Scientology: A History of Violence and Apologizes for Battlefield Earth

It's been a bad week for the cult of Scientology. Two big allegations have been slapped on the religion started by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard.

First, Anderson Cooper is on a one-man crusade against those who evolved from the Planet Xenu. CNN has been conducting a week-long series on the history of violence inside the Church of Scientology. Last night we heard from former high-ranking officials within the church's Sea Organization (these religious members actually wear sacred sailor outfits) who say they either witnessed or were physically assaulted by cult leader David Miscavige. Know what? The Church of Scientology strongly denies these allegations. An Australian Scientologist on Cooper's show said making attacks against Miscavige is just like making attacks against the Pope.

Then, another one-two punch to the religion Tom Cruise calls his own. Battlefield Earth screenwriter JD Shapiro has come out publicly to apologize for penning the infamous script for the John Travolta vehicle based on scientology founder L Ron Hubbard's 1981 novel. The filmed picked up the Razzie for worst movie of the decade.

What's next for the cult of Scientology? Will E-meters soon be recalled because they contain lead-based paint?

More at True/Slant.

 

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Comments

[dotmafia]

03:35 PM on 04/06/2010

Shouldn't this article be called "Religion: A History of Violence and Science Fiction"?

[Zofomofo]

07:30 PM on 04/05/2010

Buddha said not to pull the bandage off of the weak and ill, but I say it is time to rip off the bandages and through down the crutches because we are sick and tired of being hit over the head by your splints and crutches. Stop Religion, VOTE sanity.

[jalowe1957]

11:40 AM on 04/05/2010

Take away L. Ron Hubbard and his Dianetics sham and what do you have left?

[peterg76]

04:51 PM on 04/05/2010

Money. And power that has no constructive purpose.

[Giovanni DeLuca]

06:39 PM on 04/03/2010

*Christianity: A History of Violence and Science Fiction

[peterg76]

04:53 PM on 04/05/2010

At least Christianity started with myths that weren't made laughably obsolete in the space of less than two decades. (It also had a belief in helping the poor, though that part of it hasn't survived quite as well as the superstitious part.)

[Zofomofo]

07:31 PM on 04/05/2010

read some history, it was being laughed at from day one. When they gained enough power the forced society to except it and we are the offspring of the brainwashed.

[larry278]

03:02 PM on 04/03/2010

If ignorance is bliss, I'm a very happy creature, I know little of cults, aka religions, operating in the USA. I regret that it prevents me from recognizing comments of pro-Scientology trolls which HP has posted re: a Scientology thread.

[bluesraves]

09:58 AM on 04/03/2010

What are you trying to say in this article?

If someone wants this system to help in their life let them have it. Your choice in your belief system is YOUR CHOICE !!!

How are any of the other "Established" Churches any different ?

[J242]

04:27 PM on 04/03/2010

They don't charge you to learn about them for one, priests in confession don't record everything you state and release it to the media as blackmail if you try to leave, they don't make you sign contracts to work for slave wages, they don't force you to break ties with your family & friends if they don't agree with your faith, the list goes on and on... $cientology is an evil, corrupt money making venture in the guise of a religion. Nothing more... To quote their founder:

"Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous, If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way to do it would be start his own religion."

Or

"MAKE MONEY. MAKE MORE MONEY. MAKE OTHER PEOPLE PRODUCE SO AS TO MAKE MORE MONEY."

[thinkingwomanmillstone]

08:40 PM on 04/04/2010

Never heard of a mass card, Huh? They are all equally ridiculous and in it for the money and power.

[Zofomofo]

07:31 PM on 04/05/2010

Oh you pay, one way or the other.

[louisvillelib]

08:18 PM on 04/05/2010

Good point - how ARE they different? They should all disappear. And this one should lead the parade out of town.

[santiago sherwood]

04:33 PM on 04/02/2010

Slow news week for a network loosing ratings. They need a war or disaster.

[c-tom]

11:38 PM on 04/01/2010

This is so much worse than abusing little deaf children. And Battlefield was not quite as good as all those Cecil B. DeMille Biblical epics.

[LeaderofMen]

07:17 PM on 04/01/2010

Seriously old news. Miscavige has had a long record of being violent.

[ebanks84]

01:52 PM on 04/01/2010

Just another "cult of lies", Hollywood style! I guess some people will believe anything, as long as it has a religious base. This is what I call "cartoon religion".

Give me a break!

[skatoolaki]

10:16 AM on 04/01/2010

So, so glad to see Scientology finally being exposed for the sham that it is!

[jsgaetano]

11:06 AM on 04/01/2010

It's funny, neither the Xenus nor the Gubment want to talk about this-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Snow_White

[SiameseTrainer]

02:54 AM on 04/01/2010

How can anyone take any of this karrup seriously? Scientology is indeed a Ponzi scheme, and those who are complaining now about abuse were enjoying the proceeds at the very top levels. All of the poor mixed up kids who spent every dime to get themselves "emetered" until they were "cleared" to the satisfaction of a failed sci-fi writer supported those in that elite Sea-Org. They deserve no sympathy, except perhaps a few years off a long sentance for fraud if they co-operate in rounding up the rest of the parasitic crew. Religion is a joke, but scientology is a BAD joke.

[lesterbud]

08:45 AM on 04/01/2010

A bad joke as compared to....
Poor Catholics all over Latin America who crawl miles on their hands and knees to present the Virgin Guadalupe with their accumulated "wealth" from that year, in exchange for her assurance of health and protection (where did the Maffia learn this?) while wealthy families can hire poor people to do their crawling for them?

Young Mormons giving up years of their lives to harangue strangers into joining, or at least donating to the church? Then being allowed to actually buy their way, or the way of other people, into Mormon Heaven?

Not to mention other equally awful and hypocritical requirements demanded of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Protestants, Jews, Shintos, Mami Watas, Miwoks, Maoris, Rosicrucians, Satanists, Voodooists, Jediists, Wiccans and even Baptists.

Religion is no joke. Religions are carefully created and evolved to address the opportunities presented by specific groups of credulous people. And one thing they each hold in common - they strongly believe that all the others have it wrong and are thus condemned, in various degrees.

[Ke Pweipwei]

11:17 AM on 04/01/2010

lesterbud you have some very uneducated views. I am a Mormon and I did serve a two year mission as a young 19 year old kid. I loved every moment of it and I think it made me into a better person. As far as people being allowed to buy their way into heaven....??? I don't know what universe you're pulling this out of because we in no way believe that a person can buy their way into heaven or the way of another person into heaven.

So I am guessing that if you're this far off on Mormonism you're probably just as far off on the other beliefs you deride.

Remember lesterbud, Hate is not a Family Value.

[DarkWitch]

10:45 PM on 04/04/2010

Just curious, what awful and hypocritical requirements are demanded of Wiccans? And I'm wondering where you read or who told you Wiccans strongly believe that all other religions have it wrong and therefore the followers are condemned. We indeed have our fair share of flakes, much like every other religion, but generally this path has no hierarchy or standard liturgy. This path is about accepting personal responsiblity and developing a direct connection with Diety. No one speaks for all of us, but generally speaking no one else has to be wrong for us to be right with ourselves.

I have also observed that there are people in every major religion who actually practice the spirituality of the path rather than merely follow the hierarchy. I have plenty of issues with the hierarchical abuses in religions, but not with the followers of those religions who seek a connection with their Dieties and use the concepts of their religions to guide their lives rather than to have power over others.

[chuckbeatty77]

08:54 PM on 03/31/2010

http://www.gerryarmstrong.org/50grand/legal/a1/trial-trans-schomer-4498-4515.html

“…. he [David Miscavige] came in at a later time and
spit in my face with tobacco juice during a sec check, which
is heresy, if you want to think of Hubbard as a god and his
technology, and then Norman [Starkey] did the same thing…”

The bottom line is that the longest supporter of David Miscavige, namely Norman Starkey, both of them, Starkey and Miscavige, share a common history of disreputable behavior, meaning spitting on Homer Schomer.

The only way out, is if Scientology leadership finally admits their violence, apologizes, and reforms.

But this unfortunatelly ISN'T human history. Humility is one of the toughest lessons to learn, and I'm sure the Scientology lawyers are hoping Miscavige and Starkey won't go honest.

Chuck Beatty
ex Scientology staffer (1975-2003)

PS: I held the highest respect for Miscavige and Starkey when I was in. Starkey was an exemplary executive when I worked at Author Serives Inc, 1992-1994. But he's unfortunately lying for the wrong reasons.

[facepalm12]

01:53 PM on 03/31/2010

You are all a bunch of SP's.

[ajlafleche]

01:21 PM on 03/31/2010

Cthulu, Nyarlathotep and Yog Sothoth are gonna get you all in the end.