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Janet Reitman

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7 Scientology Secrets You Didn't Know (PHOTOS)

Posted: 07/07/11 08:30 AM ET

For more than half a century, the Church of Scientology has been America's most controversial religious movement: known for its appeal to celebrities like Tom Cruise, its requirement that believers pay as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars for salvation and its storied history of harassing journalists and others through litigation and intimidation, even infiltrating the highest levels of the government to further its goals. It has been called a "cult" and even a "mafia" by its critics; to Scientologists it's "the fastest growing religion in the world." But what, beyond the media hype, is Scientology actually about?

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It's probably the most detailed theology in the world: there are some 1000 volumes of doctrine, all written by Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, and called "tech," or "technology." Some of these teachings encourage members to work out their problems visually, using models like clay figures or teddy bears.
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For more than half a century, the Church of Scientology has been America's most controversial religious movement: known for its appeal to celebrities like Tom Cruise, its requirement that believers pa...
For more than half a century, the Church of Scientology has been America's most controversial religious movement: known for its appeal to celebrities like Tom Cruise, its requirement that believers pa...
 
 
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02:08 PM on 08/18/2011
From: Rev. John Carmichael, Church of Scientology of New York

Ms. Reitman’s book is filled with inaccuracies. It is neither scholarly nor well-researched and bears no resemblance to an “inside” story. Ms. Reitman chose to speak exclusively to people outside the Church. She and her publisher refused to accept the Church’s offer to provide information.

Despite her claim of “personal interviews and e-mail exchanges with roughly one hundred former and current Scientologists,” Ms. Reitman’s book refers to an exchange with only one Scientologist—a single parishioner in five years. Her primary sources display an anger and hostility toward the Church should give anyone serious pause.

Many of Ms. Reitman’s sources are also members of or are affiliated with Anonymous, the cyberterrorist organization that has been the subject of federal investigations for engaging in hate crimes against the Church and its members. Members of Anonymous have been arrested and convicted of federal crimes against the Church and more recently, against other innocent individuals and groups.

Claims by Ms. Reitman to have engaged in extensive research for her book are laughable. Perhaps the most significant illustration of her outside Scientology book is Ms. Reitman’s ignorance of the Church’s accomplishments.

There is nothing secretive about Scientology. Our Churches, located in major cities around the world, are open seven days a week. Anyone who wants to know the true story of Scientology should find out for themselves by coming to a Church of Scientology, or going to the Church's website, www.Scientology.org.
07:41 AM on 08/22/2011
I didn't know any better,I say you repeating from the same cult approved OSA script

Hey Rev John Next time Read the damn book
01:55 AM on 07/29/2011
David Miscavige is a victim himslef of child abuse from his parents and they probably from their parents .. this man is internally unstable because of his lost childhood spent being brainwashed by a lie. He explodes in his rages because his soul is constantly crying out and there is no answer or hope for him on this earth .. his childhood, and adulthood has been robbeed so all he can do it continue to lie and strongly as possible in the hopes his life will makes sense ... :-) .. at least that sounds reasonable to me. ..or it could be that everythign was handed to him on a silver platter his entire life because if his status in this cult, so any opposition send him into a spoiled tempertantrum lol ... just a couple 'wild' guesses .
..I can't believe though how the children aren't taken away by the state for parental neglect though .. I mean, seriously?
04:20 PM on 07/14/2011
Hey, let's give credit where credit is due! COS can count among its miracles turning male actors from gay to straight. Witness: T.C. and J.T.
07:04 PM on 07/11/2011
cults, myths, religios,
forcibly enforced religions, have much in common.
they do make money
they rehash the old statement,
make some new points[ but realy old ideas, re cycled]

all religions and related groups, collect money for a god or gods,
and for a higher power.
this power is all powerful.
but needs cash, needs gold, and other precious items.
the gods who can perform many miracles
fail w ith gold, diamond, oil or anything,
and depend on humans[thus numbers ,to collect and sustain the ponzi scheme]
mr hubbard used to b a regular event at the APA convention.
can never remember him making any real impact,
or even a dent.
he opposed many
and they were among the many
he really did not comprehend even partially,
self appointed expert.
many prominent names in thefieldofScientology
arenot well known.
just believes in something,
cannot explain.

may b theyhave amessage
and after so many decades
that message eludes inellect based evalutions.
why ? maybe intelligence is no needed entity,
just faith
more blind faith

with no facts or proof to back it up.
a few ore miracles
but really no cash or miracles,
that financially supports the venture.

maybe someone lie Meathead, TC ,
and similar people, can understand the deep meaning behind
: you know what when you know it, you know it" type belief,
ith o convico or confirmation

but pure Blind faith.
maybe they see,
what mot of the people miss,
and hopefully they can illuminate the newly created
03:17 PM on 07/12/2011
I agree with your general point but take a look at COS sometime and you will see they are different than a "normal" religion. Take Catholism for example tons of faults there right, but even they have never harrassed and attacked a critic like COS does not just once but every critic. Posting fake wanted posters contacting friends and coworkers. That is what makes them different and in my opinion more dangerous.
Besides anyone that hates journalists that bad you know has something to hide, that is true in any phase of life.
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capnamerca
Things that hurt teach ! ! !
08:56 AM on 07/16/2011
All faith is not totally blind faith as you describe it. Many, many people, after exercising a bit of faith, have seen and experienced miracles in their own lives and the lives of others, whhich in turns strengthens that faith and magnifies it.

Of course, without having ever given faith a try, others will always refuse to even consider that these things actually happen, and are certain that miracles of faith are only manifestations of delusion. That's too bad, really. Jesus does exist, and He keeps his promises, as it has been proven to me time and time again.

And by the way, Jesus has never asked me for one red cent. Jesus is not a brick and mortar religion, but the Son of God who came in the flesh to redeem us from our own sins. He was crucified, resurrected, and established His own church at that time. Not in a building, but in the hearts, minds, and souls of his followers. He walks the earth today in the Spirit as He did then.
11:52 AM on 07/11/2011
It is certain that the one or two positives S provides are more than overwhelmed by their BS and misdeeds. Though smaller in scale, their bad faith rivals that of the Catholic child rapes. The same is also true of my church and that of my friends. One of the largest has an subset telling folks to strap bombs on their children, another steals land that is not theirs and calls it divine right and opponents anti-Semitic (which actually is a language group, not a religion). The problem is that wherever one goes for answers there are often a few real answers that inspire and lead, but these are surrounded by power seekers and profiteers looking to expand their position, your dependence. In the case of S, the few answers it lays claim to are taken from elsewhere - in original text under the title Science of Mind, it's the tools and techniques can be found in EST/Landmark and a host of smaller organizations, and of course self-reliance and accountability were not invented there. It is worthwhile to look at the cleanest self-growth organizations. Among these is AA. It succeeds by refusing leadership. AA was originally envisioned as a profit-making enterprise; its miracle was that Bill & Bob tossed that part out. And even so, the organization must constantly strive in every meeting at every level with the human tendency to self-promote and take advantage from and grow to some self-defined self-righteousness of purpose.
03:08 PM on 07/11/2011
very well said.
11:46 AM on 07/11/2011
The most important thing you can do regarding this article (and so many thousands like it written over the past 50 years) is NOT confuse the kooky religious organization Scientology with the Scientology writings themselves. The latter stand on their own, are available to anyone, don't require that you join a cult or purchase an e-meter or get auditing.

Think about it!
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boomer7391
Beliefs are the seeds of evil.
07:22 PM on 07/13/2011
Stand on their own? The writings support the organization, the organization supports the writings. How do you differentiate?
11:40 AM on 07/11/2011
'Confederacy of Dunces'

The single most horrible book I ever tried to read. It got worse and worse and when they pointlessly wrecked their car, I put that book down and never went back. Awful!
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09:48 AM on 07/11/2011
'New' Religion Scientology is Now AncientAndOld! Tyme for Another 'New' Religion!! YES! TakemeTewYerLeader!! LoL!!
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boomer7391
Beliefs are the seeds of evil.
07:29 PM on 07/13/2011
well i just happened to start one
i figured if a crappy sci fi writer could so could a travel agent
i call it gnology - gno for gnosis/knowledge and logy for study of
it's an anti-religion religion...actually against
haven't updated site since last year but will get back to it in the next few months....lots of fun stuff on it
enjoy - www.gnology.com
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PaulAdams
09:26 AM on 07/11/2011
Wait, this is a real thing? I just thought it was a South Park episode?
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multidoc
Re-animating the dead since 1922
05:01 PM on 07/11/2011
Don't we all wish...
07:22 PM on 07/10/2011
L. Ron Hubbard's oldest son (who had to enter witness protection) gave an interview to Playboy in '85 about the church of Scientology. They're not as rosy and helpful as that "church" would have you believe. Very interesting read, google it
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Jacques Steen
Stop Warfare Against Working Stiffs !
10:16 AM on 07/12/2011
Quentin Hubbard committed suicide as a result of the Cult's perversion.
12:52 PM on 07/10/2011
who cares about this ?????????????
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
LiberalBuzz
Voting republican is voting against America.
07:18 PM on 07/20/2011
Well maybe you shouldn't but a lot of us do because of the lives scamology wrecks.
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multidoc
Re-animating the dead since 1922
12:16 PM on 07/10/2011
Ok, I know I'm being a pest, but I just HAVE to share this with everyone.

Everyone keeps saying you have to "pay to play" in $cientology; meaning, you have to donate money for courses and for counseling. Not everyone knows that there are standard donations for each level. Now, thanks to the wonders of cybertechnology and scribd, here is a donation list for the upper levels for the Advanced Organization of Los Angeles. Not exactly cheap; even with the "discounts":

http://www.scribd.com/doc/48145571/Scientology-Advanced-Org-USA-Price-List-2008-Jan2011
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westcoastsc
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhe
12:11 PM on 07/10/2011
I believe that L. Ron Hubbard started this religion on a bet. Am I wrong?
08:49 PM on 07/10/2011
There is evidence that he said "The only way to make money is to start your own religion."
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Hypocrites are Watching
If I agreed with you we’d both be wrong.
10:25 AM on 07/11/2011
It was a bet yoe you do remember correctly
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Hypocrites are Watching
If I agreed with you we’d both be wrong.
12:00 PM on 07/11/2011
omit yoe
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westcoastsc
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhe
03:30 PM on 07/11/2011
Who would follow a religion that was started as a joke?
charlesa1946
peacefromlove
06:37 AM on 07/10/2011
I used Dianetics and they have my vote. Still profiting after 30+ years. Was near dead when first showed up at their Mission. Very alive when I left.
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multidoc
Re-animating the dead since 1922
09:33 AM on 07/10/2011
As an expert, I can tell that clearly you were NOT sufficiently fresh.
06:20 AM on 07/10/2011
Can we put a sock in the "World's Fastest Growing Religion" claim? First of all, in no way is this criminal organization a "religion" - it's a scam that uses classic mind control techniques to dominate its members, all in order to extract as much cash as possible from same. Second, membership has been shrinking since the 80s, and especially since the Anonymous movement showed up. The "Millions" claim was always laughable, and the numbers have dwindled from 50-60,000 in 2000 to less than 30,000 at the time of the last ARIS survey. This cult is dying, and Hallelujah to that!
04:40 PM on 07/11/2011
It appears to be a giant pyramid scheme at it's core constantly getting "fresh meat" brought in to squeeze money from before or in case they wise up and run. But I am a little surprised they survived this long with Hubbard but I think the "Stars" prop them up a bit to their eternal shame