people, these people need something or someone to follow because they can’t find there own way through life. I decided that religion was fake when I was at school after listening to a religious education teacher, from that moment I knew I was never going to believe in any religion, and because of that I can tell you that my life up to yet has been amazing. I don’t have anyone or anything to answer too except myself and every decision has been the correct one for me. I’ve no problem with people believing whatever they want but when it causes pain and suffering, that’s when I have a problem with it. Atheism call it what you want but believe me, you’ll be a happier person.