Posted by yxibow on March 16, 2007, at 20:27:00 [reposted on March 16, 2007, at 20:53:07 | original URL]
In reply to Please be civil » yxibow, posted by Dinah on March 16, 2007, at 9:33:22
> > I don't know about homosexuality but the failed science fiction right is persuasive, just look at the many web sites they own, non-FDA "e-meter" devices and levels one has to climb and wierd science fiction references to Xenu, all now an official religion in the US, because the IRS wasn't able to stand up to their high powered lawyers and secret internal monitoring bureau (paid by the ponzi scheme that Scientology does to get people to give money to get to these levels and secret papers, some leaked and multiple lawsuits) and dismiss them as not being a religion and ultimately making them tax exempt.
>
> I have made a general request on this thread to please don't post anything that could lead others (including Scientologists) to feel accused or put down.
I'm only telling the truth. They are only now a religion because the IRS failed to make a case against their strong lawyers among other things tax evasion in the 1980s. It now is a listed religion, yes, but I'm telling its past. Its no different then telling how Jim Jones killed hundreds of people in Guyana. So maybe there are people who belong to cults like Jim Jones', I'm telling things factually.I knew this would eventually lead to a please be civil.
The facts currently stand that Scientology is not recognized as a religion and /or a bona fide registered charity or some form of legislative action has been taken or pending in a number of countries in Europe and elsewhere including Belgium, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Israel and Mexico.You can read Germany's position here
http://www.germany.info/relaunch/info/archives/background/scientology.html
There are standing facts even if they have been denied by the corporation of Scientology that they did contribute notably and controversially to the death of Lisa McPherson.
It is a standing fact that L. Ron Hubbard wrote fairly unreadable and unremarkable science fiction books in the heydays of that era. He eventually formed what can either be described as a corporation, religion, cult, or none of the above, depending on where you live, and those are also facts.
It is a fact that several acquaintainces of my own spent and had money wasted by a business scheme called "The Forum" which was started by a Scientology follower to create his own money making venture.
It is also a fact that a past friend became a Scientologist in part I think to find some spirituality to escape his homosexuality. He is no longer one to my knowledge.
There are lots of facts out there but they are struck down constantly because Scientology has large money contributions from people such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. These are also facts. They fund a considerable legal and investigative arm of Scientology. To the best knowledge I know, most religions on this planet do not have legal and investigative arms the size of Scientology. This is also a fact. It is a fact that some religions encourage "tithing", this is a concept of many Christian faiths and contributions are given often to Jewish organizations, etc. These are also facts. However, the last time that I checked, the Old and New Testaments could be bought on CD, audio tape, paperback, etc. They are not cloaked in secrecy. These are all facts.
I am trying to be as civil as possible because I am trying to describe something which can only be described with facts because it is such a controversial topic.
There is controversy in all religions on this planet, with their views on sexuality, women, evolution, birth and death cycles, and all the reasons that religion is a pervasive concept since time immemorial.
There is a place in society for religion -- but we all know what extremism of all sorts can do to people. There are presumably plenty of well-meaning Muslims in this world. There are also countries with populations skewed tremendously in the 0-25 year range, give or take, with unemployment exceeding 30% or more in that range. There are countries that need not be named on the embargo list in this country willing to donate to families in other countries as death payments so that one of their children can kill innocent Israeli, Iraqi, and other civilians as suicide weapons. This is a fact.
When will this world use religion as what it is meant to be, a positive voice for some who wish to seek answers that cannot otherwise be answered, and also use it for their own and only their own self thought so that others who do not believe in a faith, or who are agnostic, or believe in a different faith can live in peace?
poster:yxibow
thread:741698
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20070304/msgs/741703.html