Why do people attack Scientology?

Question

I just barely started studying Dianetics...through a course. I have already rejected every other religion I encountered...Other than Pagan herbalism, nothing untrue about peace and mediation, but there are issues not addressed in Pagan tradition. I'm just not understanding the insults. Buying books that entice mental thought certainly seems like money that is spent more wisely than coughing up 10% of my income.

Before I click submit let me re-clarify the answer I am looking for:
I do not want to hear an actual attack, I've read plenty of them in the last hour.

What I want to see is WHY you feel the need to attack Scientology. Do you personally have experience? Have you even read Dianetics? If your reason is...well, see, my buddy joe said to look at this website, and I did...and now I think _________ about Scientology. I'm just curious.

Tell me where the hostility comes from. TV?

Thank you, I've got a good range of ideas here.

Many did not read THE ENTIRE QUESTION. So I'll just assume in those cases:

"I don't read much, but here is a website that fed me what I know and I will now regurgitate based on the keyword." applies.

I haven't yet read anything that is not credible. I've heard plenty of people 'SAYING' things about Scientology, but it's been babble with no actual reference or page number where the information comes from.

Thank you all, the attacks are thus discredited as opinion without providing a reference.

Answer 1

I don't attack, I tell the truth.

Oh, you want me to reference something? Ok...

• Operation Snow White – Under this program, Scientology operatives committed infiltration, wiretapping, & theft of documents in government offices. This program constituted the single largest infiltration of the United States government in history. Among the 11 prominent Scientologists convicted of this conspiracy was Mary Sue Hubbard, the wife of Scientology’s “prophet”.
http://lisatrust.freewinds.cx/scientology/snow-white/index.html

• Operation Freakout - Their campaign of sabotage & violence against Paulette Cooper, the writer who published her research & findings on several cults, including Scientology. Scientology’s official plan: to frame Paulette, ruin her career & reputation & get her either incarcerated or locked up in psychiatric confinement.
See the official plan: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Krasel/cooper/frk1.html
Free pdf of her book: http://holysmoke.org/cos/books/scandal-of-scientology-cooper.pdf

• Fair Game - the Scientology policy detailing how the organization may confront & handle critics & perceived enemies. Here is a direct quote: "Enemies may be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed.”
http://www.xenu.net/archive/disk/fairgame.htm
http://www.planetkc.com/sloth/sci/Fair_game_ord.html

• Violent Kidnapping - Lisa McPherson was a Scientologist, was involved in a car accident & resultantly became mentally unstable. She was kidnapped from the hospital by agents of Scientology, held against her will, refused proper psychiatric treatment & allowed to STARVE TO DEATH.
Video: http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/
Website: http://www.lisamcpherson.org/

• Tragic Murder - A CBS “48 Hours” special on Jeremy Perkins, the mentally disturbed son of Scientologist parents who refused to put him on the anti-psychotic drugs that would have stabilized him & prevented him from killing his own mother.
Video: http://www.scientomogy.com/jeremy_perkins.php
CBS article: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/25/48hours/main2124568.shtml

Answer 2

Hello moabmusher,

People attack because they believe what they have been fed. They have been told Scientology is dangerous, hurts people, it is mind control and many other made up ideas.

Scientology is knowing what you know. It is an applied religious philosophy. It was put together by one man for the use of all sane people. Scientology is for able people.

There are people on this planet that want to keep the population weak and unable to reach or see the truth. There are people you meet day to day that just want to stop everything. These are the people that attack and label people and groups the do not know or understand.

Michael

Answer 3

You probably know that L.Ron Hubbard was a pulp science fiction author in the early days. There's a story that I have never been able to confirm that Dianetics had its origins at one of the first science fiction conventions. Supposedly, someone bet Hubbard that he couldn't invent a religion so silly that no one would believe it. Hubbard took the bet, and thus was born Dianetics.

I do not attack scientology. I leave it strictly alone. But truthfully, what I know about it makes it sound like poorly constructed space opera from the 1930's. "Thetans"? "Memory engrams?" Come on, now.

Answer 4

http://theunfunnytruth.ytmnd.com/

apart from that the 'religion' isnt actually reconised in many countries as a religion because it is seen for what it is, a corrurpt evil corporation designed by a crazy science fiction writer to make money. Im mean how does anyone believe if you go through auditing a certain amount of times you will reach a state of clear and you will magically have a genius IQ and you'll be able to fly, also there auditing machines actually have a small statement on them saying that they dont actually do anything, the US government made them do that because it was just a useless machine with no purpose,

Xenu, brought aliens to earth and put them on volcanos released a H-Bomb killing them all and their souls were released and went into human kind. So if we are depressed, sick, upset, angry etc. its because of the dead alien souls in us???????????? COME ON!!!!! who the **** would believe this crap.

Oh and the best ever is Jenna Elfman from Dharma & Greg, saying she couldnt support any organisation that raised money for AIDS research because AID's is a state of mind and not a disease!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

because it's there ...I took the test for scientology but they refused my entry because I answered in the conditional . Seems if you have some intelligence they won't fool with you ! Of all the religions looked at I've found buddism and pantheism or Eisteinism the only semi exceptable ones so far and I've got some complaints about them too .I guess I'll just use the parts that I can and go as a moral spiritualist in a pointless universe with a meaningful life.No gods and no cons please.

Answer 6

The founder of scientology was a science fiction writer who openly admitted he could make alot more money by starting a new religion. And he did. L Ron Hubbard

Answer 7

Don't be inocent.
Do you think that an organization that can do what Scientology can, won't be attack. Scientology is putting in danger the entire Psychiatric pharma industry. There are billions invested there. Do you think that they will not spend a few millions a years to attack Scientology. Because they do.
Robert Minton spended 10 millions to attack scientology. and is just one of many front persons.
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/115061176.html?dids=115061176:115061176&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+20%2C+2002&author=DEBORAH+O%27NEIL&pub=St.+Petersburg+Times&edition=&startpage=1.B&desc=Scientology+foes+bitterly+split

Answer 8

Scientology is a cult not a religion. Therefore, people are looking out for the well being of others being sucked into this cult. If your going into then I highly advise to run and never look back. They are only out to get your money. You will regret it when you wake trapped in a nightmare. Read this article from Times magazine and you'll discover the truth about this cult.

Answer 9

I don't attack it, but I do roll my eyes and even snicker when the subject comes up. I'll admit it's based mostly on what I knew of L Ron Hubbard and his works before he wrote the books, what I know of Crowley, and the little I've heard about Scientology (including directly from wild-eyed Scientologists. The name itself says a lot, it certainly it's not anything scientific.

Answer 10

I will say that there are some solid things about scientology, its not all mumbo-jumbo ... but, like all religeons, they go a little overboard ~~~ ok they completely abandon the mother-ship ... and Tom Cruise jumping on couches and going off on good morning america doest help thier cause

addition:
and yes, I did read your whole question ... but I wasnt going to be manipulated into giving you the answer you wanted ... so i just said what i felt

Answer 11

Let's see...how about their paranoid rantings against modern psychology? How about the deaths that their members have directly caused as a direct result of said distrust? How about the people who have been harassed, slandered, and even had intimidation tactics launched against them by the Scientologists?

If you want books that entice mental thought, look for books on critical thinking and logic. Scientology is more like bubble-gum for the brain. Kind of tasty and sweet, but totally lacking in substance.

Don't belive me about the deaths? Google "Operation Clambake", or "Fort Harrison Hotel". Or go here: http://www.whyaretheydead.net/