There's already been some very intelligent postings here, so I'll try not to repeat anything that's already been said. I try to be VERY tolerant of others beliefs. But having lived in Clearwater, Florida, home of one of their "headquarters," I was exposed to quite a bit of Scientology. None of what I saw was positive.

What I saw was a group that claimed to be a religion but was in fact a money making scam. Doctors, lawyers, or other professionals (including the doctor for whom I worked) has to guarantee a certain amount of income each year to be given to CoS.  

I was sent to a seminar for the doctor's office which was supposed to be like a continuing education training. It was run by an office "management" group that was entirely owned by CoS, so primarily it was an attempt to get people into Scientology. It was supposed to be a two day seminar and I refused to go back after the first day. (My boss was in furious but there wasn't much she could do. She kept claiming Scientology was a religion and she knew I would have a case against her if she forced me to attend a religious function.)

For a non-professional person like myself, should I chose to join CoS, I would have been required to sign a million year contract to become a part of the "Sea Org." As a member of the Sea Org, I would have been eligible for housing, but all of my income was to be pledged to CoS.My children would have been required to attend CoS schools and my contact with them would have been limited.

Oh, and a side note - should you decide to do research on them or other cults, you need to be aware that the Church of Scientology now owns the Cult Awareness Network. They sued CAN into bankruptcy, then a CoS lawyer bought the rights to the name, supposedly in a "backroom" deal so that CAN members couldn't have access to the name anymore.

Mmm... I admit all this does not sound very palatable. Since most of us who had heard about this thing from a distance might have developed a mild curiosity about it, I am glad for the info provided by those of you with some degree of access to it. Thank you, folks.  

My friend Hal is head of ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESOURCE CENTER, in Ft. Collins.  It is a center for understanding various Religions.  He also helps people get out of hate groups and "religious organizations" that are controlling/cults.
Scientology is one of the organizations he watches, carefully.  He has been doing this for close to 30 years.  
There are many hate groups and cults that deserve close scrutiny.  

Just be careful of Scientology.  Not all the people involved are celebs.  Many have been seriously hurt.  
If you ever have a question about a group, I can connect you to Hal, or go to his web page.

Rozrokz, You have placed your topic in Siberia. At the sametime it is an interesting topic. And sir Bush is in a "Parallel World!" And I am an american who loves him. And one has got to respect somebody who has actually started Armageddon

"Hillary fought the "Battle of Jericho", and the walls came tumbling down" Sometimes a woman can make a difference in all of our realities and lives, male or otherwise.

Scientology is somewhat valid. It is just that it is commercial and because of this (commercial), is somewhat limited realitive to its scope, because it is commercial.

Cool topic Rozrokz!

Love!

john, a registered user

Tourbi You are loved! And thank you for your input to the international community about those people!

just john