I only read Meridian to make fun of it, I’m glad I’ve never submitted anything there, that would be so embarrassing. Besmirch a good image forever.

And I’ve heard that don’t really like Scientologists.

Until you’ve seen Scientologists and their critics go at it, you haven’t really seen a theological conflict. Those folks play hardball.

Thaddeus responds;

I find it amusing that of all the possibilities one might abandon Scientology, Scientology only mentions mainly three, which are possibile, I admit, which are (using layman’s language):
1. Misunderstanding. 2. Association with antagonists. 3. The person is evil.

The other option they conveniently ommit, probably because the reason does not serve their agenda, which is a plausible alternative is: 4. It doesn’t work as promised.

I invite anyone to my blog, read my opinions, Greg’s answers, others answers, and my replies. Decide for youself, go to the Church of Scientology, look around, read books, go to Greg’s site, but also read my blog, and others, do your homework. Take your time before you let go of your hard earned cash, that is my recommendation.

‘Nuff said.

Thaddeus Gadfly

* Cruise publicly stated that Shields “is an incredibly talented woman, you look at [and think], where has her career gone?” In what way is implying that Shields’ career has gone down the tubes not an attack?

* Where did Shields ever “publicly recommend” Paxil, or any other drug? Stating her own experience, that Paxil helped her, is not “publicly recommending” Paxil — any more than saying “My life was saved by a triple bypass” is recommending to others that they should go out and get triple bypasses too.

* Greg suggests that Cruise’s protests came from Shields being “not a doctor and not properly informed.” Is Greg suggesting that if Shields was a doctor, and said “from my knowledge as a doctor, Paxil should be regarded as a valid treatment option,” then Cruise would never have held her up for public criticism as he did? Or would he have said that Shields must be “not properly informed” if she regards Paxil differently than he does? If the latter, how exactly does Tom Cruise get the expertise to make that decision, since he is not a doctor either, or even a college graduate as Shields is?

But this information is for USE in the walk-around world. Don’t expect a breezy read to change your life, la-la. The old Turkish proverb says “Life is real. Life is Earnest.” They nailed it.

Too many “philosophies” deal with reading, thinking, bandying polysyllabic Greco-Germanic words, and playing with half-formed, ill-defined ideas and nebulous possibilities. I wonder if existentialism ever helped anyone make a smarter decision on whom to marry, which job to take, or whether to travel or volunteer or study programming. Not in my exams.

There’s not a life problem, a people problem, or a personal problem where you can’t apply some aspect of Scientology, and come closer to–or hit dead-center–the positive result that fits you best.

I look at it as my tool-box for life. It’s for people who want change, and to change things. That may be why it grows.

“Cult” is one of those loaded words… loaded with prejudice.

Any religion, indeed any group of people, can be ridiculed. It says at least as much about the speaker as about the target.

I myself, a Scientologist for many years, have defended the Mormon faith in my work environment, overhearing a prejudiced discussion in a nearby cubicle. I told the speaker it was not appropriate conversation for the workplace. I believe each person should be able to follow their own religion without harassment. If a religion, or call it what you will, encourages people to improve themselves and to help others, more power to it. Thanks again for your frankness and fairness.

Scientology has a HUGE body of writings and so much new terminology that one can read and read and read for a long time and still have a hard time really understanding it. At least that has been my experience. They do seem to get some unfair PR. I don’t see why they should be considered a “cult” any more than the Church should. The few Scientologists I’ve known here don’t seem brainwashed or weird at all. On the contrary, they seem kind of, well, together.

That said, I find the whole anti-psychiatry obsession just bizarre.

That’s not my website though. That’s one of the official Scientology sites. (Mine is http://www.liveandgrow.org)

I wonder if people looking at Mormonism have the same feeling, or is there a way to get between the official line and the dissonance?

BTW: I know some CoS families, but my understanding is that is very rare outside of SoCal.