MovieChat Forums > Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath (2016) Discussion > One SP's Support for this show and all i...

One SP's Support for this show and all involved

posted 8 years ago by brigwyn-99121
6 replies | jump to latest

I'm an SP. I was declared hostile because I would debate Scientology Tech with local Scientologist. I never attacked the tech, policies or specific teachings outright. I would only question them as one questions anyone about their beliefs and why they believe it is true. I'll admit here as I did to them, I am a Christian. I even admit that it is a huge leap of faith to think a 13-14yr old girl got pregnant by "the spirit of God" and not the older man that was to be her husband. So as you can see I am willing to question the tenets of my own faith. Therefore my questioning the tents of other beliefs isn't a personal attack but rather a method of exploration. I just cannot accept because as an answer unless it some how resonates with me. So yes, I claim to be a Christian but I do not claim to accept all the "teachings" are infallible.

So long story short. One of my Scientology coffee buddies got reported for participating in our "discussions" about the merits of Scientology, as well as other religions. He in turn was force to declare and disconnect from me. The claims we I was causing doubt and confusion and creating negative engrams causing my friend to fail audits and forcing him to relearn old tech.

I couldn't believe this! I still get upset. This is the same type of behavior all cults or religious extremist hold on to. One is not allowed to truly seek or share knowledge. As with many Jeudo-Christians and others it is this "knowledge" that leads to homes downfall. Therefore it is better to remain ignorant.

Thankfully, Leah Remini and all the others in this series are willing to share their stories to expose the oppressiveness of Scientology. I could not care less if someone believes we all were created by some giant alien's cosmic frat or are just algorithms in some artificial intelligence. What is wrong is supporting an organization that would rather promote ignorance over enlightenment and cause separation and disintegration of the family and friend units.

*Go ahead and flame away. I just felt the need to shout my support and story to the wind, no matter how much sh*t flies back at me*

[–] stimp-1 8 years ago

Interesting story, and you have my sympathies for losing a friendship.

I do care (at least a little) about how ridiculous and non-evidence-based the church's doctrine is, but I agree that the church's practices are more disturbing. So choosing to focus on them was a smart decision on the part of Remini and the producers.

[–] nyctc7 8 years ago

I saw one ex-scientologist wearing a custom baseball cap that had SP on the front. Loved it. He wore it as a badge of honor.

[–] slackersmom 8 years ago

Interesting. I find it so odd and crazy and unbelievable that a so-called 'church' actually forces its members to cut ties with anyone who bad-mouths it.

I would only question them as one questions anyone about their beliefs and why they believe it is true.

Interesting that you should say this, because for the life of me, I have NO IDEA what Scientologists' "beliefs" even are, or what they supposedly believe in. From all I've ever seen or heard, this is not a "religion" by any normal definition. Do they worship something or someone? Or pray? 

To be honest, Scientology always struck me as more of a lifestyle. "Feel better about yourself!! Find inner peace!! Think positive thoughts!!" Those aren't religious beliefs.

[–] sgetti4me 8 years ago

My thoughts exactly, its more of a lifestyle. And they probably don't have any type of church service, just classes and auditing, which sounds more like school to me than q church.

Damn the man! Save the Empire! Rave On, Rave On

[–] CalifDad 8 years ago

Some would say that all religions are a lifestyle. Each has its own manner and rules for living. Its just those leaning more to the conservative side of their belief system tend to follow such rules more stringently. IMO Scientology is way more a "works" based religion than "faith" based ones. (Meaning that your "salvation" or "ultimate enlightenment" in this case "going clear" is more important than just believing so.)

As for an example of their religious text, that would be Dyanetics. It would be the closest thing to the Bible/Quran/Torah etc...)

Scientology isn?t based on Abrahamic based religions. I guess you could say it's more of a self reflective, meditative, self improvement based religious system.

The elevator version of Scientology is as follows (as far as I understand it.)

Humanity is the culmination of millions of souls (Thetans) that had an extremely traumatic existance and an even more traumatic ending. Today humans are born with the burden of lifetimes of negative life experiences (engrams). These engrams prevent Thetans from breaking free, transforming and joining the greater consciousness or infinity.

So as you live your life and encounter even more negativity it only adds to the subconscious negativity of all those previous lives. The only way to eliminate these engrams are to attain a state of being "clear." This is done through learning different techniques (technology or tech) and then being audited to see that you have try master the new tech. (Auditing is spending time answering questioms by an auditor while holding the cans and being measured by an e-meter. An e-meter is a glorified biofeedback device or lie detector.)

These audits can go on for days, weeks or months. It's all determined on your ability to prove to the auditor that you have cleared (mastered) the tech of that particular level.

There are many levels within each bridge to total freedom stage. The bridge to total freedom being the pathway towards being completely clear and ready to separate from this existance and move on to the next.

That's a very simplified explanation. L. Ron Hunbard (LRH) created (discovered) all of this and wrote Dianetics to explain the tech as well show how to obtain being clear. As time went on LRH discovered new tech which forced revisions of Dianetics. Eventually, instead of rewriting Dianetics all the time, it was decided to release tech at specific bridge levels. LRH felt that it was too dangerous for people to have tech they weren't ready for. Eventually, one's being could misuse advanced tech causing self or universe wide destruction. Leading to the destruction of billions of "innocent" Thetans. This is why one must "donate" to learn new tech.

Please understand that I am NOT a Sciemtologist. Also, what I have stated is based on many hours.of discussions as well as my own reading of Dianetics.

P.s. I would not suggest you read Dianetics unless you are willing to dedicate some serious strenuous reading. LRH created his own language to explain Scientology and everything. So you will be forced to learn new and sometimes contradictory definitions of words that you already thought you understood. LRH hated Psychology. However, much of Dianetics is based on psychological theories and therapies. But don't tell that to Scientologist. It's such an offense to say such that they've been seen to respond violently.in defense of their beliefs.)

Well, this turned out to a lot lomger than I anticipated. If your interested in more info about Scientology, the emeter, and the tech, I suggest starting here: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/index.html

[–] animerika 8 years ago

When I think about their fair game" rule I think about how all the muslim get called terrorists, Christians are called dumb, ignorants, thieves.
People would write nasty things to the pope on twitter, Mormons are criticized because of the "polygamy" rumor, Jehovah's Witnesses are humiliated because of their door to door practice (I've seen a facebook video of a man humiliating a young girl recording her and saying he was a satanist, he did it just to make fun of her and post it on facebook and have a viral video).

But how many of them have done what these crazy guys do? Not even the pope is sending his people to stalk someone or even get someone banned on twitter.

Some of them ignore it, some defend themselves verbally, etc. But how many of them retaliate in criminal ways? This cult even have a list of procedures to destroy someone who dares to question their practices.

This is just too much, I don't know how they can get away with this and have the law always by their side, it's just so convenient for them.