Scientologists are selling the second hand insight, and require their parishioners to sign many legally binding forms before they can receive services. Their insights aren’t bogus, and in fact I encourage people myself to rephrase any insight they understand from another source. If it’s yours, it’s yours. Even in Christianity the Bible says that the word of God is written upon the human heart.
It shows you understand if you can use your own words, and not just recite it from a book? Exactly. Scientology purports to have a social and moral agenda, and they believe that their insights can be uplifting to the world in general. Honestly there are others who believe that also who have been disconnected from the church. They aren’t lying, the stuff works. It worked before they even claimed it. They claim to be protecting their process, because if it’s integrity isn’t preserved it can harm instead of help.
All religions think that they’re helping the world though, not just Scientology. Altruism is an important part of any business that mostly relies on tithing, right? Exactly, it’s my personal belief that any precept of belief, and any practice that is genuinely true, is true even if you give it to someone who would “defile” it. This is part of why the member title for our Second Life group is heretic. I don’t feel Hubbard was a monster. If I have criticisms, they are that he was in love with his own prejudices and ideals, and that these later became warped.
In love with his own prejudices like those who deride him? Yes. In the argument of public vs. scientology they are on common ground. Myself, would I pay to receive their services? Certainly not, and their vaunted humanitarian efforts, I don’t see any more impact than another faith is making. All they are is a group that sought to make sense of and unify human spiritual experience. They had the same tenants as Christian Gnosticism had in that respect, as does the current Christ Consciousness movement.
Their takedown notices were completely unethical though, no excuse for that kind of behavior. True. I’m not a scientology apologist, and I’m not even a scientologist.
Takedown notices? They do have a militant stance regarding faiths and philosophies they view as destructive powers. Much like a zealot calling us all sinners.
If you criticize them on YouTube, or even in other places, they will abuse the United States digital millennium copyright act (dmca) and have a lawyer write a letter making the host take down the material that offends them. They have no respect for free speech. Which they deny in their own works.
Your thoughts are welcome. Be well friends.
Travis Saunders
Dragon Intuitive
~science,mysticism,spirituality~